It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I have been such a slacker with pictures lately.  December is flying by!!  We are copying an incredibly creative friend of mine, and doing 25 days of service during December.  At the beginning of the month we had a little family night where we talked about how Porter had just had his birthday, and that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because it is Jesus' birthday.  We talked about what we could give Jesus for his birthday, and how he has asked us to serve each other.  So we made a list of things we could do every day to make someone happy.  We have visited a nursing home where we absolutely made a beautiful woman's day.  She had tears in her eyes as she brushed my children's cheeks and told them that she loved them and asked them to be her friend.  We visited the fire department and thanked them for keeping us safe.  We made an art project for our grandparents.  We baked bread for widowed neighbors and visited with them.  We have done a service for daddy.  We did a service at the church.  We have babysat for a friend.  It is a great daily reminder of why we celebrate Christmas, and keeping the true spirit of Christ in our home.  The other evening while I was vacuuming Porter asked me, "Mom, when you are all down can we do 25 days of service, like visit someone or make someone happy?"  Even though we had already done something earlier in the day we found something more to do, because honestly how can you say no to such a request?

Last week my kids received letters in the mail from Santa, and the kids were so excited to hear what Santa had to say to them.  Santa knew all about their activities, school, family- including cousins!, and talked to them about why we have Christmas.  He included a little postcard for them to write down their wish list and send it back to him.  Porter made his detailed list.  Tyson was standing by but surely not understanding what was going on.  I grabbed his postcard and asked Tyson, "Is there anything you want for Christmas?"  He nodded, and said "A ball."  So I wrote it down.  Then I looked at him and asked "is there anything else you want?"  He nodded and said "A football."  I wrote it down and asked again, "Is there anything else you want?"  He again nodded and added both a car and a balloon.  I was so surprised at his ability to understand and communicate.  He is always surprising me this way, he is one smart little boy.

I am looking forward to the rest of December and filling in all of the fun Christmas festivities.  We still need to go see the lights in Spanish Fork, that is a favorite of the kids.  We are planning a Christmas Caroling night with friends where we will bring cookies and carol to neighbors around us.  I plan on hosting a Christmas Eve dinner complete with a turkey and everything.  I look forward to the Christmas eve activities with my little family, when we make cookies for Santa and leave carrots for the reindeer.  And seeing their excitement when a gift is left from the Christmas elf with new pj's.  I am realllly excited about some surprise Christmas money that was sent to me, along with some gift cards for Christmas shopping.  If that wasn't exciting enough, I get to go on an overnight mini-trip with my husband where we will shop together for the remainder of our gifts.  Sounds divine!  For now, Michael Buble and Bing Crosby have been filling this home with wonderful Christmas music, and I have been quite content staying in my warm house with my two little cuddle-bugs.

About to visit the nursing home, day 2

At the fire station, he made a fire truck Christmas card, with the ladder extended, of course!