Christmas Part One

'Tis the Season!!!

The season of what?

'Tis the season of hopeful eyes filled with anticipation.

"Tis the season for Brotherly love (and Sisterly love)!

'Tis the season of Jingling Bells.

And Candy Canes!

And expressions of joy and surprise!

'Tis the season of baking and licking the bowls.

And Gingerbread houses, 

Under sugary snow.

'Tis the season to live and let your hair down.

Of goofy big smiles, and rarely a frown.

'Tis the season of family!

We had a great Christmas this year.  Sarah did a wonderful job of scheduling 2-4  Christmassy activities for every week between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Such activities included, decorating the house, building a Gingerbread House, looking at Christmas lights, visiting reindeer, making goodies to share, seeing Santa (twice), horse drawn carriage ride/carolling, visiting Temple Square, stuffing Christmas cards, Christmas shopping, Wrapping and more.  Every activity included fun and Christmas music.  We had to ditch a few ideas and had to be flexible to work around sick kids, but her preparation paid off as it was a wonderful pre-Christmas.  

She also put together a Christmas scripture advent calendar.  Every night, we would gather in the family room around the Christmas tree and we would read a Christ centered scripture then read a Christmas book.  The kids' favorite books were "Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas" and the book my Mom wrote called "An Elf's Christmas"...or at least that is what I remember it being called.  We were blessed to have my Mom with us for most of these activities and to be able to involve the Reed family as well.  We are truly blessed in this life and the greatest of our blessings is that of our Savior, Jesus Christ and it is a wonderful thing we have done to build such cherished memories and traditions to celebrate His birth.