Christmas Morning

 

This was the best Christmas Season I've ever had as an adult. I'm not sure why, but I can conclusively say it was not due to any external changes, rather, I think it was a shift in focus and attitude. I really tried to keep my focus on Christ this Christmas, not by changing any traditions or activities, but by thinking about how those traditions or activities could and should help me remember Him. So, although December was filled with an endless parade of concerts, parties, and performances, I felt a peace and stillness amidst the hustle and bustle. I found that I talked to the kids in greater depth and with more frequency about the symbols of Christmas. It was gratifying and heartening to hear them talk about Santa and then say "Santa is so nice to give us presents to help us remember that Jesus gave us the greatest present!" or "Mom, that's a pretty bow on that package. That makes me think of our family and how we can be tied together forever." In that context a visit from Santa and a tree full of presents became a spiritual experience!

I also did 90% of my Christmas shopping online. I've found that I shop with purpose and thought, rather than impulse, when I'm able to sit and think, check my wish lists, and look at what I've already bought. Being able to sit in my home and shop helped me visualize the purchases in the kids' rooms and decide whether they were really necessary or would end up being a big space/money waster. I'm the worst at the last minute panic of "do I have enough for everyone?", but that didn't happen to me this year! I'm thankful to have had such a joyous holiday season with no 'buyer's remorse' December 26.

Thanks to Mom and Dad making the trip over on Christmas Day to see us, we didn't even have to worry about travel for the whole week before Christmas, or the whole week after! Loved that.

Now, lest you think it was all pine cones and holly berries at the Wilson household, I'll admit that we had our fair share of "I want that" and "Why aren't you ready to go -- we're going to be late!" and "Stop eating so much junk food" -- it's just that those moments didn't seem to bother me as much. Something else was center stage.

Yesterday I took down all the decorations and stored them away in boxes for next year. It's hard to say goodbye to the warmth and cheer of the lights, garlands, trees and stockings -- but today I find that I feel refreshed, decluttered and clean -- ready to start a new year on the right foot!

I hope your holiday season was the same.

Set for Snow

 

Kate, Jack and Todd love to play in the snow, but they don't like to get cold, so they've learned how to get good and bundled up. It makes for long hours of fun outside without the drama of cold fingers and toes. Mom likes. :)

Favorite Family Christmas Party Moments 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Brad and I are so blessed to have been born in to wonderful, close, loving families. This year we celebrated that with 3 family Christmas parties. They were spaced nicely throughout the month, so we thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment!

You'll notice that there are 10x the pictures at the Wilson Family Christmas Party... that's because it happened AFTER Christmas and I had my NEW CAMERA to play with!!!!! Hopefully as I get better at using it, you'll notice a vast improvement in the quality (and maybe quantity) or photos. :) Awesome gift. Love it.

3rd Grade Christmas Concert

 

December brought many fun concerts and activities, one of which was Kate's 3rd grade Christmas Concert. She is blessed to have a wonderful new music teacher who has helped her to LOVE singing! She and her best friend, Sadie, knew every song by heart! They performed a fun and diverse selection of songs. We LOVED it!!

Sadie's mom, Amber, and I decorated the stage for the concert, then picked it all up and hauled it to the Wilson Theater the next week for our "Sounds of the Season" concert. Our spare decorations got plenty of use this year. The back of my van still bears the evidence in the form of glitter and tree 'droppings'!

I Wanna Do This!

Here's a giant cup of holiday cheer for you (thanks to Mom and Dad for the link)! I actually laughed out loud and then cried a little when I watched this! This definitely goes on my bucket list...



Best Christmas Card EVER!

Posh Posies

I was invited to participate in a craft fair this coming week. I have been making headbands and hair clippies for a while now, so thanks to lots of sewing scraps and a great flower tutorial from my aunts on Thanksgiving day, I've been able to put together a pretty cute collection of hair clippies, lapel pins, headbands, and even a skirt! I promised Mom I would include some pictures, so Mom, this one's for you!

Why I Love Rupert - Reason No. 258

Even though I have to agree with Todd and Kate that "Rupert" is an embarrassing name for a town, I still LOVE this wonderful place. We have so many opportunities to serve and share our talents. Our ward is magnificent, our home and neighborhood are completely idylic, we have fantastic friends, and to top it all off we get to have fireworks TWICE (count 'em people), TWICE a year; once for the 4th of July, and then again the evening after Thanksgiving! Santa arrives on the firetruck to usher in the holiday season, then all the lights around the square go dark, then all the Christmas lights are turned on and we ooh and ahhh with the best of them! After the lighting of the square the fireworks get underway. Jack was in complete awe and insisted that we get a few shots just to document the moment in time -- so there you have it, that's why I LOVE RUPERT!!