December 26th

The aftermath all came Saturday morning.  Andy and Austin attended a Bar Mistzvah, and I spent the day packing.  Austin was very efficient and took down all of Christmas as well.  We are excited to go to Utah and can't wait to see the entire family!

Christmas Day

Six am on the dot and a home ringing with excited carolers filled our halls.  My favorite moment this year was when all the kids gathered around Austin to watch him open their gifts to him -- he got some good ones.  Our annual "Polar Bear Plunge" was a chilly 43 degree water temperature.  Games with friends, hambergers for dinner, doll house, super smash, and a family movie was icing on the perfect day.  God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine son.

Christmas Eve

We said our goodbyes and headed home from Sahuarita this morning.  Once home, I had a list one mile long to get done.  Instead, I sat still for two hours and watched a movie.  That was just what I needed.  The evening brought a table of candle light (resulting in dripped wax all over, thanks to the big boys), hair cuts, baths and new jammies.  The magical evening was finally complete with our production of the nativity.

December 23rd

Grandpa B. took us Christmas hiking in through Colossal Cave.a cave today.  We climbed six stories down into the depths of the earth.  Sluicing for gems followed.  Then we helped create holiday bags and caroled to 18 houses.  Her friends sure loved our singing/yelling.

December 21st

Maddie wrote my dictated "To Do" list today while I made breakfast; all but the grocery shopping got done.  Then we performed for the single adult FHE.  We sang three songs and played three duets.  Nobody filmed it, too bad.

December 20th

Meg and I sang a duet in the Christmas program.  After church we delivered fresh bread to my visiting teaching families, while there the kids sang the "The Way to Bethlehem" as I strummed the ukulele.  My friends loved it.  I did, too.

December 19th

Austin and I finished up all our Christmas today -- we've had 8 weekends straight of extra curricular activities, and this was our last and final chance to make all the magic happen.  These seven angels were happy all day.

December 18th

Austin's office party was a success!  Each of the 12 staff members decorated their own gingerbread chateau.  We also went to lunch and exchanged gifts.  The event was certainly a success -- but Austin said we can't do it again next year, because the ladies would expect it, and we have to go bigger and better.  I suppose I have 11 months to bake/plan, which is far more than 11 days.

His staff make his work possible; he has the best team!