Christmas

I love Christmas! I love the reason we celebrate it and that we get to celebrate with our family and friends, lives greatest blessings. Last week we had our Griffiths family party. It was great to see so many aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, and grandparents. 

Every day Carson would change the nativity scene so that everyone got a turn to be on top of the stable.

I was spoiled for Christmas. I got a new comforter for my bed, a digital picture frame, gloves, a shirt, make-up, treats and gift cards.

We went over to Chelsea's house to open presents and have lunch. The boys were both on overload and Carson was so excited to show us all of the neat things he got. I made the boys pillowcases and we gave them each a book to go with it. Chelsea gave me a cute skirt and Carson colored this cute picture for me. Mom & Dad made this Chelsea's best Christmas so far by getting her something she really wanted, but didn't expect to get, a piano. They got her a grand piano keyboard. She cried when she opened it. We spent some time as a family and playing with Carson and his new toys. Then we went home and played games for the rest of the day. We got TENZI to play on Christmas Eve and we played it for a bit on Christmas too. Then we played Jurassic World Monopoly (one of Kenna's gifts) for a while. 

2015

At the end of every year, I like to look back at what that year has brought into my life. These are some of things that I thought of for 2015:

•  Began the New Year in Moab with my family
• Survived a whole year of being the primary chorister, including the primary program
• Got a new nephew in May! {Sure love being an aunt}
• Left the country for the first time as my family went to Canada for a week. 
• Visited Glacier National Park
• Said Good-Bye to a dear grandpa, Bop
• Visited Heather, John & Carter in Arizona
• My longest solo road trip to visit Kayla and her family in St. George {Dammeron Valley}
• Got to throw a baby shower for a friend, Sierra
• Started seeing an endocrinologist in West Valley 
• Had a ton of medical tests done and didn't pass out with a lot of blood-work {it is a big deal!}
• Started a new treatment for my insulin resistance that enabled me to go off 4 other medications! All around a better fit for me!
• Learned to make myself do something that I absolutely hate, give myself shots!
• Had my first Etsy sale to Rhode Island and to France
• Went to Island Park for a great conference weekend with the family

Christmas Season update

So every December, our lives get a bit busier with preparations for Christmas, family and ward Christmas parties. 

I have had Carson & Cody a bit more this month too as I watched them for Chelsea's work party and other Christmas activities. They came to our ward Christmas party with us on the 12th. We had a wonderful dinner and had a chance to get together as a ward.

In primary we have been singing Christmas songs for weeks and it has been wonderful. That is probably one of my favorite things about Christmas, the Christmas music. 

I did get asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on the Sunday after Christmas (okay, not so much asked as told). This has caused a lot of anxiety and stress for me this holiday. 

Last week we did our annual Sub-for-Santa shopping. Mom and I shopped for a 13 year old girl. Last night we had our Griffiths family Christmas party. We have a great dinner, a talent show, the kids do a nativity and then we play bingo. Carson loved bingo. When he would get a bingo, he would stand on his chair and yell "bingo" so loud, his face would turn red. It was great! It was also so nice to see many of our 2nd cousins (who we don't get to see as often now that the family has gotten so big). We grew up with our second cousins and saw them often, it was nice to catch up with them and realize how old we are all getting. Many of them have children of their own.

This week is the last stretch to Christmas. I'm looking forward to a nice time with my family relaxing and enjoying their company.

Christmas Fun

On Thanksgiving Day, Sierra and I made felt Christmas trees and ornaments for the kids to play with this year. We hung Carson's up last week and he loves it. He redecorates it at least once a day. He was so proud that he gets his own tree that he can change anytime he wants to.

He also keeps thinking that tomorrow is Christmas, every single day. We made a paper chain for him to count down until Christmas day. Having a little kid around makes Christmas so much more fun. Cody loves my little Rudolph stuffed animal that sings and its nose lights up.