Christmas 2023

Merry Christmas! From our crazy crew to yours!

What a beautiful Christmas! The kids have been sad this year because we only had one snow fall and it almost all melted with a very warm and uncharacteristic rain. And there's been no snow in the forecast, just getting colder. In desperation McKinley wrote to Ella (our elf on the shelf) and said "Dear Ella, All I really want for Christmas is snow". Low and behold 2 days before Christmas, the very next morning after she left that note, We woke up to snow! And it snowed all day, creating a white landscape for us just in time for Christmas!

Christmas Eve was on a Sunday this year which was really special. I woke before everyone else and decided to take Atlas for a walk before we hit the ground running. While on my walk I received a message from a lady in the ward. She would not be coming early for choir practice because she had to take her daughter to the urgent care for a possible ear infection. On Christmas Eve! My heart went out to her. Then I realized I could do something about it. But quickly I had some thoughts of self doubt and thoughts that it would likely be a quick thing for them to take her in and get looked at. But then I remembered that this family moved all the way across the country at the end of summer and had been looking for work. I didn't know if they had found some but I couldn't get their plight out of my mind. So quickly I reached out to her to let her know I'm a PA and would be willing to take a look at her daughter, if she preferred. Little Sarah is one of my primary kids and looked so sad when she showed up on my doorstep. I did a quick exam and determined pretty quickly that she indeed needed treatment and I would call a prescription in for her. Her mother choked up and started to cry explaining to me that her husband had just started his new job last week but insurance wouldn't kick in until the new year. They were really worried about the expense but she had to take care of her little girl. I was so grateful to be able to help and relieved that I had spoken up. I'm grateful for those nudges from the Spirit encouraging me and I hope I will do better at listening to them instead of letting self doubt or justifications hold me back!

After this experience I had to scramble to wake everyone up and get to church on time! We went for one hour to hear musical worship of Christ in the form of Christmas music. The youth sang a beautiful rendition of Silent Night- which was really cool to listen to because our youth group is finally growing! Plus I have 2 kids in it so I'm biased. The primary children sang When we Seek Him and did a good job. I'm the music leader and we have worked hard on that song for a month and a half! I've been getting messages from parents about their kids practicing and even videos showing how well they know it and love it. It's been fun. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will remain the music leader with the ward boundary split that is fast approaching. We find out at a stake meeting on New Year's Eve (rude lol). It will be interesting/sad to see how it affects our quiet little ward.

Once we got back home we snapped a quick photo by the tree before anyone changed. Then we opened Christmas pajamas and most of us jumped into them, - even though it was only 11:30 in the morning... cuz why not?! You can see on Lilia's face, the pjs are always a hit. Around 4:30 we got together with a couple families- Deckers and Mosers- piled into their 11 passenger van (there were 23 of us) and went caroling to a few widows and members of the bishopric. It was so fun! And so cold! And so much like tetris getting in that van!

After caroling we came home and made dinner and then started into some fun games Chad had planned for us. He had us crawling all over the floor blowing on ping pong balls, sticking our noses in vaseline for pin the nose on the reindeer (I may have graciously forfeited my nose to a child whose nose had broken in order to not have to participate...), rolling dice and testing our luck for prizes, and running/dodging/screaming during an indoor game of dodgeball with indoor snowballs. 

The kids had a lot of fun and it was so good for me to sit back and watch them enjoying each other, being patient with antics, and I really loved the laughter!

Jaedyn got something in her eye at one point and disappeared. That was about the time the snowballs came out. So we all hid behind couches and ambushed her when she came back. So much fun and laughter.

After games we settled in for our secret sister gift exchange. The kids draw names at the beginning of the season and then spend a few weeks thinking about their secret sister and finally shopping for her. They get so excited to give their gifts, they're practically hopping by the time they get to. As you can see, they also really enjoy receiving them!

