The holidays

 The holidays really begin each year with Michael's birthday. 

Michael's gift for his birthday (and Christmas, and Father's day . . . ) was an e-foil, which he purchased after taking lessons twice over the past year or so.

Pretty amazing to watch him ride--it takes quite a bit of balance and coordination. It also has a little attachment, so he was able to have the kids sit on it and he could take them out as well. 

Reading picture books always draws a crowd, even those who are "too big" for them.

Thanksgiving this year was spent at home, and we were grateful we could host the bishop's family, the Earwoods (a family from church, a new friend at church, and the missionaries. It was a little tight but we made it! I forgot to take any pics but the two kids tables.

The "older kids" table. 

The kids each helped me with a part of the meal--Clara helped me with the apple pie, yum.

The day after Thanksgiving we enjoyed a great evening with friends the Karrens and the Fitts, which involved some hot tubbing on a chilly night. I'm not personally a fan of the hot tub (mostly just because I hate getting into a bathing suit), but I love that it draws people together and the men-folk had a fun time. The younger girls had their own time in the tub so they wouldn't have to share with the rowdy boys.

The day after we enjoyed a visit up to DC to the Udvar-Hazy Space Center, the Lego discovery center, an impromput dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (haven't been there in probably 20 years), and a trip to a Giving Machine at Tyson's Corner. That was a neat experience. Then we visited a Chinese Lantern Winterfest, which was cool. And cold.

For the first time in ages, we got some December snow on two occasions. 

The first snow was fairly meager, but the second was about four inches and made for a lovely snow.

Snow days with kids out of school are a little stressful for me in terms of helping everyone stay occupied, but it turned out that I ended up doing several of these things entirely solo because the boys were busy outside sledding with friends, which was super awesome.

Clara informed us that this was her last Christmas ballet--she did beautifully.

This season I guess I was just in a baking mood, because I ended up doing a lot of baking throughout the month. And eating it. Clayton is a super helper.

Despite missing days for snow days, seminary ended for the semester and I'm so grateful for the faithfulness of these kids! (a couple had already left before I took this pic)

We haven't quite finished our scriptures and poems for the year, but we did decently.

End of year holiday concerts, like a piano recital for Henry and Robbie, a class concert for Benjy, and a preschool nativity for Clayton made for very sweet watching. We also hosted a caroling night at our home with several families from church, which was just a delight and definitely brought the spirit of the season. Secret Santa (aka Gadianton Givers, based on an experience Michael had as a child in which their family was gifted very generously) was a success but not without a few injuries while running away. We also enjoyed caroling at a nursing home (Robbie actually caroled twice), which was lovely.

Just a few more days until Christmas. The kids are counting the days (Clara informed me the number of hours this morning, actually), and I am as well, but more from a "Aack, so much to do and the kids are out of school!" perspective as opposed to an "I can't wait!" point of view. Despite significant moments of contention and therefore discouragement on my part, there are also moments when I succeed at being present, when I truly recognize the boys playing so nicely together, when I feel my kids' heads leaning on my shoulder during church, or two little hands on my cheeks to get my attention, a enthusiastic squeeze hug before bed, and "I just love you!" from Clayton, and when we feel the Spirit in our home and I recognize it. A moment like that happened earlier this week for devotional when the kids just wanted to keep singing Christmas hymns. Those moments are precious and help me feel gratitude and more hope for the future. (As opposed to the tears I shed last night as I prayed and wondered if I should just return the thoughtfully-purchased and carefully wrapped presents we had for the kids.) There is opposition in all things, which also means that even in discouraging times, there is always good. This time of year brings joy, but I also know that for many it is a painful time of loss and changing traditions, of uncertainty for the future. I haven't yet been touched personally by this deep kind of pain, but I am grateful to know we have a loving Savior who is with us through both the joy and the difficulties of each season of life.