Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas Season. We spent many nights reading of Christs birth in the Scriptures and reading good Christmas stories. We did a couple nativity activities too but didn't take pictures of any it. I think the boys were able to understand the true meaning of Christmas now that they are getting older. We truly are grateful for our Savior and for what he has done for us. During this residency I've come to understand the atonement in a broader sense. It isn't just for people to make mistakes or sin (which i do plenty of but they are all "little" things) but it covers all pain and suffering. Now, I'm not suffering in the residency but there are lots of time I feel pain inside. I feel lonely and worn out to tears sometimes and most of the time the only person I have to talk to is my Heavenly Father and Savoir through prayer. I know that prayer and scriptures have brought me comfort, have helped me get rid of negative & resentful feelings. I know that my burdens have been lifted often and so many times I pray for help to make ends meet in all aspects of our lives...our finances, our marriage, raising the kids, missionary work, church callings. I try my best but usually fall very short of where I'd like to be yet somehow it seems to work out. I have grateful for the residency to teach me this and am so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel. Ok, on to the fun stuff....



For the first time since moving here we invited some friends over for dinner. I decided to set aside the stingy monster that resides in me all year long to feed another family just this once :) Needless to say the boys were EXCITED. I let them pick and they decided on the Garners, a family from the ward with a boy Colin's age. We ate, played rock back, and decorated Gingerbread houses. It was fun!



Then we had some more fun at Evrett's joyschool Christmas party that I happened to be in charge of. We made ornaments (from pinterest :) ate lunch, played, decorated more gingerbread houses, and had a white elephant gift exchange. Again, lots of fun.



We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo lights with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Cameron, Aunt Jessica and her boyfriend Jon.


We had two family Christmas parties to go to. The first was my grandpa's side of the family which happens to be in a big feud over $$. Half the family stayed in one half of the house and the other in the other half and we were stuck in the middle. Since they all think we are weird Mormons we are always out of the loop on everything...even the family fights. It was mentioned that they should just cancel the annual Christmas party, but I think it is good of them to set aside (kind of) their feelings to get together as a family once a year.

The second, my Grandma's side, was a lot of fun. It was great to see my cousins. They had decided to try and spice the party up this year (it has been the exact same thing...same food, same houses, and same games for as long as I can remember!) by having it an ugly sweater party. It was cute. Santa Claus was able to stop by for a bit too so that was a fun surprise!





All Colin and Brannon asked for were Legos. So that's pretty much what they got! I shouldn't have been surprised they had them all built within a couple days...and did them all by themselves. There are some pretty cool sets: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Atlantis, and CARS. Evrett also got a couple of sets which he loves too.



After opening gifts we headed to church with my parents and then back to their house for more Christmas fun and food. My dad worked so hard to cook a big beautiful delicious 29 lb ham for us (and my Hartmann Grandparents and Uncles)and literally right when he went to slice it the power went out! It was out for about an hour so my mom dug out her emergency lighting and we ate our Christmas dinner by candlelight. Mostly...the lights turned on halfway through. It was kinda fun :)



Somehow we LUCKED out with Ben's schedule this year. He is on a neurosurgery rotation and ended up with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the following day OFF WORK so we spent the next few days at my parents, which is always fun since Grandma lets the boys do whatever they want. Like drink water from the fridge through their dart gun...



and wear the underwear all day long while they dump all the toys and games all over the place...


and the computer nerds had a blast together...


A BIG highlight was being able to talk to my brother Braden, who is on his mission. It was exciting to hear his voice again and fun to hear the accent he has picked up already :)

Haylee & Luke stayed in UT with their brand new baby and tried to get a few hours of sleep here and there.

Tyler & MaryKate flew to UT to be with her family. My mom was able to see them as their trips over lapped by a day.

Some more cute pictures: