We took some granola next door to our neighbor, Mrs. Vassa. We stayed and visited for a while with her. She lives there alone, her husband died years ago and she has no children. She is from India and is a kidney specialist. She is fascinated with our kids and our way of cooking, etc. and am fascinated by her way of life too. We had a nice visit and invited her to church today. Her friend is staying with her for a week.
We had enchiladas and spanish rice from the Country Mercantile for dinner. We were hoping to buy tamales, but they were out so we settled for enchiladas. The kids were not impressed and said they like mine better.
Before bed the kids opened their Christmas Eve presents. Then they changed into their new pajamas.
I love how Nick is covering his mouth in this one.
After pajamas, Dave read the Christmas story in the scriptures while the kids used the puppets to act the story out.
We talked about ways that we tried to Light the World (the church's challenge to do service in 25 days of December) and learn about different attributes of Christ that we should emulate. We did lots of different things: donating old eye glasses, donating food, coats and toys, shoveling neighbors driveways, bought a family a Christmas tree while shopping at Lowes, doing kind things to each other at home, etc. It made me recognize the ways that other people provided us service. So grateful!
The kids went to sleep pretty quickly after going to bed. They left a ghiradelli chocolate square and a mug of milk for Santa and come carrots for the reindeer. Nick took that job pretty seriously.
This morning Nick crawled in bed with me at 5, but he does that often. Kate woke up the other boys at 7:00 and we headed downstairs.
Santa brought a wiggle car and legos for Nick, snap circuits for Jack and Ty, and new bedding for Kate.
After presents, I tried out my new crepe pan (gift from Emmalee) and made breakfast. Then we got ready for church (at 11:00).
Church was only one hour. Mrs. Vassa and her friend came too! I played my oboe with the ward choir. My friend, Rachel Mohlman, arranged a version of Away in a Manger with an oboe and flute part (she said she wrote it for me!). It is a very pretty song. I did ok. Got a little nervous and lightheaded but didn't pass out. :) It's been 13 years since I've played in public. I haven't played much besides the last week and a half. The primary sang the Nativity Song and I played the piano.
After church we played with presents and I slowly made dinner (ham, funeral potatoes, rolls, molten lava cake). The favorite presents are nightstands and lamps for the boys rooms, Kate's fitbit, the basketball arcade game that Jack played non-stop, and the remote control motorcycle that Mrs. Vassa gave the kids. Mrs. Vassa also made some zeppoles (fried dough with powdered sugar on top) for us that she showed me how to make and then had me rush home so the kids could eat them hot.
It was nice to lay in bed this morning before the kids woke up and read the talks from the Christmas Devotional. I especially loved this quote from Elder Craig C. Christensen's talk:
"Christmas is not only a celebration of how Jesus came into the world but also of knowing who He is—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and of why He came.
President Thomas S. Monson has taught: “Because He came to earth, … we [can] have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. … Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.”1"
So grateful for my Savior, for his life, for the gospel and the chance to refocus and recenter each day, repent and recover, and try to be like Him.
