Monster Sitings

Merry Christmas 2008!

This year, I wanted a quiet Christmas celebration with just the three of us. I wanted to be able to focus on building our own traditions and keeping the focus on Christ this season. Lily has enjoyed listening to us sing carols by candlelight for weeks now. She also has enjoyed all the nativity sets that we have around the house. (Although, she's been in time out many times for playing with the nativity pieces. She can't understand that the sheep and horse need to stay next to baby Jesus!)

I thought I had the start of a wonderful family tradition. I thought it would be fun to have a family slumber party in our bedroom! I invisioned us all sleeping soundly while cuddled together in bed, and then awaking refreshed and happy Christmas morning. I forgot that Lily sleeps sideways in bed, kicks Scott in the head through out the night, and pulls my hair and insists on breathing hot air in my face as she sleeps. I don't know as if we'll do this again!

Lily was excited when she saw her gifts. She loves drawing on her new desk/easel! The rest of her gifts faded to the background as she set up the perfect Lily art studio in our living room.


We were excited to talk to Reed (my brother serving a mission for our church in Brazil). It was fun to hear his voice again, and hear his Brazilian accent. I looked forward to that phone call all day!

I made my first pot roast ever this Christmas. Luckily, it turned out alright. (I tend to ruin food on my first attempt, so this was a happy surprize.) I wish the pretzel jell-o that I've made for years had turned out as well, but it was a disaster. Oh well. We still ate it even if the jell-o all sank to the bottom of the dish. (Lily loved the baked carrots, and pretzel jell-o.)

Scott's mom and step-dad joined us Christmas night. Lily was so excited to see them. She squealed as soon as she saw them at the door. She loved all the presents they brought her, too.