Then we took turns highlighting an item from the nativity on the Christmas Pyramid and sharing with everyone what special significance that item holds for us that year. It was touching to hear some of the responses, they really considered them this year! My kids are growing up! After sharing, they get to light a candle. This year I made them use matches instead of the lighter. It was hilarious! They all learned to light them though LOL. We sang silent night as we watched the shadows on the ceiling with the lights off. I love this family of mine!

About this time it was late and we still had to wrap gifts so we sent kids to bed and spent the next couple of hours wrapping gifts. This is not my favorite tradition. LOL Several times I questioned Chad why we didn't just throw everything into one box and wrap that! I had a roommate in college whose favorite thing during the Christmas season is to wrap gifts... and they're beautiful! I just don't get it! Maybe it's because I procrastinate ALL the wrapping until the very end? Anyway, we got it done together (which is my favorite part), and the effect was beautiful. We then headed to bed around 2 am wondering how much sleep we would actually get before the rascals were up. They surprised us and didn't stir until 7:55!

The gifts were amazing this year! The kids opened things they wanted, things they needed, and things that were a total surprise! There are a few gift highlights this year... Mostly mine, because I was so touched by them. 

Remember how we doorbell ditched posters around Halloween? Well the Deckers brought us a Christmas gift the other day that we opened to reveal said poster rolled up in a long tootsie roll tube. They were kind enough to leave the tootsie rolls. I'd say we came out ahead on that one!

Lilia, Ebony, and McKinley pooled their resources to buy this candle for me. I laughed right out loud when I read it! They are right, I have beautiful children! They also bought Chad some chocolates. I had told Chad that in lieu of gifts this year for me he should find a house cleaner and hire them to come monthly. Listening to my message, He bought me a robot vacuum! LOL Jaedyn bought this bracelet for me and I teared up over it. Such a special message- it meant so much to me! She also bought this multi-tool knife for her Dad with a sweet message. We were so touched by the thoughtfulness of the kids- we do not tell them to shop for us, we didn't even give them money for it like we do for the sister exchange. They did this 100% on their own because they wanted to and we felt the love in those gifts!

We had a big reveal when the presents were all opened. We are taking the kids on a Caribbean Cruise in February! Woot! We will be going with the Allreds and Helen which made the surprise even more fun! We will be visiting Honduras, Cozumel Mexico, and Belize. So after opening presents, I spent the next several hours helping each kid shop online for swimsuits. Which was fun, but I was SO done being sedentary and in doors by the end! So Chad and I decided to go for a walk and McKinley joined us on her bike... on icy roads. It was slow going! LOL Afterwards we headed out to the gym to get a workout in before coming in and...

Eating so so much in a fondue floor picnic!

What a beautiful family I have! This season was full of so much love! I'm grateful to this man right here who helped me start it all! It's such a beautiful season! 

We are so blessed.

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Mischief

I get a kick out of some of the selfies my children take. I just wish I didn't have to sort through so much garbage to find the gold! LOL They take so so so so SO many with my phone!

Ella has been make her rounds every evening in our house again.

These 2 love to hunt her down every morning and laugh at her shenanigans!

My bosses threw a great Christmas party at Bob's Indoor Golf. We played, and ate, and opened gifts. Chad ended up being the sucker for his group! LOL. It was a fun date night this year as it was just for a +1. They gifted us water bottles, gift cards, and the most amazingly soft and fuzzy minky blanket made by Lola. It's guaranteed to cause some fighting in my blanket-loving family!

This kid... she just does not like to go to bed! She puts it ooooooooooooffff! Her delay tactic this night? Reading Walter the Farting Dog. While it makes Chad laugh hard, it appears to have the opposite effect on Lilia.

One of my favorite families right here. These pix are all from different days. Jaedyn and Aiden playing with filters, Aiden reading on the stairs, and then like mother like son- I caught this matching photo of Analisa reading her phone on the stairs! HA! They have been such a blessing in my life this year as our families have grown close. It makes for a lot of late nights because we just can't seem to stop talking when we get together. But I am so so grateful for those late night and for each and every member of the Decker family!

Jaedyn's choir had a gift exchange and Jaedyn created this beauty for her... I don't know whether to call it her subject, recipient, or victim!

 

Facing Fears

I hate guns. I hate anything that makes an anticipated loud noise. I can't even open a pillsbury can for crying out loud. Last year we received a gift card to guns and gear from my bosses. And it has taken us a full year to make it over there. But Lilia, well she loves to shoot. So we took her and did some target practice. As soon as we put on the ear protection and eyewear my heart started hammering in my chest and my palms got sweaty. We entered the range and got stuff set up. Lilia was shooting the 22 and did an amazing job as you can see. I took a turn with the 22 and it was not so bad. Chad set up his 9mm and while I was turned away from him talking to Lilia, he took his first shot. I'm pretty sure I almost died. I've never had a panic attack but my anxiety was so high already and that startle almost sent me over the edge. I was so mad at him for several minutes! I had to disappear in my mind and talk myself down. Then he offered to let me take a turn. Who was he kidding?! But I did. I knew pulling the trigger would be scary... I just can't handle the anticipation of the noise! Like watching children play with balloons! It kills me! But I shot it once. And then, I made myself pull the trigger a 2nd time and then I was done. I don't even know where my bullets went. Probably didn't even come close to the target. But that wasn't the point. It is silly, but I faced a fear that day.

Speaking of facing fears... I had another birthday. Ha! I actually don't mind getting older. But it weird to think about how much the birthdays are starting to add up! I turned 41. But I don't feel 41! The kids made my birthday, which happened to fall on a Sunday, so special! The night before McKinley made the table all up in anticipation of a birthday dinner. So I discovered that the morning of my birthday. Then we were ready to head out the door for church and Lilia declared breakfast was ready, she had been making it while we were hustling to get ready for church! I looked at her sweet face and immediately sat down to eat. We were late. But we were late with full tummies and smiles. There were so many people who reached out to me- some anticipated and some completely unanticipated! I even had a couple of visitors bring me gifts! Chad made a delicious cake, we had yummy french dip sandwiches, and the kids had all shopped for me! Actually, Ane had taken the younger 2 shopping while Chad and I were out with Lilia. That means they walked to Walmart in the December cold in order to shop for me! I felt so loved! That evening we also went to The Messiah sing in and was surprised to see my boss in the choir! That was a fun surprise!

The following day we headed up to Kelly for the first time this season (it opened on Saturday). The kids have every other Monday which is going to be so great for skiing! But we missed Jaedyn who had to go in for choir rehearsal because her Christmas concert was the next day. No fear for Lilia, or Ebony. They are looking so good after only skiing twice! And Ane is a pro. But I feared for the kids and McKinley conquered some pretty big fear when Ane took her up Skier's Lane for the first time! She was so tired by the time she got to the bottom and I think the last little steep lip had her pretty scared. But she did it!

It was just 2/3 of a day on the mountain because we came back in time for the Laughing all the Way show with Meg Johnson, John Bytheway, and Hank Smith. That last one- he is so funny! My parents came to the show too and we met the Deckers there. Everyone laughed and enjoyed it so much and we left feeling uplifted and inspired by their messages. Hank spoke about finding happiness and shared 12 ways science has discovered that people can increase their happiness. He was hilarious as he did so! Meg shared her story again and was the favorite speaker for the younger girls. Her love and joy that cannot be contained, despite her circumstance, is so inspiring! She said something that I completely agree with- "the hardest trials in our life don't belong to us, they belong to someone we love". John spoke about perspective, especially during the Christmas season his talk was also intermixed with so much humor. I admire the way people can just be so silly as they share their life experiences! He quoted something that was touching as well, "It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful". So while this show wasn't necessarily facing a fear- they did talk about some of their experiences in life where the fear could have been crippling if they had allowed it. Instead they had us all laughing.

The next evening was Jaedyn's choir concert. Bear with me on this fear, it's a little stretched. In order to sing with the competitive choir, Jaedyn had to spend a year in the women's choir under the direction of a great man, but he did not do well for the music program. She often declared their choir sounded like chipmunks and she hated the concerts. She would stand up there stone faced not moving and would perform but I don't think she enjoyed it very much. Which is saying a lot because that girl LOVES music! This year, they have a new director and he is fantastic! This night at their concert it was like she came alive! She has always been fun to LISTEN to, but she was fun to WATCH! There was so much expression, playfulness, and emotion! There were times when she looked like she might cry because of the powerful feeling of the music, other times there was joy, and some of the numbers were just so fun and playful. I would say working through a choir you don't enjoy in order to perform in one you do, going from hating being on stage to practically laughing on stage- well that sounds like working to conquer fear to me! Sadly no pictures, but she was beautiful and alive with the music!

I fear laundry day. But I face it every week. And sometimes, something really special results from it 💜

 

Owen's Family Christmas Lights

For the last 17 years, this family has been providing a 30 minute Christmas light show complete with music streamed through a local radio station. The show repeats every half hour from the hours of 5-10 throughout the month of December. We learned about the shows shortly after moving back to Idaho Falls in 2016 and have made attending a part of our Christmas traditions. The shows are so well choreographed! We like to pop popcorn, squeeze into the front seat with blankets and even open up the sunroof for extra viewing space. It has been delightful!

Well this year, I read a sad article that due to health problems, it isn't feasible for the shows to continue and this will be their last one. I was so sad to read that! My kids have grown up on these shows! I'm so grateful to this family for the countless hours and extra money they spend providing this service for the community to enjoy. It is truly such a selfless way to serve and bring a little extra Christmas spirit into our small community. I am so impressed with the creative ways people come up with to share a little extra love. I need to learn from that and look for ways that I can offer what I have to lift others. Thank you Mr Owen for your loving service and great example! I sincerely hope your health improves. Thank you for being a small part of our lives and for lifting us. I think Christmas lights in some form will always have to be part of our celebration.

 

Mickey's Antics

This girl! She is delightfully full of life! Monday we were finishing up wrapping caramels and she appears in the kitchen like this...

My first question: "What type of marker did you use?" You can see the offending washable crayola in her hand in the second pic. Phew! Narrowly escaped a potential disaster. My second question: "What were you doing?!" She responded "Trying to be like Dad". Which melted my heart and I snapped the second picture with her Dad who she very clearly loves so much. Can you see the studded whiskers on her neck? Her attention to detail is quite impressive 😆😆😆. This is just one example. Daily she is making and creating are in one form or another. The evidence is usually all over my kitchen and desk. But her art is so detailed and creative. And her interests are so diverse! From creating a murder scene using a terrible sticker, to cute animals, to holiday decorations to astronauts in space. I'm constantly impressed with her art. I just hope she keeps it on paper in the future. LOL

Here is another example. This is her chapter book complete with fancy writing on the title page and numbered pages. It is titled, "The mistarey black cat Book 1". I love the phonetic spelling stage and this girl loves to write! But can we just take a moment to appreciate the fact that my SIX year old wrote a book and started it with the words "In the midst of the dark"?!?

I love the relationship that these 2 have. How wonderful to have a live in friend! Oh they fight. But more often they play together, do everything together really. On this particular day I had an order to pick up from Al's for some Christmas gifts. While we were waiting they were perusing the beanie boos and Ebony proceeded to buy one for herself and one for her sister. Just cuz. So cool.

McKinley's class is doing a drive in movie on the last day of school before Christmas break. So she insisted this weekend that she needed to make her car. "But, will it get destroyed in the 10 days before you get to use it at school?" I asked. She was not to be deterred. So together we made a car! She wanted it wrapped so while I wrapped she drew a Christmas tree on the cut out door and we glued pom poms to it (not pictured). She wanted exhaust pipes and lights, a steering wheel, a start button, and a helper elf that she made out of a disposable cup. It was fun building it together... but now it has to be protected! 

