On the First Day of Christmas . . .

This month seems to be flying by! I realized this week that today marks the beginning of a countdown to Christmas - only 12 days to go. I felt a swift kick in my rear reminding me to take advantage of this season to teach my children about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. It is time to stop worrying about gifts, cards and decorations and to focus instead on building family memories that are centered on the Savior. (Of course, gifts, cards and decorations are still part of the fun!)

Today was a beautiful day, balmy and clear after days of cold and rain. Doesn't it always seem the best weather comes on a Sunday? We attended church today, I played the organ in sacrament meeting, and Addison and I practiced with the choir for next week's Christmas program.

But the highlight of the day was spending the afternoon at our friends' annual Christmas party. The agenda always includes decorating cookies, crafts for the kiddies, and lots of live music and singing. Laurie, Addison's violin teacher and hostess of the great event, always encourages her guests to bring an instrument to play. We had violins galore, a guitar, a piano and even a mandolin. And of course, everyone had a voice to contribute to the festivities. It was magical and beautiful!

Afterward, we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. Once home, we finally got around to watching the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. I loved the choir's singing of For, Unto Us a Child is Born and Oh, Holy Night. These are two of my most favorite Christmas songs. Ever.

And then it was time for baths and jammies. We read the story of Samuel the Lamanite and everyone was finally tucked into bed.

My heart is warm tonight. I feel that the spirit of Christmas has arrived in our home today. I just had to write it down so I wouldn't forget the feeling in the next few weeks.

Some people's children!

Mason is killing me! He has started a new "game." The game goes like this: I put him in his pj's and tuck him into bed. He gets his kiss, his drink of water and his song. Then I turn out the lights. Then sometime around 2 or 3 in the morning he wakes up crying. I go in to find that he has taken off all of his clothes and thrown his blankets out of his crib. He is crying because he is cold. Go figure!

Tis the Season

to remind oneself why candy is not good for your health. This morning I feel like I've been punched in the jaw. Probably related to the molar I had pulled yesterday.

I am pretty sad about this, especially since I now have to find the money to pay for the implant to replace it. I was surprised though at how fast pulling a tooth out is. I'm so used to sitting in the dentist chair for at least an hour. But of course a repair takes more time than a yank!

So today I am slurping down oatmeal and soup and trying to ignore the giant hole in my mouth. I'd post a picture but it's awfully dark in there!

Speaking of teeth, Addison had her first visit to the orthodontist this week. The doctor described her as having eight-year-old teeth in a five-year-old mouth. (And yes, she is ten) She has to have 7 baby teeth yanked out to make room for 4 molars to grow in. And when those molars arrive, out they come.