The Traditional Portion of Christmas

December went so fast!  It feels like we just put up the Christmas decorations, and they are already down. The kids only slept under the tree once! Good thing we jumped on that early in December. We didn’t have a lot of time for our traditions, but we did have an amazing month!

I am always seeking for ways to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas. This year we went to the First Presidency Christmas devotional the first Sunday in December.  It was fantastic to be in the same room as President Thomas S. Monson and his amazing counselors.  I felt so good about giving my children the opportunity to experience being in the presence of the prophet in the conference center, and the world-class music of the Tabernacle Choir, in a one-hour event.  We loved it!  It is definitely something we will do again!

The kids didn’t really have any school Christmas programs, but Cara did have a NOVA graduation.  We kept busy on Saturday’s with Andy’s basketball games (of which I have zero pictures.) He was on a team with his buddies and they dominated.  There was talk of it being a stacked team, but really it was just the neighborhood kids that want to play together.

And snow fall, but as you can see Johnny was conflicted about what kind of goggles he wanted to wear.

We enjoyed some pre Christmas celebrations with neighbor gifts . . .

Our ward Christmas Party was unique and memorable.  It was a live nativity complete with a camel and donkey.  It was in a huge, heated barn and really something else.  I guess I’d never seen a camel up close.  I was amazed at how tall and big it was.