Christmas is such a busy time for everyone and now that the kids are all married, I see them stress as they stretch themselves to be everywhere. Soooo, I started a tradition that the Sunday before Christmas is mine. A holiday that I don't have to share. That's when we have everyone over to celebrate and exchange gifts. (However, doesn't mean that I DONT want to see them on Christmas)...Anyways...now that our family is growing with little ones, we want to take the opportunity to share our testimonies and our feelings about the REAL meaning of Christmas here as well. We tried to make a copy to watch on video of a sweet story I saw on Heather's blog..but it didn't work..so last minute...we found one of the many stories we have in our stash and I sat on the floor and read it to the kids. It was the Santa story to teach the children. Next year...we'll be better prepared, but the kids seemed to love it! We talked about who was the center of Christmas and Payson shouted out "ME!" oops!

We had a nice dinner and enjoyed one another's company. Mick & Brandyn and family and Angela & Shawn went into together to give Rick & I an overnight stay at the Homestead. Pretty nice eh! Chris & Tahnie gave me a beautiful family picture to hang on our wall. I'm excited to have one to add to our wall finally! It all ended too soon, and they all had to go home. Work and school the next day. I had taken my Dad to go visit Mom as usual that Sunday and Dad was planning on coming over for the celebration. He wasn't feeling well so I took him home instead. Made me sad! I hate that he's alone so much!

So if you know me, you know that I love the Santa part of Christmas. Don't get me wrong..I have such a testimony of my Savior and the REAL meaning of Christmas. There is nothing more tender and true to my heart. BUT....the Santa part is a fun thing for me! I wish mr. Claus got into with me..but anyways...When Payson was small, I wanted Gramma, Grampa, Santa and Payson in a picture, but Rick wasn't having it....we all know how much Rick LOVES pictures. So anyway...I thought fine..Payson and I will and there began a new tradition...Gramma, Santa, and grandkids! Each year I insist on the visit with picture. We finally were able to meet up with Tahnie's schedule Friday December 19th. We met at the mall and the line wasn't too bad. Especially when the cousins could spend the waiting time playing dog pile and running amuck around the courtyard! I love the picture...it's not perfect, in fact as you can see Kallie was not having it! We put her on Santa's lap and she wondered who on earth he was and reached out for ANYONE who would get her off his lap. Gramma next to her was not good enough! Preslie was more interested in my earrings and was trying to yank one off. But ya know...it's the real life things that I love about sharing time with these angels! They don't like strangers, and well...Payson was not buying he was real anyway....at least his beard was real! To all you non believers! Hope all you got was underwear!

Mid December, Mick needed a babysitter and I was available...yahoo...another "gramma fix" day! Icabod had delivered some Christmasy pillow cases to our house, so I delivered them. Payson thought his was cool, but didn't want to cover his Cooler pillow in his new room! Preslie and Talan loved theirs, Talan sang me a song about his~He will sing all sorts of stories to you if you take the time to listen. He's a funny kid. We watched Santa Buddies, read, colored and played on the floor with Preslie. The day swept by! Payson was in school all day so I only got to see him for awhile. He's so into his friends, that after his greetings to his gramma, they were off to play. They did come join me with a game of "go Fish", but you know little boys...they didn't last long and were soon off to play havoc on the toy room. I enjoy just being there to watch them thrive in their own lives. I hope Rick & I are ALWAYS cool to them! Preslie is such a happy baby, in spite of her tummy issues. She spits up like no other, but she's not fussy at all. She was entertained a good part of the day by the ruffling of the tissue! Talan picked out her outfit and refused to allow me to change the shirt that she has quickly grown out of.

The Month of December is full of all kinds of Things!

Since about 1992 I believe...we have been painting ceramic Christmas tree ornaments. The kids love it...even the big ones as you can see. They pretend to humor me, but they are actually pretty good at it. I originally started this so my children can take their ornaments with them as they begin their new little families...however, I just can't let go of them. Each of them take on their own little story! This year, I had soooo many, I couldn't fit them on the tree. OKay,....if you guys want them, I'll start letting you add to your collection, but only if your ReAlLY want them. They are too precious to me to throw away.

Decorating the tree with just Rick & I just isn't much fun...but when I get to look at all the detailed work the children have done over the years, brings back sooo many memories! Payson & Talan enjoy looking at who painted what, (they have to sign their name and year on the back of each one). I LOVE decorating for Christmas and this just adds something more special to it!