Gumdrop Trees

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . meeting Aunt Lara's boyfriend, Justin.  He seems like a friendly guy, and I look forward to getting to know him better.

. . . decorating gumdrop trees at Pink Grandma's home this evening.  As always, it was interesting to see how each child approached the activity.  Joy started decorating hers, then pulled everything off and started over after brainstorming a unique plan with me (she didn't want her tree to look like someone else's).  Daniel randomly stuck on as much candy as he felt like eating at the time, then ate it all and took off to play a video game.  Anna covered her tree with candy in no particular pattern, then admired how nicely it turned out (while all the adults were amazed that a three-year-old exhibited that much dexterity).  The adults all got really into the activity, too, and Aunt Lara observed that we were all really kids at heart.

Angels, Siblings, and Groceries

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . . going to the grocery store three times today because I kept forgetting things I needed.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . Joy and Daniel playing happily together (except when they didn't--you know how it is).

. . . Anna smiles and Todd giggles.

. . . watching this Christmas music video by The Piano Guys.  The music is lovely, and the video is one of the most moving things I've ever seen. #sharethegift

String and Good Spiders

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . . feeling really tired.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . recalling this conversation with two of my kids (Daniel, age 5; Anna, age 3) yesterday:

K: Hey, Daniel.  Christmas is a time for doing nice things for other people, but it's also a time when we get a few fun presents.  What kinds of things would you like for Christmas?

D: My very own iPad!

K: Um, Santa doesn't give iPads to anyone under 18 years old.

D: [a little put out] Oh.  Then I'd like some good spiders, that don't bite people.

K: Uh, OK.  Anna, what would you like for Christmas?

A: String.  So I can eat it.

K: You mean string cheese?

A: No, string.

K: ??? [makes a mental note to just plan kid gift lists with Phillip tonight]

Beef Stew and the Grinch

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . .  putting the finishing touches on some delicious, nutritious beef stew, and realizing that my three oldest offspring would refuse to eat it.  They all complained, the oldest ate just enough so I would let her fill up on wheat bread, and the other two decided they would rather leave the table without dinner than ingest a cooked potato in savory broth.  Sigh.  At least Phillip eagerly ate two helpings.  They say food is the way to a man's heart, but to some degree it's the way to mine, too.  I'm so grateful that he eats (and usually likes) what I cook.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . finding the missing piece of one of our favorite ornaments.

. . . having a thoughtful family discussion about the Holy Ghost at home evening.

. . . reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas as our home evening activity.  Phillip commented that my narration was "very dramatic."

Lights, Cookies, and the Christmas Spirit

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . seeing Christmas lights on some of the homes in our area.  I love how they impart colorful whimsy to any home they adorn, and my kids get pretty excited about them, too.

. . . decorating holiday cookies with Joy.

. . . making dinner for a friend who recently had a baby.

. . . wearing my red scarf.  Every girl likes to pretty now and then.

. . . watching the annual Christmas Devotional broadcast from Salt Lake.  The music and messages always warm my heart, and remind me of the true meaning and generous spirit of Christmas.  I especially loved Elder Christofferson's talk about a town who learned that a young boy  would die of leukemia before his favorite holidays, so they joined together to host Halloween, the boy's birthday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day all in one week of October.  The details of their impromptu holiday festivities for the boy and his family made me grin and cry at the same time.  The Devotional is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, and I love sharing it with my family.

Flowers and Fried Chicken

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . giving a friend some flowers for her birthday.

. . . my kids having fun decorating the Christmas tree.

And another thing . . .

. . . I discovered over the weekend that making fried chicken can be ridiculously easy, delicious, and cheap (if you buy chicken breasts on sale and cut them into several strips).  This could be dangerous knowledge.