Christmas 2013

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Christmas 2013

We set up the tree on December 1.

Before I knew it, the boys had totally taken control of the situation.

That meant that the ornaments on the tree weren't necessarily the ones I wanted.

Or maybe not placed where I would have placed them.

But Ammon and Peter enjoyed doing it, and that was more important.

We have enjoyed several trips to the swimming pool over Christmas break.

The boys seem to have a great time and enjoy playing in the water.

They have both been to the pool on field trips so they are comfortable being there without a parent in the water with them.

We have also enjoyed running into friends at the pool which makes playtime more fun.

We made our traditional holiday fruit cookies on Christmas Eve.

We did it in stages while watching The Santa Clause.

It was was a fun evening.

The end of the spatula came off and got mixed into the dough.

That was adventurous.

The other moment of humor was watching Peter crack an egg.

He was so worried about it but we convinced him to do it anyway.

He ended up with egg all over his hand.

He was devastated that he had done it "wrong".

(He is my perfectionist.)

He said that Ammon never had this learning curve.

We explained that not only did Ammon need to practice to do as well as he does now,

but that even Dad STILL sometimes gets the shell in the food on accident.

In fact, that happened to Dad just a few days earlier.

That made Peter laugh and everything was better.

Christmas morning was fabulous.

It was the first year that I truly slept until the boys woke me up.

(Usually I end up waking up the kids myself...)

We said a prayer in our bedroom and then went out to see the tree.

After we looked through our stockings,

we invited Sonner and Barbara to join us as the boys opened presents.

It was fun to have our honorary grandparent figures share the morning with us.

It was a simple but successful Christmas morning.

The rest of the day was spent playing games, putting together puzzles, making yummy food etc.

We had the missionaries over for dinner.

We talked to my family on the phone a couple of times, and Skyped with the Shadel parents.

By the end of the day, Andrew and I were hammered!

He noted that we are not young anymore.

Who would have thought that Christmas could be so exhausting!

But it was exhausting in a good way.

Merry Christmas!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.