Christmas 2014

This is the last Christmas with all of my children living in our home.  I've tried not to think about it too much, but that fact has motivated me to live in the present more often.  I'm glad we have traditions for December.  They make me feel safe and secure and bring back happy memories of years past.  Here are a few of my favorites


Winterfest weekend:  Fireworks, shopping on main street, Christmas parade

First Presidency Broadcast:  Unexpected company showed up for dinner this year and we experienced a miracle of the "loaves and the fishes"  with plenty to eat, even on a fast Sunday!  The broadcast and music was beautiful.

Rocky Road:  Tony toasted the almond to perfection and the marshmallow was straight from heaven.  Tony's nurse reports that it makes her "toes tingle."

Gingerbread cookies:  We cancelled the traditional house and the train and invited the neighborhood to come make cookies. It was a diabetic coma waiting to happen, but a lot of fun.

Ward Party:  No traditional ham dinner for the Colfax ward!  This year we had build-your-own burritos.  It was as stressful for me as it's always been and I relish the fact that I only have one more to do as Bishop's wife.  Delegation and efforts to include others increased my  stress, but were a great opportunity to involve people we don't often see at church.

School Christmas Program:  Our SJE choir was a great addition to the Christmas program.  As always, the highlight was ending the evening with the whole town singing Silent Night, our choir sang the harmony part!

The Nutcracker:  Our cousin Evalie performed in the Nutcracker this year in Moses Lake.   She was a beautiful angel and we were enthralled with the sets and costumes!

Ice Skating on Christmas Eve:  This might have been the most brilliant idea ever.  It is so fun to see all the cousins and have fun on the ice.  What a Christmasy way to start the day!

Family Christmas program:  I found a perfect Christmas program book at the second hand store for .25 cents and now we have a traditional program.  Of course the men singin , "Guard Him Joseph" always makes me cry.  This year all four of my boys sang with their Dad and it was a lovely Christmas gift.  Since no one in my family wears pajamas,  everyone received Nike sweatshirts and sweats and slippers.  Our dinner was delicious.  The kids all helped with the veggie tree.  Grandma brought chips and dip.   Jill is a pretzel jello expert and Stacey has mastered the potatoes.  We missed Tyler and Chelsea, as we always do.

Christmas morning:  Last year of 5 kids on the staircase waiting to see what Santa brought.  Marcos, our sole believer,  left carrots and cookies out for Santa and the reindeer.   Everyone was happy and thankful with their gifts and had fun giving gifts as well.

Christmas Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa