Well, it's been awhile since I've updated my bl0g. I haven't been by a computer that I can download pictures on and so have put it off. I just got done reading my friend Mattie's blog and just realized she rarely has pictures posted and I just love reading her blog. So here are the latest Holiday Happenings. Thanksgiving was great. Mom and Dad finally have a kitchen to cook in and so it made preparing the feast an easy feat.(They've spent a year in a kitchen with only a utility sink(part of that year dishes were done in the bathtub) stove, refrigerator, and card table) Dad did a great job like always. The cabinets are beautiful and there is so much more space to hold all the numerous bodies that come for the holidays. I guess you could say it was worth the wait and the work. Grandma Childers came and stayed as well as Uncle Dave, Aunt Colette, Ashley, Joe, and Sam. It was fun being with them. Are visits with them are too far and few between. Lots of the Smith side were at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house and Aunt Connie's family were at her house. So there were many bodies back and forth among the three houses at "Smith Compound" with games and food. We took the four-wheelers up into the snow covered mountains for our annual picking of the Christmas tree. I just love going up in the quiet, serene, beautiful mountains, the smell of all the fresh pine trees and crisp snow. The spotting of wild life. While we were there dad hiked to where he shot his elk to retrieve his antlers. He left the hide there after he shot it because it was late and to big to drag whole. It amazed me that my dad knew right where it was.
The Christmas season has come and gone. I got some of the things accomplished that I wanted to get done. I decked the halls, the Holiday candies were dipped and divided, the presents were bought, half of my dance classes performed dances to Handel's Messiah, I made it to most of the ward choir practices without the kids doing too much damage to the nursery but got sick the day of our performance, went Caroling with the youth, cleaned the WHOLE house(that rarely happens), saw the Nutcracker and Savior of the World, but darnet all, I didn't get the family pictures done. It's almost a miracle to find the time to put seven matching outfits, with hair done and smiles on faces at once. So if you were looking for our Christmas letter, well you'll just have to wait and hopefully get a Happy New Year's letter. The most important thing was that I hope our family felt the real spirit of the Holiday season. I felt His presence in our home and in my heart in which I am truly grateful. Wes's family has been down again this Christmas so we have had a house full and been busy just going here and there. I've missed my family but am happy and felt a great blessing of peace because my sister Alisa is BACK from California, my mom is with my sister Melanie in Connecticut instead of being alone this Christmas, and everyone is healthy, happy, and doing what they should.
We had a great Christmas and the kids were spoiled like they are every year with different toys and gadgets but the greatest gift of all is the knowledge that we have of the Savior, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our Wonderful Eternal Family Unit. I hope you all had a great Season and thank you for your friendships and love.
