Christmas Eve

Driving into St. George on Christmas Eve, this is the incredible view we captured of the red mountain backed with the snowy white. Can you see why I miss this place?
Emily was thrilled to see "Papa."
And she literally ran into her Grandma's arms, which melted my heart. We all had missed them so much!

Jon was excited to see Aunt Ruthanne and had fun playing peek-a-boo with her and giving her kisses through the wooden railing.

And he had lots of horsey rides since there were more people around to give him attention.

That night, after we read the Christmas Story from the Bible as a family, Emily retold the story using the children's nativity set. She had a little help from me, but she actually knew most of it herself. We were all impressed. When Emily was finished, I asked her, "But what was the most important gift of all?" To our surprise, little Jonny said, "Jesus!" Wow, can you believe that? My little one year-old had been listening the whole time!

Jon and Wade

Catherine and Ruthanne

my Grandpa and Grandma Lang

For the last part of the program, my dad sang, "Let Him In," I sang "Mary, Let Me Hold Your Baby," Austin played "O Holy Night" on the piano, and then we all listened to a special recording of a child telling the Christmas story. That night as a family, it was easy to remember why we celebrate this time of year as all of our thoughts turned to the Savior. It was a really special night.

After we put the kids to bed, we all played Rummikub around the kitchen table. Of course, even when the game was over, the boys (Austin, my dad, and Wade) were determined to figure out a way to play every last piece, and they did!

Santa came early...and late!

Because we would be spending Christmas in St. George, Santa came early at our house. He brought this amazing wooden doll house (The Miller family gave it to me when I went to visit them the week before.) Emily and Jonathan loved it! It came with some darling furniture and about 30 tiny people, each the size of a lego. If any of you know me and how I like things simple without a lot of clutter, you can understand why I put the 30 tiny people aside and just pulled out a few of Emily's Fisher Price little people to go with the doll house, since she already owned a mom, dad, sister, baby, and a dog. Oh yeah, and I put a horse in there for Jon. :)

Since we forgot to take the build-a-bears with us to St. George (oops), the morning after we returned home, the kids discovered that Santa had left them one last surprise.

They have been hugging and squeezing and sleeping with their new pals everyday since then.

Seeing as how Emily's bear is dressed as Snow White, both the kids wanted to dress up as Snow White that morning, too...yes even Jon...he insisted! The problem was that Jon wanted to buckle Emily's Snow White bear in the car seat, but she was already working on it, so he felt left out. :(

Cookie Exchange

We're finally back from our trip to St. George, but before I post about it, I wanted to post about a few Cookie Exchange parties I enjoyed earlier on in December.

On Dec. 3, our visiting teaching group met together at Sherri Michie's home for a Cookie Exchange. Jenica, Amy, Anissa, Sherri, and I all came prepared with a plate full of our favorite cookies and the recipe to accompany it. After sitting around the table catching up with one another, Sherri shared a special message about Christ, and then we all tested the cookies out. So yummy! I brought Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookie DOUGH, because my favorite kind of cookie is pre-baked! :D lol I just substituted the eggs for milk, so they would feel better about eating raw cookie dough. Then we filled our plates up with a few cookies of each kind and said goodnight. It was a really nice evening.

3 weeks later, I went to Alix's Cookie Exchange, across the street, and I brought these Peanut Butter Cookies dipped in chocolate and walnuts. Amy had brought this kind to the other cookie exchange, and they tasted so good and looked fun, that I wanted to try them out, so she gave me the recipe.

I didn't know a single person at the party besides Alix until that night, but it was fun meeting her friends and just hanging out...and eating a dozen different kinds of cookies! :)

The Forgotten Carols

Our favorite Christmas tradition is attending Michael McLean's The Forgotten Carols. It's a musical production with a story about those Christmas carols that may have been forgotten about. There's the song that Joseph, Mary, the Innkeeper, the shepherds, the angels, and the Wise Men would have sung if they had a carol to sing about the part they played in the birth of our Savior. It's an amazing production and just gets better for me every year. We attended the show a week and a half ago and loved it, as always! It's just refreshing to slow down from the rush of everything this month and spend a night reminded WHY we celebrate Christmas. The birth of our Savior is a beautiful story, but it's more than that. I know it really happened. I know that Christ came to Earth to live for us, to be an example of selfless love, to suffer, bleed, and die for us. And I know He lives today and will come again. And that knowledge brings me great joy!

One of my favorite songs of all time happens to come from The Forgotten Carols. It's entitled "What I Need"

All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of, everything I hoped,

and all the things I prayed for couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given.

I've been given what I need.

A mansion on a hill, a love like in the movies,

perfect little dreams where no one has a problem;
Instead of all those things I thought I really wanted,

I've been given what I need.

Even when I didn't understand, when I thought you had no heart.

Thank for you objecting my demands and always giving me the better part.

All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of, everything I hoped,

and all the things I prayed for couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given.

I've been given what I need.

Because I listen to The Forgotten Carols CD every day through out December and often through out the year as well, I get a chance to listen to this song often. And each time I hear it, I'm humbled. I feel so grateful that Heavenly Father hasn't given me a perfect life, that I have trials to face day in and day out. Those trials have given me character and have made me a stronger person.

Particularly this last year, as Wade has been searching for a job, it's been frustrating, yet humbling that he hasn't found one yet. He's been turned down again and again and half the time, it's because they're closing the position after all and aren't going to hire anybody because of the bad economy. What I want is for my husband to land a great job. But what the Lord knows I need is to learn patience and to live according to His will, not mine. So Wade and I will continue fasting and praying, and we'll let you know if and when we have good news to share.

