This Christmas there were- oh so many blessings, too many to count…but I’ll do my best.

~Blurry, shaky giggles at seeing all those presents around the tree.

~Sweet little cousins, becoming sweet little friends.

~Finally, finally–Uncle “Bald Kid” dolls. Wondered if they’d ever get finished! Phew…

~That sweet little surprise we’ll be adding to our baby collection soon.

~ Realizing that even little folks can appreciate really good chocolate…from England.

Thanks Sarah!

~Sharing Christmas day joy with our new little sweetheart, Kortney.

~Hugs from the best little Aunt in the world.  :}

~ The calm, easy, comforting pace that gift sharing is taking these days.

~ Talking to and seeing my dear boy in far away Siberia–for one whole hour! Thank you, thank you– Skype! More on that later.

~ Christmas day secrets.

~Speaking of which–look at the best kept secret on earth, from my sweet kids–to ME! My friends, things are about to become much…ummm…clearer around here. Hee, heee!

~ Just in time to help us remember the reason for all of it.

What are some of your Christmas blessings?

in the loveliness just a bit longer.

How was your Christmas?

“Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it ‘means a little bit more.’ And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before….

“I, like you, need to remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world. Only when we see that sacred, unadorned child of our devotion—the Babe of Bethlehem—will we know why… the giving of gifts is so appropriate”

Jeffrey R. Holland

Merry, Merry Christmas my dear friends.

One year, when I was a kid, my Mama gave my sister and I one of these little ornaments. She told us that it reminded her of her Swedish grandmother–whom she loved and missed very much.

She helped me be very proud to have a bit of Swedish in me. She was such a cute little mom.

Sooooo many things remind me of my momma at Christmastime.

One November, many years ago, I made her this for her birthday. It made her cry–I knew it would.

Then there was my funny little dad–I believe I’ve mentioned him before. Can’t you just see that little twinkle in his eye? We use to give him gingerbread ornaments because every year, he would make a million sheets of Honeycake to make into gingerbread houses all over the valley. Many people knew him as the “Gingerbread Man,” and with good reason.

Sooo many things remind me of my dad at Christmastime.

Then one December, I made him this for his birthday–because it was so him. It made him cry–I knew it would.

Soooo many things remind me of them…

at Christmastime.

The other day when I showed you some of my favorite nativity sets–I left this teeny, tiny one out…

for a very good reason. Can you see it?

Oh, sure–everyone’s smiling and happy…or so you think.

Look a bit more closely…at Joseph. Is it just me, or does he seem to have a slightly deranged stressed look on his face? Why yes he does. You see, this is the first time he’s been left to tend the baby and even with all that help, he still wishes Mary would come back…from the mall…before he…snaps.

Poor Joseph. What he doesn’t know, is that…

Mary isn’t coming back.

Rumor has it, she was accidentally sucked up by the vacuum last year…

or eaten by a 2 year old—can’t remember which.

Let’s not tell him. With all that company, he has enough on his plate.

Heh, heh.

If no amount of “chanting” will bring the needed Christmas snow to our yard…

then perhaps Mother Nature is handing her scepter over…

to that mischievous fellow…

Jack Frost…

who always manages to add just enough sparkle…

just enough magic…

with one breath…

to tide us over…

till somebody gets serious around here.

Old Man Winter?

Hello?

Been collecting nativity sets since my kids were little. We have some really sweet ones. Veggie tales is a hit with Miss Chompy.

Being the kitty lover that I am, I found this one at BYU a few years ago. I love it!

This pretty little wooden one was made by my neighbor. His kids even helped smooth out the pieces with sandpaper.

How could I possibly resist a pink nativity? Found this one in Cozumel, Mexico.

For as long as I’ve been collecting, I actually should have so many more sets, but sadly, in one of our moves a few years back, a big tub of some of my favorites never made it to our house. The greatest loss was the olive wood set that I found in Bethlehem when I was 19. But the up side is that if someone else has found that tub– I know it will make them very happy–like it did us.

This cute thing was last year’s addition—an Eskimo nativity!! Searching out the sweet little sets has become one of the fun parts of this season.

Do you collect anything fun this time of year?

“There is a magic in Christmas. Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power.

“Of all things of heaven and earth of which we bear testimony, none is so important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, condescended to come to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. And further, and most important, He suffered on Calvary’s cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind.

“At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

Oh, we can’t seem to help ourselves. For the last few years, this season pulls us to the Hale Center Theater for another evening of  “A Christmas Carol.”

You could say, it’s becoming a holiday family tradition. Hmmm…like the sound of that.

Please forgive the fuzzy photos–it was mostly dark, and you know, we get so excited that we  have trouble sitting still.

I can prove it. And this is before we’ve seen any Christmas ghosts.

Lucky for us the incredible main guy–old Scrooge himself–is the same fellow as last year. Funny, scary, sad, adorable–as always and yet…

there are enough new twists and turns to keep us coming back over and over again…

or for the first time.

Keeping family traditions—starting family traditions.

Either way.

It’s a lovely Christmas thing.

Do you have a favorite family tradition?