She's a light. I love her lots. I'm sure I've mentioned her amazing koala hugs. She just started gymnastics this week and is already talking about how good she is. She has so much spunk and SO much sass! But she balances it with the cuddles, the sweet words, and the smiles. She's growing up for sure and I'm trying to cope with that!

 

A Little Snow, a lot of Caramel!

With Thanksgiving in the past, we all look forward to the Christmas season. We don't waste much time either! Saturday after Thanksgiving I spent the day putting up my garland and getting the decorations out. That evening we hit the new Disney movie at the theater with Wes' family. It was the release of Wish which was... eh. But once again, fun memories. I enjoyed the texting Jaedyn did when she realized Chris Pine could sing. 😂 Or the way Chad looked so mournful when Lilia threw away the popcorn bucket before he could get his free refill! Ha! Rebecca and I had some good laughs over that. Sunday morning they left around 8 am and our house became way too quiet. I miss being surrounded by family. It just doesn't happen often enough. I get jealous of all the neighbors and friends of mine who have family at all their kids events. Because they live so close, it's easy to be a part of their everyday lives. Sigh. I know my family and Chad's family love us... I just wish they didn't do it from so far away!

Because Lilia and Jaedyn went to a surprise birthday party for a friend (to watch a showing of A Christmas Carol Play at the local theater) on Saturday afternoon, I was threatened with my life to not decorate the Christmas tree while I was doing garland. So I didn't. I very patiently (or nervously ha!) waited until after church on Sunday. And then the kids let Ane put the star on top!

I found this beauty in in my studies one morning. Such a good reminder. It says, 

"You are good enough, you are loved, but that does not mean that you are yet complete. There is work to be done in this life and the next. Only with His divine help can we all progress toward becoming like Him. In these times, when all things appear to be in commotion; and... fear is seemingly upon all people, the only antidote, the only remedy, is to strive to be like the Savior, the Redeemer of all mankind, the Light of the World, and to seek after Him who declared, "I am the way"". 

It's from Elder Scott D Whiting's talk "Becoming Like Him". I think we women are tempted to get down on ourselves cuz we aren't perfect... yet. I love the way he phrases it and emphasizes that just because we have work to do still, that doesn't mean we are failures, or not good enough, or not loved. We just aren't complete yet. And it's a good reminder that along our journey to become complete, we need to ignore the voices that tell us we aren't good enough (even when the loudest of such voices is often our own).

We are starting to get snow. It's off and on. Ane keeps asking me if it is here to stay. I've started shrugging because every time I think it is, we get rain that dissolves it all or a warm spell that melts it all! Ane went out with McKinley and Ebony to make a snowman. The girls were delighted. And then that night it rained and EVERYTHING melted. When Ane went out to the car in the morning to head to school she exclaimed with disappointment and disbelief "Where did the snow go?!" I chuckled. It will come.

L&L Sweets had an order to fill for 120 bags of caramels. With 8 caramels in each bag that's 960 caramels! The order came from Landon's uncle in California. So we carameled it up! That's a real thing. I think it ended up being 7 batches of caramels ending with a batch to try some new flavors of course: butter rum, watermelon, licorice, and mint. The mint... oh the mint was like toothpaste gone wrong. It was terrible! Not to mention the fact that the green food coloring made it look like goobers. Such a waste. Todd paid them $3/bag and ordered cinnamon and caramel flavors which are classic favorites. He owns a pool cleaning business and gives them to his clients. These kids worked so hard!

And even these kids got in on the action. They weren't earning money but wanted to help and got paid with yummy caramels to eat. LOL. 

When the bags were packaged up and ready to send the grand total was 24 pounds! It bit into their profits a little but they were super happy with the result!