Christmas 2008

I was a bit apprehensive about being with just our little family for Christmas. The only other time that I had been away from any family was on my mission. As I anticipated the day, I worried that I would be homesick. All month long, I had a prayer in my heart that I could remember the meaning of Christmas, the gift it was to be with my little family, and to enjoy the day. Our Christmas was very memorable and surprisingly neither Stephen nor I had any feelings of being homesick. It felt good to be in our home and celebrate with each other. We loved spending Christmas Eve with friends and then enjoyed Christmas together. It was memorable and wonderful. Here are few pictures of the events.

Christmas Eve~Putting cookies out for Santa along with carrots for the reindeer.

Benjamin opening the traditional Christmas Eve gift of pajamas.

Buzz Lightyear was a huge hit. Thanks Nana and Papa!

Christmas Morning

Santa came! Here are Benjamin's presents.

Opening presents

Christmas breakfast of Belgian waffles courtesy of Stephen's new cookbook and waffle iron. I felt like they were the best waffles that I had ever had.

Christmas dinner consisted of roast beef, seared scallops, mashed potatoes, and sauteed leeks and brussel sprouts. It was delicious!

Benjamin played with his new toys all day long. Benjamin and I played "Don't Break the Ice" about seven times, while Dad and Benjamin built with his new Megablocks construction set. Benjamin's short intermission from toys involved watching his "Kung Fu Panda" movie brought by Santa. We had a great family holiday!

2008 Christmas Card

Salt Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fine salt
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water (may add more)

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, combine the salt and the flour
• Make a well in the salt/flour mixture and add the water
• Knead until smooth and shape into a ball
• When not in use, wrap in plastic or store in an airtight container

I baked mine in the oven at 275 degrees for about 1 and 1/2 hours or until they were hard. They were really fun. We just hung them on the tree last night.

Salt Dough Ornaments

We really live in a strange place. Benjamin's preschool has been cancelled both days this week as it follows the school district school closing schedule. There was just a threat of snow for two days, a slight dusting of the rooftops on one day but none sticking to the ground, and finally a snow storm today. I had heard that the city shuts down with a mere threatening of snow, and it is true. Sunday church was only held for Sacrament Meeting as there was a chance of a snowstorm. It didn't even snow. It really is bizarre after living in NY and UT. Benjamin desperately needed some playtime with a friend after the disappointment of no preschool so I asked my VT partner if her daughter could come over to play. She came to play yesterday afternoon, and so we all did a project together. We made salt dough ornaments. Benjamin and this friend played for about 45 minutes rolling the dough with the rolling pin, making balls and snakes, and squishing the dough. I wished that I had gotten some pictures of the two of them together. It was a fun time! The ornaments were just coming out of the oven as she left, so we didn't get a chance to paint them until today. Here are a few pictures of the painting.

Santa's Red Nose

Benjamin is very excited about Christmas. It is a lot of fun to have him be old enough that he can anticipate the holiday. He recently watched the old "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" movie on TV. He really enjoyed it. Except that he was a little afraid of the Abominable Snow Man. Anyway, the other day he was looking at a picture where Santa had a particularly red nose on some wrapping paper that we were wrapping with. Benjamin then said: "Santa has a red nose. Maybe he can lead the way and the reindeer can drive the sleigh." Stephen thought that was particularly funny!

Ward Christmas Party- Breakfast with Santa

This past Saturday, we had our ward Christmas party. There was a pancake breakfast from "Frosty's Diner," service projects of tying blankets, writing Christmas cards to the soldiers, and decorating cookies for the missionaries. We also able to visit Santa. We took our neighbor Marilyn to the party with us. She was very anxious to see Santa as well. I had intended for her to stand next to Santa, but she insisted that she needed to sit on his lap. I wasn't sure how long Santa could have her sit there so we quickly took a picture and moved on. On the way home Stephen was asking Benjamin what he asked Santa for. He said a "lightsaber." Then Marilyn got a bit upset when she realized she'd forgotten to ask for something. Although when we asked her what she wanted she said she didn't know. She then asked Stephen what he wanted, and he was coming up with off the wall things like broccoli and a back stratcher. Thankfully that crisis was averted! The activity ended with a short program in the chapel of the nursery and junior primary children doing the nativity play with the senior primary children doing a play based on the book of the "Christmas Oranges." Benjamin was chosen to be Joseph although he emphatically did not want to be Joseph. I showed him how two of his friends were angels. He insisted on being an angel. That is when I told him that great his job had just been changed. He wasn't Joseph anymore he was the "blue angel" who helped Mary, and it was a very special job. He bought into it. From then on I had everyone call him the "blue angel," and he was happy about performing in the nativity.

Decorating Christmas Cookies

I had to make some sugar cookies for people to decorate for the missionaries at the Christmas party. I made an extra dozen for our family to decorate. We had a great Friday night activity.

What does this picture represent to you . . .

chaos or cleaning up toys? It might mean that to me, but to Benjamin it means that "Baby Jesus is having a party."

25 Books of Christmas

I have heard about others doing this and always wanted to do it. This year as I got out the Chrismas decorations, I counted the Christmas books and was surprised to find that we have 17, thanks to teaching school and Nana! I also ordered a Christmas pack through Benjamin's school book order so in a few days we should be at 24 with the Christmas Story from the scriptures in the mix also. I put up some small trees in the bonus room/playroom upstairs. Each night before bed we open a new Christmas book to read. Benjamin has loved opening the three book "presents" these past few nights. It has been something that he asked about all day long. I think this will be a new family tradition.

Christmas Decorations

After our company left early Saturday morning, we got to business of putting up the Christmas decorations. Benjamin was especially excited to put up the Christmas tree! We had to decide on a new furniture layout as the tree was in the empty dining room last year and now there is a table and chairs in there. I had also forgotten about the new stockings that were purchased after Christmas last year so it was like finding a new present. We even put up some lights in our bushes outside. I think this is the first year that we have ever done that. As we will be here for Christmas, we are excited to enjoy the holiday decorations for the entire month. We are now feeling very festive!