Friday, December 25, 2009

Today I smiled a lot

Another Christmas has come and gone. The anticipation seems to be the most fun anymore. I love looking forward to seeing the kids faces when they open their presents. I had fun planning and keeping my eyes open for good deals since June. Yet I am afraid I missed the true meaning of Christmas this year. Sure we did service: rang the bell at Macy's, shoveled walks, bought gifts for a family in need, but I am disappointed with how much time I spent concerning myself with gifts and not with the Savior. I wanted to get the kids the most fun things. I would go to the store and want to buy out everything! I fussed and fretted, yet one day this week, as I reflected on my day, I realized that my shopping trip that morning had been the least fulfilling thing I had done. Money and toys don't buy happiness, for you or your children. Sure, I know that, but it needs to be reiterated sometimes. Despite my materialistic approach to Christmas this year, it was a great day. And it ended with these two happy children. Children that make up my family. My family, that made me smile all day long; Lydia who played farm all day, Colton who ate nothing but chocolate this morning, and Mike who got to relax and play a new computer game. I even got to take an awesome nap! With a day like that, we all enjoyed it!
This crock full of utensils gave me one of my smiles today. After I put the kids to bed this evening, I walked in the kitchen and saw this, my new pink spatula's, and blue wire wisk. I had asked for these things for Christmas, though not in their respective colors. I knew Mike had taken the kids shopping for me for Christmas. (Before he went he confirmed with me what utensil was a spatula.) When I was with Lydia at the mall a week or so later, we walked past a kitchen supply store. Lydia told me that she had gone into that store with Daddy and Colton and that I wasn't there. Hmmm. . . I could only guess what I was getting for Christmas. Obviously, I got my spatulas. But what I love about them, is not only are they from a thoughtful husband who carted his two young children through the mall to get them, but they are PINK. And there is only one person in our family who would care about pink spatulas and it isn't Mike, and it isn't me. Of course, since Lydia picked out the pink spatula's, Colton picked out the blue wisk and now I have a crock full of love from my family. A crock that will make me smile in the days to come.
Getting started on the festivities this morning and sporting some new pajamas.
Making cookies with Grandma Hansen. Lydia did not want to include anyone else in this activity. I was banned from the kitchen. Apparently this was to be Lydia and Grandma's special activity. Mike's experiments this year did now allow him to leave for Christmas, so Mike's family came to us- his mom, dad, and two sisters. Christmas came early when they got here! We were glad to have them!
Colton enjoying his new toy from Grandma and Grandpa Reed and his new sippy cup full of his favorite beverage- milk.