We had a lovely Christmas season this last year. Because of the tightening of covid restrictions in later November (new cases were up to 1800/day), we were not able to go down to the Nelsons to get a Christmas tree (we try to go every other year). However, I did meet Camellia in Lethbridge I believe December 1 when I took Elva out for her birthday and we tied 2 trees they got from the hills (one for Mom and Dad) onto the van to bring home. We decorated the tree that evening while eating appetizers for supper, listening to Christmas music and then watched a bit of the Polar Express while drinking hot chocolate. Such a good evening and the tree looked beautiful. The best trees come from those hills. It was not dry at all. I remember last year I was feeling so pregnant sick that I just sent Chris with the kids to get a tree from the Vulcan store while I cuddled up on the couch and watched a movie with Selman.
Chris taught from home the week before Christmas break as the new covid restrictions had Junior High students and above do classes from home. I enjoyed having him home.
The Saturday before Christmas, we drove to Lethbridge to get some last minute shopping done. Afterwards, we drove to the Porcupine Hills west of Claresholm so that I could show the kids where my Nana and Papa always took us "tree hunting" when we were young. I loved those days. The last time we did that was when Chris and I just got married. Then we joined Mom and Dad, the Nelsons and Nathan in Claresholm to drive around and look at Christmas lights and so the Nelsons could see Nathan's new beautiful white jeep.
The first week of Christmas break was spent going sledding a few days with my friend and her son on their nearby property. There was a blizzard a few days before Christmas so we did not go that day. The day before Christmas eve we went sledding and then into Champion to get the mail and pick up a couple of last minute things.
On Thursday Christmas Eve, we walked across the yard to my Mom and Dads for Christmas eve appetizers and Nathan joined us for that. This is a tradition but I think next year we may do what Chris does in his family and have our turkey dinner on Christmas eve and eat left overs on Christmas day. We did a facetime Nativity with the Nelsons. They were the Shepards and Wisemen. Elva was Mary, Lizzy was baby Jesus, Selman was Joseph, Caeleb was a shepard and Mary was an Angel. And Papa read the story. It was a bit complicated trying to do our family Christmas eve program together over facetime but it went pretty well. Elva and Mary did a Highland dance to Christmas bagpipe music and Sterling and his Grandma Marylou played a duet on the piano.
We came home and scattered oatmeal reindeer food over the snow by our place. Then we put the kids to bed at about 9:00 PM after leaving sugar and oatmeal cookies and milk for Santa. As excited as they were, the kids feel asleep pretty fast but Caeleb woke up at around 1100 with a bloody nose. He then settleD upstairs in our bed and I slept in his bed with Lizzy.
The kids were awake about 6:00 and then they came downstairs about 7:00 to see what Santa left in their stockings. There was a bunch of little goodies, polly pockets for the girls, magic tricks, a game called Sushi Go for Caeleb, candy and kinder surprise eggs. Santa left some goodies for Mom and Dad, Nana and Papa and uncle Nathan too
Nana, Papa and Uncle Nathan came over at 8:00 for a breakfast of cracked wheat, whipped cream and berries. Yummy! Then we opened gifts. We were spoiled again but not as much as last year and I am hoping and expecting that next year will be a humble Christmas which will be good for us. The girls got flying fairies from Santa, Caeleb got a flying golden snitch and Selman got a remote control car (he is all about holding a remote). And Elizabeth got baby food and little colorful boats she can chew on. We got a couple of weighted blankets from Mom and Dad Smith and Chris has LOVED his! We got a game called Machi Koro, individualized Christmas tree ornaments (a tradition and a highlight of our Christmas) and other fun things from LouAnn (who had our name for Christmas this year). The girls were into LOL dolls and got some things for that and they all got nerf guns. Mary really wanted a live lizard but she got a fake one that moves so that will do for now. We gave the Nelsons a game and we had Nathaniel's families name for Christmas so we gave them a game and some toys for their kids. I felt like we got too much but it was not as overwhelming as last year. We had a turkey dinner on Christmas day and spent the next week just chilling at home, watching movies, playing games and I took the kids skating a few times in Champion. We ordered Chinese food from the Champion restaurant for New Years Eve and then watched a movie with the kids while they fell asleep in the living room. Chris, Lizzy and I made it till Midnight. I was up early with Selman to see the sunrise on New Years day and it was beautiful! I think that means it will be a wonderful year. It was nice to have a relaxing two weeks without school for Chris and the kids and I am so happy to be on maternity leave and not have to work during the holidays.
