Winter Solstice Among Other Things

December 21 was the Winter Solstice, the first day of Winter. When Jr. was going to make pancakes the day before, the smoke detector went off (not from his cooking, from bacon grease and water in the skillet). I told the kids to open windows but to make sure to close them before sundown since the next day was the solstice (it's been tradition this year on the solstices and equinoxes). We ate fluffernutter sandwiches again.

 

The 21st was also Short Girl Appreciation Day. I got a picture with my teenagers who were not standing on their toes nor was I slouching. Throughout the day, Jr. gave me hugs and told me that he appreciated me (not just because I was short, but because I do so much).

Also on the calendar for that day was Yule. Jr. wanted to listen to music. I told him he could only listen to music if it was with a Yule log fire like The Piano Guys or Josh Groban. Jr. found a YouTube video of Link standing by a fire. He put it on the TV then put Breath of the Wild music on the computer. Bwah ha ha ha. Clever boy.

 

The kids took turns doing online crossword puzzles for National Crossword Puzzle Day also on the 21st.

 

For Family Home Evening lesson, we read the nativity story in Luke 2 as we drove to West Mountain. As we drove along we saw sheep. We were like the wise men traveling to see the Christmas star. That day Jupiter and Saturn were the closest to each other in alignment with Earth that they have been in 800 years. Nice and bright... and around Christmas time. That's why it is known as the Christmas star. We drove to the other side of West Mountain with just the hill behind us with no house lights and farmland across the lake at the place we stopped so not a lot of lights there either. There were some other people with vehicles in the same area but it was a big area so no one was too close to each other. 

It was fun to see the planets. Looking closely with the camera, we could sort of see Saturn's rings and some of the moons of those planets. Jet loved seeing the sky with the half moon and stars.

 #LightTheWorld suggested getting as many family members together for a virtual hangout that day. I didn't suggest doing a video call like we did for Thanksgiving but while we were out looking at the Christmas star, my sisters, Mom, and I were all texting about it. Both of my sisters were also out looking at the planets and unfortunately my mom had rain. It was still fun to chat together and see pictures of my sister's view.

Everybody say, "Christmas Star!"

Since I finished reading A Christmas Carol on Saturday, we watched The Muppet Christmas Carol when we got home from seeing the Christmas star since December 21 is National Humbug Day. Every time Scrooge was going to say, "Humbug," in the movie, Nichole would say, "Happy National," before he said it then would say, "Day," after he said it. Heh Heh Heh.

 

It was also National Flashlight Day. We definitely used flashlights while we were out at the lake in the dark.

Two Birds with One Stone

"Kristin the Human. What's your favorite color?" I waited all day for someone to call so I could answer the phone that way. December 18 is Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day. At the end of the day, I finally got my wish when Jeremy called so we could all do family prayer together. His response when I asked? "Green like a Christmas tree." Woohoo. While he was gone the kids and I watched the movie Elf and ate spaghetti... with spaghetti sauce... and maple syrup on it. That's what Buddy gives his dad's wife for breakfast in the movie. I told the kids they all had to have sauce on the spaghetti since we were doing it because of the movie. They all did even if for some it was very little. My pickiest eater kept coming back for more helpings (including the sauce).

Every year I'm determined to read A Christmas Carol to my kids. I've never read the whole book to them even though I try practically every year. This year, though, I am doing it- a little bit every day. We're almost finished. Tonight I sat down with the kids in front of The Piano Guy's Yule Log and when we were ready we muted the music and I read to them. #LightTheWorld says, "Make time for children like Jesus did. Read a beloved children's story to a child."

Like the Summer Reading Program, we're now doing a Winter Reading Challenge with the Provo Library, since the kids will have two weeks without homework during Christmas vacation to read. One of the activities is to "read a book by the fireplace." Ta-da. Two birds with one stone.

Christmas Eve 2016

After Jeremy hurt his arm yesterday, I knew I'd be able to LIGHTtheWORLD according to today's theme (I wish we didn't have to this way, but we do).  "Jesus cared for His loved ones and so can you."  Jeremy's limited in what he's able to do right now so some of our plans and traditions had and have to be changed a little.  Because of having a better attitude toward Christmas this year, it's not so bad.  It reminds me of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (by Dr. Seuss).  Even after the grinch stole all the Whos' toys and presents and food for their feast, Christmas still came.  It came without ribbons, it came without packages, boxes, and bags (paraphrasing here).  Jeremy told me he didn't know if he'd be able to wrap presents for me.  I told him that didn't matter.  He did manage to wrap presents by himself.  He even helped get a few things ready for dinner.  The kids all chipped in helping with dinner as well, from clearing and wiping down the table to peeling eggs and rinsing lettuce.  There was definitely service happening in our home today.
We had some visitors give us service as well.  We had a few people stop by to bring us Christmas gifts of various sorts, including a gift left on our doorstep.  It said, "Merry Christmas Telford's From the North Pole."  Thank you so much for the paperware and envelope.  It is greatly appreciated.  You know who you are.

I'm very grateful for all the kindness shown to us by so many people.  I'm very grateful for friends who came to give Jeremy a Priesthood blessing this morning, who took time away from their own Christmas Eve morning to perform that service for us.
This afternoon, Jr. Jr. got to sprinkle reindeer food out on the lawn.  He got it from school.  It had oats and glitter in it.  The package said, "Magic Reindeer Food  Sprinkle on the lawn at night, the moon will make it sparkle bright.  As Santa's reindeer fly and roam, this will guide them to your home."

We weren't able to have one of the dishes Jeremy was going to make for dinner.  Since we didn't have it for Thanksgiving, Jr. had his heart set on it for Christmas.  He had a very good attitude about it when we explained that Jeremy wasn't able to make it.  We still had plenty of food.

After dinner, Jeremy told the kids a special Jackerina (defender of the Telford family) story while I made snickerdoodles (thanks for the recipe, Kelly Quilter) so the kids could put out milk and cookies for Santa later.

Then the kids hung up our stockings by the fire and we had our last Countdown to Christmas scripture study and bore our testimonies.  Then we went around telling about ourselves for a video like we do every year. 

Then the kids got to open up presents from Grandma and Grandpa Telford (new pajamas) and put them on. 

 Aaaah!  My hair is on fire!

Then Jeremy and most of the kids went to bed while I tried to organize some music because the choir is singing in Sacrament Meeting tomorrow for Christmas and I'm the choir director.

Our 3-year old would not go to bed, so finally I went to bed for a little bit.  Eventually he went to bed and now I'm up again writing this blog post.
I told Jeremy, with his hurt arm in Sacrament Meeting tomorrow, it will be like Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol.  It will be good for people to remember on Christmas who made lame beggars walk and blind men see (paraphrasing again).
Merry Christmas.