Christmas season

Christmas was busy as usual. It wasn't all I had hoped for, to be honest. We were trying to get over our tenant who was threatening us, one of our loved dogs died--which felt like we'd lost our own child. We were busy from one Christmas thing to another, Andrew sung in a choir for the stake Christmas program. I made a traditional turkey dinner for 60 people for a RS x-mas meeting, pretty much by myself with a few exceptions of having some helpers warm up food and using others ovens for 6 turkeys (however i prepped, seasoned and delivered all the turkeys to be cooked). And on top of that I was trying to get ready for our upcoming LDS Pioneer trek the week after Christmas. AND make sure there were presents under the tree and exposing Abby to all the Christmas traditions I like to do.

It was stressful, and as much as I tried to NOT make it stressful it just became more stressful. I'm glad that it's all over.

Christmas eve, we got to spend with our good friends the Lawton's. We played games, ate dinner, and read Christmas books. Then on the drive home we read the scriptures of Jesus' birth. Once we arrived back in Maricopa (the lawton's live a good hour and a half + away), we delivered cookies to friend's doors at midnight Christmas eve. That was kind of fun, I think I liked delivering cookies that way at that time.

Christmas day was nice and sort of relaxing (minus the stress of the Trek). The house was picked up, we opened presents. I enjoyed watching my 3 year old learn the surprises and traditions of Christmas Day. My cousin, John Lawrence's family sent us a Christmas card with a picture of Santa by the tree with all the presents underneath it. Abby carried that picture around all December, continually asking me if this was going to happen to her (having Santa come and presents and what not) I told her yes, it would happen. Christmas day came around and she pulled out the card that she'd carried all around. She looked at the card then looked at the tree and the presents and said.... "MOM, IT'S JUST LIKE THE CARD!" phew! mission complete! :) That night we had friends come over and eat some delicious ham with us for dinner. And called it a night.

Here's a few pics of Abby with Santa. I don't know where all the other Christmas pictures went ? maybe I didn't take any-- which is hard to believe. I've been having picture problems lately :(