The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This time of year is termed "the most wonderful time of the year!" At the beginning of December I didn't think so. I even said out loud, "I hate this time of year!" There is so much traffic, large crowds and lines where ever you go, people have no patience and are so horn happy when driving and so angry. I really should get my Christmas shopping done early and then maybe I could enjoy the season a little bit better. I finally started to feel the spirit of the season when my family and I went to the temple to hear the King family sing on a Monday night. It was beautiful! I loved walking around the temple afterward to look at the lights. We also did our Jesus pictures like we've done the last few years and that really brings the spirit of the season. I felt it tremendously when I watched "The Nativity Story". I taught Young Women's last Sunday and I ordered this movie because I heard it was fantastic. I wanted to show a portion of it for my lesson. It depicts the hardship of the times, it depicts how hard the travel from Nazareth was to Bethlehem. I loved the different perspective! The simple, humble birth of our Savior. All the stuff and stress is not important. I truly love this time of year! I truly am so grateful for my Saviors birth!

 

On December 20th, Jake and I went to his work Christmas Party

 On Christmas Eve I made pancakes and Ashton turned his into a snowman. :)

 I love the time spent with family! My sister and brother and their families came to our house, my mom, Aunt Ruthie and her family came too. We ate a yummy dinner, did our traditional nativity story-Jake put together and it was beautiful! Sierra played Silent Night and Ashton played Away in a Manger. Then we went caroling to a few of our neighbors.

 We came back home and had pie and warm apple cider.

 After everyone left the magic began...
we sprinkled reindeer food

 put out Santa's cookies and milk

 Read "T'was the Night Before Christmas" and the kids went to sleep by the tree. Sierra on the couch and Ashton on the floor. I don't think Sierra ever fell asleep on the couch. I heard her up and crawling in Ashton's bed at 2:30am. Grammy was here with us and was sleeping in her bed. How fun to have grammy sleeping at our house on Christmas Eve.
Christmas started at 8:30am. A great time to start Christmas! :)

"Don't shoot your eye out!" :)

Merry Christmas!!