The kids did online school for the first week back from Christmas break and Chris taught online in his home office. This was of course due to covid. Now it is the first day of March and there are still restrictions due to covid but at lease we can meet people outside now. This whole thing seems to be getting old but I know there are reasons for the restrictions and I count my blessings that we are healthy and safe. I pray for those who are struggling. I think the restrictions may be on and off for another year or so but I think there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
My goals for this year are similar to last year. Maybe I will do better on them this year. I want to keep spiritually fed and this year I have decided that I will only listen to spiritual messages like the scriptures or conference before 1200 noon every day. I also am trying a keto diet but have not been too successful yet. I think I would rather do a whole 30 like I did 2 years ago. I still have about 5 pounds to go to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight (it gets harder to lose weight after each pregnancy) which is fine but I will continue to work on it. Mary and Elva have been taking a Highland Dancing class since October and I decided to do one as well so on Thursdays evenings I work up a sweat with an online dance class and I quite enjoy it. It makes me want to take the girls to Scotland. I have always loved bagpipe music.
Elva's baptism was Saturday January 30th. I sewed her dress with the help of Mom and Camellia sewed some too. Elva was so ready and wanted to get baptized in December but we waited to have it hoping that more people could come (we were only allowed one family due to covid). We finally decided to go ahead and had the Nelsons join us in person and we had about 20 or more people join us through zoom which was just awesome! Chris' parents and most of his siblings came on zoom and my Selman cousins and Aunts and Uncles were there and some of Elva's friends and Primary leaders. Elva did her own hair and she looked beautiful in her baptism dress. I did the talk on Baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Chris baptized and confirmed her. Then we had the Nelsons, Mom and Dad and Nathan for supper after. Elva wanted hamburgers and donuts. Elva is a beautiful little girl who is going to do great things in life. She is a little mom to her brothers and sisters. She is perceptive and understands spiritual and secular things. And she is a great friend to everyone! We love you Elva!
Chris and I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's to celebrate Valentines day. We had a good laugh because we didn't really like it but we do like the song Breakfast at Tiffanys (Jared plays it on his guitar), so I have been signing the song "Breakfast at Tiffany's" but I sing it like "and I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany's, he said I think I remember the film and as I recall I think we both DIDN'T like it, and I said well that's one thing we've got." I guess Chris and I do have some things in common 😘😘
Elizabeth has lived up to her nickname "busy Lizzy." When she came home from the hospital at less then a day old, the kids had done up a sign WELCOME HOME BUSY LIZZY. Well she has been army crawling since 5 months, crawling well since a little after 6 months old, getting up to a standing position using furniture since about 7 months and for the last week or so (since 8 months old) she has been cruising a little on the furniture or on me or Chris. Although she is very mobile, the kids like to kart her around and she puts up with a lot of rough love from her brothers and sisters. She is a good baby and loves to pose (yes pose!) and smile for the camera. She also loves to eat and does well at picking up little broken up pieces of food like banana and cheese. She likes most food and I try to mush up or baby bullet the food we have at supper to give her. She started eating solids on Christmas day and started with plain rice cereal but eats most things now.
Lizzy gave us a scare the other day. For the last two weeks, at times when she cries she will not take a breath for the longest time. On Saturday, she cried because Chris was changing her diaper and she was not taking that breath and turned purple, her eyes rolled back and she went limp. I guess she fainted. She came too after a few seconds but was tired after so I took her to Emerg. She was fine (the doctor called it a BRUE?) and I guess some kids do this type of thing but it was the first time I have experienced it with my kids so it was scary. She almost did the same thing on Sunday too but she did not faint, her eyes just glazed over. Oh silly girl. Stop scaring your mommy! I made an appointment for a check up with our doctor for next week.
Life is not too busy right now except for being home with the 3 youngest (Mary has Kindergarten on Tuesday and Thursdays) and they always keep me busy at home. I also am able to be at the crossroads of the older kid's life when they leave and come home from school which I love. I want to be there for them. I play with the little ones at home during the day and I get some housework done - though I never am on top of laundry or anything really). I go for a walk with a friend using my Chariot to push the littles, once or twice a week. The girls have dance on Monday evening and Caeleb and Elva take piano lessons via facetime with their Grandma LouAnn on Wednesdays (she is an awesome teacher). Times for Rhymes is online for Selman and Lizzy on Thursday mornings from 1000-1100 and I do my online dance class on Thursday evenings. We go to church on Sundays. Other then that, life is simple and I love it this way. Except I could use a mini vacation - to the zoo or to a museum or to a hotel for a night or to the hills/mountains to do a hike or to go to a Calgary park/walking path or even Ikea would be nice as well. I do like getaways every now and then. Well, that's it for now. Until next time.
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