Its the Spirit of the Season

  I was so excited to finally be able to decorate my home this year for Christmas! I never decorated in Virginia because we were always gone pretty much the whole month of December. Mary made me these totally amazing snowflakes and I'm in love! They're perfect on the banisters. 

  The next step was finding a Christmas Tree. While we were in St George over Thanksgiving, I saw a 9.5' gorgeous tree for just $10! I couldn't pass up the steal of a deal so I got it and brought it home. Well come to find out, our ceilings are only 8'. The top of the tree wouldn't fit! I was so sad after all that it wouldn't even fit. 

  In a fit of desperation I ran to the DI to see if they had any more trees. I found this one, which was 7', and asked a worker to make sure the lights worked. He took it in the back, came back and said they were fine. I wasn't sure what Loren would think about me coming home with another tree I really wanted one that worked! When I got home I set it up to discover that only the bottom third of the lights worked. I was furious! The guy must have only checked the bottom and not the whole tree. So now I had a topless tree and one that didn't have lights. Which to use? 

  We decided on the topless tree because I thought I could stick some garland in the top and make it look ok. Lydia had a blast decorating it with me. 

  I had never been to the Festival of Trees before. I had heard about it but didn't really know what it was all about. I learned that people decorate Christmas trees and then they're sold and the proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital. A wonderful friend decorated a tree in honor of Charlie and so we went to see it. What I didn't realize was that most of the trees were decorated in honor of someone who had passed away. As we walked up and down the rows and rows of trees, I tried to keep my tears at bay. There were adults, kids, and even babies who were being remembered. It was so touching, so tender.

  We thought Charlie would have liked this one.

  Then we saw Charlie's tree. It was truly magnificent and beautiful. All the decorations were hand made and they all had special meaning. More tears were shed at the beauty captured for Charlie.

  Most days we go about our lives happy and content. But that day, seeing the tree for Charlie, our hearts ached with longing for our sweet boy. 

  After the trees there was gingerbread displays. Lydia loved the Finding Dory one.

They had entertainment too, mostly dance groups. Lydia loved watching them. She'd turn to me and say, "I just want to be a dancer and wear a pink tutu."

 Allie's first solids! She loves her some carrots.

One of the many things on my Christmas bucket list was to see the lights at Temple Square. We went with Cam, Mary and Greyson and it was a blast. Lydia couldn't believe how many lights there were.

  My friend told me about a free day that the Natural History Museum of Utah has every year. So we reserved some tickets and went with Greyson and Mary. It was such a cool place! The kids had a blast looking at dinosaurs and exploring.

Digging for fossils.

I hadn't seen my Grandma Gardener in over two years.  When my mom told me she was coming down to Logan for a doctors appointment, I put the girls in the car and drove down to see her. This year I've learned the importance of spending all the time you can with family. You never know how long you'll have with them. I was so glad we went. Lydia really bonded with her and it made my heart so happy to see them laughing and playing. Grandma is such an incredible woman.

It's always an adventure when we open the cupboards. We never know who will be staring back at us. 

I think this little girl has her grandpa's wrapped around her finger.

  The Griffiths family Christmas party is always a good time. This year, Lydia was old enough to be in the nativity. Sarah helped her find a horse costume and she was beaming and waving through the whole thing.

  Our picture with Santa is definitely not Hallmark material but at least no one's crying!

  Lydia really surprised me during the talent part of the program. She walked right up to the front, took the microphone and started singing Jingle Bells. She sang, "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." stopped, raised one eyebrow and said, "Hmm..." poking the microphone a bit. When I went up and tried to help her finish the song, she put her hand on my mouth and said, "Shh, mom!" Wish I could have got it on video.

  This really is the most wonderful time of the year. To think of others instead of ourselves. Mostly to think of our Savior and all He gives us and blesses us with. This year I've had a new outlook on Christmas. The shopping and frills of the season aren't as important to me as they once were. It's getting together with family, in making memories and sharing the love we have for each other and the Savior. That's the spirit of the season.