Happy Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve.

Sunday, December 21, was the Winter Solstice. Our choir director reminded us that on the darkest day of the year, it is important for us to think about Christ's light and share that. It was a beautiful Christmas program at church.

After church we managed to get a couple family pictures of everyone looking pleasantly at the camera.

We also got pictures of Jeremy and me together. It was a great way to emphasize Short Girl Appreciation Day.

It was also Humbug Day but I was so happy because of church. There was only some grumbling later. It happens. 

The kids took a couple days to build our balloon Christmas tree. Sunday, Jeremy decorated it and we had a little tree lighting. We got Jeremy's parents to join with us on a Zoom meeting then we got to chat with them for a while.

Monday, December 22, I got out for a morning walk at the park with the lights. I listened to some Piano Guys Christmas music (great for feeling the Spirit) and felt such strong gratitude for my Savior. After the shortest day of the year, feeling his light meant so much to me. I was crying so much while walking around the park, I don't know how helpful that was for my breathing while I was trying to exercise. Ha Ha.

In the Come Follow Me manual and on Instagram, Elder Soares shared some thoughts about Jesus Christ being our light, our life, and our hope at Christmastime. It went right along with my thoughts that morning. I do feel so much gratitude for my Savior when I've been thinking of some stressful things.

At home that day, Jet and I enjoyed a Discovery Kit from the Provo Library. This time, we read books and did activities (puzzle and fishing game) about Ocean Life.  

That night we went to another Interactive Movie at the Provo Library- The Nightmare Before Christmas. We went to one before when we watched The Princess Bride and unfortunately last Christmas, we missed the one for The Muppets Christmas Carol because too many of us were sick. 

We loved this one. We got to sing along with the songs, cheer and clap, etc. It was great for Jet because he loves that movie so he knows the songs and enjoyed doing the activities.

 

Tuesday, December 23, I got out for my morning walk again. The light of the sunrise was gorgeous. It was National Roots Day so I sent a text to my in-laws telling them we're grateful to all be part of the same family tree. 

That night, Jeremy, Nichole, Jet, and I went for a drive looking at Christmas lights and decorations. We've been so busy this was the only night we could do it. It was nice and we even drove up to see the Christmas Star on the mountain in Pleasant Grove. 

I am grateful for celebrating Jesus Christ's birth this season. My life is so much better because of Him. He is my light, my life, and my hope.

Merry Christmas! 

Our Vacation, Thy Creations, and Our Relations- Part 5

Me: Stop distracting me with birds when we're trying to get ready for a trip.

Husband: Stop being distracted by Instagram while we're trying to get ready for a trip.

Ha. Ha. I was posting about that first interaction outside with the birds.

 

Road Trip!

Usually when we visit my parents, they plan a trip for us to Shore Acres. This year was no exception. We stopped briefly  to tie the van's shoes, then rode horses down to the beach. Jet had a lot of fun splashing around in the ocean, and even more throwing sand everywhere.

 

O.K. Now that I have access to my blog again- we did not, in fact, tie the van's shoes, nor did we ride horses anywhere. Jet did, however, have fun splashing in the ocean. He got to a lot more than last year and yes, he did have fun throwing sand everywhere.

O.K. What we stopped briefly to do was to see some birds and seals and sea lions at Cape Arago viewpoint.

Then we ate lunch and tried to get some family pictures in the garden before heading down to the beach.

The sand was so hot and the water was so cold. Lucky once again refused to take his shoes and socks off and luckily didn't get his feet wet this year. Jr. and Jr. Jr. got their feet wet. They took their shoes and socks off first.

Nichole enjoyed sitting on the sand sketching. I love that she does that.

Jeremy took pictures of birds and us and nature. It was so good to have him there this year. As I mentioned before, it had been 8 years since he visited Oregon.

 

I loved our time together there.

 

  

 

We made it back to our final destination of my parents' house that evening after having a great day out.

I'll share more of our wonderful vacation later.

Our Vacation, Thy Creations, and Our Relations- Part 2

After staying overnight at my parents' house, we left the next morning to drive to California. The three youngest had never been to California before. I was the only one who had ever been to the Redwoods (when I was little) so we planned a trip there.

Apparently, Jet was ready to walk to California. Tee Hee.

Road Trip!

As we were driving, Jet got upset because he wanted to go back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We had to distract him with music because he wasn't satisfied with us just telling him that we would see Grandma and Grandpa the next day.

We celebrated Paul Bunyan Day, June 28, with big trees.

Welcome to California.

We stopped at Castle Rock in Crescent City, California. 

My dad told me it is the largest nesting area south of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. It was far enough away, we could only see so much but there were certainly a lot of birds. So many.

 Remember to click the pictures to see them larger.

There were also seals and sea lions.

Jet's first time in California.

I waved at the ocean and it waved back. Get it? Tee Hee.

We made it to our destination at a campground at the Redwoods.

We roasted Polish sausages and roasted marshmallows which we put on Keebler fudge stripes cookies (the marshmallows, not the Polish sausages) to make our "s'mores" this time. It's fun to try different things.

Jr. played his guitar and we sang around the campfire. That as well as camping will get us credit for Summer Reading Programs. It's been several years since we went camping. This was Jet's first camping trip.

Nichole did some painting while we were there.

In the tent, the kids played a card game while Jeremy and I tried to get some sleep. We planned to get up early the next morning.

I'll share more of our wonderful vacation later.