Reed Family Christmas Party

Saturday morning, we had the Reed Family Christmas Party at our house. We had a brunch with Quiche, cinnamon rolls, bacon, fruit, juice, and chocolate milk. So tasty! It was a lot of fun to just hang out as a family.

the cousins playing together
We all agreed it was nice to spread out the family parties because the kids thought it was Christmas morning every time. Here Emily is helping Jon open his Fisher Price Garage from Grandpa and Grandma Reed.

They gave Emily a doctor kit, and she started playing with it right away. She ran into the playroom to get her dolls, so she could give each of them a check-up. Thanks Dad and Claudia for all the wonderful surprises!

Emily and Jake were quite interested in Caleb's new Storm Trooper Helmet. I can't blame them though because it's pretty cool.

Emily had a blast spinning herself on Ramsi's new toy.

Here's Jake and Jonny playing with their new toys and Grandpa Reed enjoying every minute with his grandsons. It was a great party. I was especially excited to see the look on Claudia's face when I gave her 20 home-made cards. I spent a lot of time at my sister's house stamping, cutting, and gluing and having fun doing it. I think she really liked the cards, so that made me happy.

Feelin' Special

I've been feelin' pretty special all week long because of the way my friends and family have helped me celebrate my birthday. So first of all, THANK YOU! My sweet sisters took me out to dinner to Pizza/Pasta Factory a few days prior to my birthday since Margaret would be flying to Ohio the day of my birthday. Ruthanne gave me a scrapbook calendar, with pre-designed pages for each month. I just have to post some pictures on it, and it'll be darling. I'm excited! And Margaret gave me some adhesive tape for scrapbooking. We had such a fun time just talking and laughing. I love my sisters.

On Thursday morning, I woke up to Emily and Jon (with help from daddy) singing "Happy Birthday" to me. Then Wade made us all Fruit Smoothies for breakfast. Mmmm! And later when I checked my email/blog, I saw that Wade had surprised me with the beautiful post prior to this one. I cried as a I read it. It was incredibly thoughtful, and I feel lucky to have Wade as my husband. I was also so happy to read all of your sweet comments on my blog and receive emails, texts, letters in the mail, and phone calls. It brightened my whole week. :) Thank you.

When I returned home from grocery shopping at noon, Wade had a bouquet of flowers, a pork burrito from Cafe Rio for us to share, and a homemade chocolate cake waiting for me, again another surprise. It was wonderful! Thanks so much honey. That night, I blew out my candles and we enjoyed cake and ice-cream as a family.

Friday morning, Melissa Sevy and I drove to Syracuse together to visit Suzanne, Matt, and Ali Miller, the children with Down Syndrome we used to nanny for. Their mother recently lost her battle with cancer and passed away. She was such an incredible woman. Their dad is trying his best to raise these 3 children with special needs, by himself. They have a few nannies to help, but without her mother's positive influence, I'm afraid Suzanne has put on a lot of weight and just doesn't seem quite as happy. It breaks my heart, and I'm grateful Melissa and I could make that trip and spend some time with them. I still love them and feel an undeniable connection with each of them. The whole drive, Melissa and I discussed what an amazing experience it was to care for these children for all those years. It really prepared me for motherhood in more than just getting practice at bathing, feeding, and changing diapers. I learned about sacrifice, patience, and unconditional love, the kind they showed me.
That night, I had a Girls Night Out Birthday Party. It was such a blast! This is me with a big cheeser on my face because I'm thrilled Kim brought an Oreo ice-cream cake. Wahoo! Thanks again, Kim.

I blew out my one candle in just one breath. Proud of me? (We didn't want to ruin this beautiful cake by putting 26 whole candles in it.)

My new friend, Christine Gibb, and one of my old and dear friends, Becky Bruso. They look and act so much alike, it's uncanny.

da girls...watching Mama Mia and just relaxin'. The party started at 6pm, and we didn't even start the movie until 8pm, because we were having such a good time talking. L to R: Becky, Ruthanne, Kristine, Traci, Alix, Kim, Darci, and Kristal on the floor. I took this real quick in the dark, so I didn't realize until now that the picture cut off Cynthia. I still love you, friend. And Michelle was there, but needed to go home after we had dinner, to feed her baby. Thanks again everyone for coming! What an awesome night! I might just make it a tradition. ;)

After the party, Wade snapped a picture of me with the flowers I received from my mom and dad and from him. Can you tell I'm a little tired? But yet I can't stop smiling. What a happy week!

Happy Birthday Catherine!

Before I get started on the mushy stuff, I just want to wish my favorite person in the world, Catherine, HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY!!

Catherine's First Photo!

Catherine at about 1 year old. I just love that happy smile!

I can definitely see where our kids get their cuteness!

Now, since you are 26 years old, you get 26 of the innumerable things I love about you! (In no particular order)

1. Just you...because you are my best friend!

2. The fact that you love me

3. Your beautiful smile

4. Your passion for life

5. Your love of all people, especially children with special needs

6. The way you teach and interact with Emily and Jonathan

7. Your love of the Gospel

8. Your testimony of Christ's atonement and the restoration of His Church

9. Your postive attitude

10. Your spunk

11. Your joyful heart

12. Your tight hugs when I get home from work

13. Your unfailing support of me and my pursuits

14. The way you keep our home clean and organized

15. Your soft kisses

16. Your love of music

17. Your angelic singing voice

18. Your ability to plan

19. Your boundless energy

20. The way you go out of your way to serve others

21. Your ability to make friends with strangers

22. Your ability to make others feel happy and loved

23. Your yummy dinners

24. Your emerald eyes

25. Your generosity

26. The way that you love me

Bonus...an original poem (sort of):

26 Years

26 years are but a few

of the many years ahead of you.

I love you, Catherine!