Going Topless

Ahhhh. Christmas Eve. A quiet peace has settled over the house. Jared is finishing up the final projects that have to be done, then we will turn out the lights so Santa can work his magic.

This has been a busy month. A month filled with all sorts of activities that we don't typically cram into a twenty-five-day period. I use our advent calendar to keep all the activities manageable (I realize it's missing a flower that goes on day 11...we have a two year old in the house, remember?).

Each day's box holds a treasure. Most days it's a slip of paper that tells the girls what our activity for the day is going to be. The other days they get candy (those are the days when mom's tired). We have a lot of traditions that have evolved from this calendar and tonight the girls reminded me which traditions they missed participating in this year...of course they wait until Christmas Eve to communicate their expectations and express their disappointment. Luckily for me, the most exciting day of the year is tomorrow and their disappointment will be short lived.

Some of the things we've done this year...
Made cookies
Attended the ward Christmas party
Delivered Christmas goodies to primary teachers
Shopped for Christmas presents
Drove around at night looking at people's Christmas lights
Taught the girls how to sled (Jared encouraged them to sled down the hills while standing)
Read Christmas stories
Went to see the play "A Christmas Carol"
Attended cousin's parties
Went to a Christmas parade in the freezing cold
Hosted Jared's family for a Christmas FHE
Drove through the Thanksgiving Point festival of lights display
Went caroling

It's been a good month. We've been engaged in some good things. And I have had a lot of opportunities to talk to the girls about the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. I am impressed with their insights and understanding. They have a much deeper understanding and maturity than I ever had as a child. Tonight before they went to bed, they responded to questions about the birth of the Savior with some insightful and interesting answers. The night ended well and tomorrow morning, a buzz of excitement will fill the air. I can't wait. I love Christmas. Now that I have kids of my own, I know why some say Christmas is magical.

In just a few minutes I'll get ready for bed and the last thing I'll do is turn off the lights on my tree. The tree that I bought on sale last year after Christmas. The tree that I absolutely love. The tree that doesn't quite fit from floor to ceiling. No sweat. Who needs a whole tree anyway? We're going topless this year and we like it that way.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!