I have all I want for Christmas

    Christmas is always special, but having Liam has made this whole year more exciting. Getting ready for Christmas was so fun and so busy. We had such a crazy month that i had to intentionally set aside time for the season. All our family nights were especially intentional and, each Sunday was spent talking about the nativity or Christs ministry but it still just felt so rushed.
  We had our bosses come down, ward parties, work parties, family parties, graduations, grandparents in town, RS activities, talks in church, finals, projects, research conferences, applying for jobs and phone interviews. It was nuts. But "good" nuts. Sam and Preston and the boys moved this last weekend and it was so hard to say goodbye. we have really grown to be the best of siblings, we've started our families together and our boys sure our going to miss eachother. The graduation was wonderful and it was so great for Liam to meet his Grandpa Dan!

 

    

But throughout the whole month, our family really focused on attributes of Christ. While the nativity story is often the focus of Christmas, we decided to focus a little more on Christs life and example this year and it was an amazing experience. I tried focusing on a different attribute each day. I can't say I "mastered" anything but I came to much clearer understanding of the Lords purpose and calling as our Savior. I know that no one else could have died for us but i also know that no one else could have been such a perfect example for us either. His life was the sample, the pattern by which we are to follow in order to understand the standard by which we will be judged.

  I love this quote from President Ezra Taft Benson, he said, “I testify to you that there is no greater, more thrilling, and more soul-ennobling challenge than to try to learn of Christ and walk in His steps. Our model, Jesus Christ, walked this earth as ‘the Exemplar.’ He is our Advocate with the Father. He worked out the great atoning sacrifice so we could have a fullness of joy and be exalted in accordance with His grace and our repentance and righteousness. He did all things perfectly and commands that we be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect."
  it reminds me of a scripture i was reading the other day in 3 Nephi 27, that explains, 

 “And know ye that ye shall be judged of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”

  We have his like and minister as a perfect example. We have the blue prints for our eternal home, now we just have to build it after the manner of the Savior. 

    I'm so grateful for my Savior. I'm so grateful for the way he has provided me with the tools i need to teach and nurture my children, support and sustain my husband and grow closer to my Savior through faith in his footsteps.

                                                           Practicing for our nativity!

                                                          Grandmas crystal hearts!

 We love the Christmas devotional, well i was listening anyways, Liam loves ornaments.

 We made a special little 'Christmas Fort" for liam out of an old box we found outside and a few extra strings of lights. Liam loved it! He would drink his bottle in there and drag us in there to show us the lights. I don't know how I'm ever going to take it down!

       Christmas eve in our home was beautiful. We spent the whole day together...for the first time in almost 5 months. Liam was in an especially good mood, I think he loved our time together as much and Chad and I did. We went to the mall for a few hours and finished up some shopping in the morning. Santa was there so we introduced Liam to him. I think Liam thought he was just another grandpa because he clapped for him, smiled at him and cuddled a little. The pictures were priceless! 

We went home and finished assembling Liams presents. After we put Liam down, Chad and I just spent the night together. It was so peaceful, just snuggling and watching the snow fall.

    Chad and I could hardly sleep, we were so excited to watch Liam open his gifts. I woke up at 4, Chad woke up at 5 and Liam woke up at 7:30. We went in to get Liam as soon as we heard him happily talking to himself and brought him into bed with us. We looked out the window at the thick blanket of snow that had fallen over night. We read Luke chapter 2 together. The spirit filled our home. We got out the camcorder and watched Liam discover his gifts.

 Here's a shot of Liams curly locks as requested by grandma.

 

Now the rest of these photos are taken on my awesome new camera! I have learned so much but i have so much to learn. My first lesson in photography:a good camera doesn't mean you're a good photographer :) haha, I've got a looong way to go.

    Liam loved the activity board and his sled. He was a little weary about the tent but he warmed up to it once I put some crackers in there. Chad and I took turns helping him open his gifts, he was a little scared of hearing the paper rip which is surprising since he tears pages out of our textbooks all the time. Liam was spoiled with books, toys and warm clothes. 

  Chad got his gun and a dueling tree and i got a fantastic camera with all the fixins. One of our favorite parts of the day was skyping with our families. It so fun to see my family who is normally so fast pace, busy an always moving, just sitting and enjoying Christmas morning together. I miss them dearly. 

   It was so fun skyping with Gail, Ray and Madi. It was Gail and Madis first white Christmas in Utah and they loved it.

   Speaking of white Christmas, as soon as Liam went down for his first nap, Chad and I were out shoveling for the next two hours, it DUMPED at least a foot of snow and we had our work cut out for us.

   We showered and go ready for our movie, the Hobbit. Long story short, we learned that Laim is no longer a fan of sitting still in a movie, even with popcorn bribery. It was borderline miserable so we were very happy when the movie ended and we walked in the house to the welcoming smell of our Christmas turkey. We ate a nice dinner together and Liam was out by 6:30 which is about an hour earlier than usual for him, but he was exhausted.

   
As I think about Christmases past and how I've always had an expectation, a standard to meet with presents, Christmas decorations, and warm and fuzzy feelings to feel. This year, there was no standard or desired level of holiday cheer to acquire. I just wanted to have my boys and that's what I had. A day to spend, thanking the heavens for my favorite short-legged, big smiled, slaphappy, snuggly, crazy boys. Of course i miss my family, I'd be crazy to say i didn't, they are amazing people, but i have them, being away from them has never distanced me from them, it's only helped me appreciate them more. I have all I ever wanted, anything else from here on out is just the Lord spoiling me.

The greatest gift of all is recognizing the gifts you've been given.