Danny's 14th birthday

I can't believe Danny is 14! I know I probably sound like a broken record, but time really does fly! Just the other day, I was looking at some of our wedding photos. All the kids looked like babies! Danny didn't have any front teeth. Dallin was barely up to my shoulders. The girls still had the innocence of youth in their countenances. Now the girls are adults...making their own way in the world. Dallin will be graduating and leaving on a mission. And now Danny! He's 14! Luckily, we still get to keep him around for a few more years before he leaves us, but I know all to well how quickly those years are going to pass. In any case, we spread out Danny's birthday celebrations over a couple days. On his actual birthday, as is tradition, we made a breakfast of his choice (french toast with buttermilk syrup) then took him out to lunch. He chose Olive Garden. He got his favorite soup (chicken gnocchi), and we sang happy birthday to him (not sure he liked the song as much as the free dessert).

On Sunday (Dec.9), he was ordained to the office of a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood. We were lucky to have so many family members be able to come and participate in his ordination. Afterwards, we came back to the house to have his birthday dinner (chicken cordon bleu with mashed potatoes and asparagus) and dessert (cheesecake...his current favorite).

Over the years, I have truly admired Danny's ability to forgive and love. I have never met anyone with such a big heart. There are times I can be completely frustrated with him and he still comes to find me each night to give me a hug. I need to learn to be more like him. I am grateful to call him my son and hope that this next year of his life will be his best yet! Happy birthday Danny!

First Presidency's Christmas Devotional

On the first Sunday of December, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds a special holiday devotional. I love watching this devotional! It is the perfect way to start the month wherein we celebrate Christ's birthday. This year was a snowy first Sunday. We woke up to nearly 4 inches of snow with more throughout the day! It just set the magical holiday mood for the day (although the boys may have disagreed when they went out to shovel the walks! At least Jonas was happy to do so.)

That evening, I made sugar cookies to decorate while we watched the devotional. Danny was my baking buddy. He rolled and cut out the majority of the cookies! Jonas liked the decorating part but wasn't too keen on eating them. I guess sugar cookies are not his favorite. Amber and Jeff were sick and Dallin took a little nap during the cookie preparation process, but we were all edified by the messages and songs of the devotional. I love this holiday season! I love all the fun secular aspects of Christmas (e.g., Santa, Elf on the Shelf, cookie exchanges, etc.), but I treasure the real reason for the season. I am grateful for the birth of my Savior. I am forever changed by His mercy and love. I am eternally humbled by His grace and atonement. I am thankful that we get to end each calendar year by reflecting on His birth, life, and ministry. I hope I can instill this same love and gratitude in my children. I hope, while we enjoy the secular and commercial aspects of Christmas, that we can remember what we are truly celebrating - our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas in SLC

There's no better way to start all the holiday fun than with a trip to see the lights at Temple Square. That is exactly what Jonas, Jeff and I did! On Tuesday (November 27), we took Jonas to the Holiday Window Stroll at the Grand America hotel then to see the lights on the temple ground. I had never experienced the window stroll before. It was fun to see the whimsical window displays and gigantic gingerbread house. Jonas enjoyed looking for the items on our window scavenger hunt but didn't enjoy the shortbread cookie we received at the end of our scavenger hunt. Oh well! More for me!

After we left the hotel, we went over to City Creek Center to have dinner at Chick-fil-A before wandering through the lights at Temple Square. I love how the whole world seems to be a little brighter and a little more magical at this time of the year. I wish we could keep that Christmas spirit alive throughout the whole year. I know its possible, but it seems like life distracts us. However, we get to end the year reflecting on our Savior, His love for us, and our love for Him. Jonas seemed more interested in finding walls to climb on and jump off of rather than the lights. We even had a helicopter flying overhead that seemed to attract his attention more than the twinkling lights in the trees. Yet, we still enjoyed our peaceful stroll through the lights. There weren't a lot of people there and the weather was very temperate. It was the perfect way to kick off Christmas!

Later that week (Saturday, December 1), Jeff and I took the rest of the kids to SLC. This was always the plan. We got tickets to see the comedian, Jim Gaffigan. He is HILARIOUS!! I love laughing with my family. In any case, since I knew Jonas wouldn't be joining us, Jeff and I decided to do our SLC date with him earlier in the week. Tonight we met up with Laurin in SLC for our evening of laughs. We had hoped to go to Cheesecake Factory for dinner and I hoped to wander through the lights with the older kids; however, the restaurant was PACKED and the kids thought wandering through the stores of City Creek was better than the lights, so we grabbed a quick dinner in the food court and did a little window shopping before the comedy show. It was still a fun evening...and there were still a few Christmas jokes in the show to bring in that Christmas spirit! Haha!