Another wonderful season behind us

This month was full of memory making and sweet family time. I was so excited to spend Christmas with Becca and watch her experience the season. Becoming a mother has truly changed how I view holidays and the reasons I become excited for them. We made sure that we continued our own traditions as well as sharing in our families traditions and it made for a very busy yet wonderful month. We started out the month with chocolate making with the Buhler's. I brought home yummy treats that we shared with our neighbors. The next week we visited the lights at temple square and visited the Christus. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the lights and it reminded me that Christmas was more than the presents and even the family time; its about remembering our Savior and his lowly birth. I am so grateful to my Savior and his love that made eternal life with my family possible.

As in years past we celebrated our little Christmas on Christmas Eve morning. It was so good to be home and to enjoy the relaxation of Christmas with your own family. I love being with our extended families but there was something sublimely perfect about being in your own home and your own bed. Kieran bought me a new digital camera that takes excellent pictures! Becca received her toddler car seat, but has yet to use it because she doesn't meet the 20 lb weight minimum. For Kieran I didn't spend a lot of money but I made him a calendar with pictures of our family and a book where I planned out our dates for the next year. I called it the "12 days of Christmas" (I took the idea from my lovely sister-in-law). Then we spent the rest of the weekend with family, spending Christmas morning with Kieran's mom and seeing my family after church. It was a great holiday.

Every year I tell Kieran that I want this year to be different. I want to do something for someone who doesn't have anything, I want to bring Christ into our home. This year I finally feel like we accomplished more than just present giving. I feel, at least for me, that I remembered Christ even in the presents I gave. I put love into every gift and thought often about the sacrifice of my Savior and especially Mary and Joseph. The faith that they must have had astounds me. I look forward to another year to grow in faith and understanding so that next Christmas we can try even harder to make the season more meaningful.

such a good mommy, changing her baby's diaper

Thanks Daddy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I have never been so excited for the Christmas season. Becca is old enough to enjoy opening presents and snow and Christmas songs and just about everything that goes along with the season. Kieran put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving (as he has made it a tradition to do so), we have our stocking hung with care and have already started passing out our neighbor gifts of homemade chocolate candies. Yum! Oh and lets not forget that I finished all (that's right all) of my shopping last week! Best of all school is going to be out in just 3 days. But really school is just a stepping stone on the road to Christmas. I feel like the gifts I bought for everyone really mean something to me this year. I thought of each person individually and am excited to give them out.

This year Kieran and I really want to make Christmas more than just opening presents. We are going to spend lots of time with family and are working on having our FHE for the whole month centered on all things Christ. I don't know how much Becca actually takes away from our 5 minute lessons but as Elder Bednar taught its the repetition and stability that counts.

Kieran is still working hard at his job, although work has slowed down a bit because of the holiday season which could spell disaster for a commission based paycheck but we'll have faith and make it through. He did get sick last week and we spent 2 1/2 hours in the instacare on Sunday afternoon. Why do people always get the sickest on weekends? At least we're blessed to have an instacare open and close.

School is wrapping up and that means another semester down, only 2 more to go. I keep wondering what I will do with my time when I'm out of school? I can only dream and make a list of all the hobbies I want to pick up, like catching up on all the novels I have set aside during the school year, doing mommy and me classes at the rec center with Becca and becoming a crafty lady. For now I focus on staying sane through the semester and doing well on finals even with Becca climbing all over me. Her favorite thing seems to be crying when I'm working on the computer (like now) until she's in my lap or following me around the house with her masses of toys which I trip over whenever I turn around. Good thing she is so cute and says the sweetest things to make up for all the whining.