Blue Lights and Fir

For the first time, our family has set up a live Christmas tree. Ella helped me pick it out and we lashed it to the roof of the van for a careful drive across Bayport. It is a beautiful tree and it makes our house smell like a Christmas from my childhood - the blue lights are also a part of that tradition. I didn't know it as a child, but live trees are a ton of work! I find myself checking on it multiple times during the day and although I water it right before bed, by morning it is almost out of water. I don't know how we are going to visit family before Christmas... would it be unusual to ask our neighbors to water the tree while we are gone? If it helps, I can always leave a list of instructions on the fridge, along with a number they could reach us at in case of emergency...




On Monday the kids were off school for a PD day so we went into town to go skating at Olympic Plaza. It may not be Rockefeller Center, but there was still something to be said for skating in the heart of a hustling and bustling city. Surrounded by office buildings and the sounds of traffic, it was neat to be on a frozen pond in a stand of fir trees. There was not a drug dealer to be seen the whole time we were there, so someone is doing a good job of keeping that area clean.



Yesterday we went to a children's Christmas Party put on by my work. We had missed going last year because someone didn't respond to his email in a timely manner (and it took almost a year for people to forgive him). The kids had a great time and Mason and Tyson each told Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Ella was a little standoffish, and although Santa probably didn't sense the change, I knew it was due to "The Talk" that Heather and I had recently had with her over a cream soda float after her brothers had gone to bed. Yup, I sound like a Grinch and that story is a post all on its own, but just know that it was a sad experience for all of us, and I would rather have never had that Talk. I just felt like we had no choice when she reported to us that kids at school were teasing her regarding the subject of Santa.



I've included this photo to help bridge the title to our different Christmas activities - a tenuous link, I know. Oh well, it has been a month since our last post so you shouldn't expect me to be in my best form.







The kids had a great time and, as usual, received some really nice gifts. Although Deacon didn't know what to do at first, once Heather unwrapped his gift, he fell in love with his little barnyard set.



This evening we had the opportunity to sit as a family and hear a wonderful message from the First Presidency about the true meaning of Christmas and what we can do to make this time even more meaningful. And following the broadcast we pondered the message over a delicious Pirogi Sunday supper that Heather prepared.

- C