Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree

 Last weekend we headed to Rudolph’s to pick out a Christmas Tree. The boys ran around playing tag and gave Emma a piggyback ride through the hilly rows of trees. 

Yesterday we pulled out our box of decorations and sorted through all the memories as we hung them on the tree with Christmas music playing in the background. I was filled with Christmas spirit as I watched our beautiful tree adorn a lifetime of experiences I’ve shared with John and our sweet kids. My favorites are our newlywed and then children birth ornaments. Emma’s is a stork bringing in a little baby girl, and I just think it is so fitting. 

Emma kept climbing up the little step stool pretending to put ornaments on the tree and then climbing down and smiling at everyone so proud of herself. We all agreed she was simply gifted to have figured out how to imitate her siblings in this way! Goodness she is cute. 

A lot of life happens in 16 years, and our tree really displays the joy we’ve experienced amidst it all.

After the tree was done we did our scripture advent and sang some Christmas hymns together and read the story of Silent Night while the boys assembled their Lego animals from the advent calendars.

We had chicken noodle soup and sourdough bread for dinner. I set the table with a Christmas cloth and napkins and lit candles. We then moved to our bedroom to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional while nibbling Chex mix candy (a recipe my mom used to make.) Throughout the devotional, Emma kept taking ornaments off her Birthday Tree and then placing them back on and clapping. Whenever the choir sang she froze and was mesmerized by the music. They sang Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and Cate is learning it in choir so she really enjoyed singing along to that number.

We closed the night tidying up the house then having a Come Follow Me Lesson. I think my highlight to the day was when William was too sick to attend church (much to my chagrin), he cuddled on his bed and I read the Little House Christmas Collection to him. We watched church from home and saw Cate, Matthew, and Johnny bear their testimonies. Matthew said he believed in Jesus, Johnny said he loved Christmas lights and that they reminded him Jesus is light and he feels the spirit every day at Christmas time. Cate talked about how in Come Follow Me she was learning about how God is light and love, and what that meant to her. All the while Emma crawled around the floor in her first ever pigtails.  It was honestly just a beautiful Sabbath full of that special Christmas feeling that comes as we celebrate the Savior. 

Welcome Emma Alison

Welcome Emma Alison Brassell, our Christmas miracle! 

What a joyous celebration it was welcoming Emma to our family. The night before Christmas Eve, John and I set up presents and watched “Christmas in Connecticut”. We rolled over to go to bed, and at 12:02 AM my water broke. I told John and he was so excited. We hurriedly got everything ready and woke up the kids at 1:00 AM exclaiming “Santan came!” By 1:13 AM all the stockings were emptied and presents opened. John and I scurried out the door instructing the kids to charge anything they wanted to play with in the morning, but to get some sleep! 

Labor was long and inconsistent. It was difficult and exhausting, and I was so grateful to have John there with me. 

At 12:04 PM Christmas Day, Emma entered the world. The doctor placed her in my arms and I exclaimed ”oh! You’re finally here. We’ve waited so long for you.” I was so emotional. It was a moment when time seemed to stretch out and I felt I knew her before. 

When Emma was born, she didn’t cry, or even whimper. She looked around and seemed like she was trying to absorb her surroundings. She seemed so present. It took a few minutes of jostling her to get a cry, and even then it was so short. 

We sent pictures to the kids, who were at church. I am so grateful for our ward family who surrounded the kids and celebrated Emma’s arrival with us. The kids were so excited to meet her and hold her. 

That night, Cate spent the night with me and Emma at the hospital. We watched Christmas episodes of “Friends” on the the TV and just stared at our perfect baby all night long. 

It was the best and longest day ever. As Cate slept on the couch next to me and Emma in my arms, I felt so much joy. My girls. I prayed they would stay close and look out for each other. 

The next morning the boys rushed in the room and again it was a battle of who would get to hold Emma next and who was her favorite. John and I hugged and he leaned in and said, “we did it, she’s finally here.” 

It was so precious to share the joy with those kids. 

Day one of a long and happy adventure. Emma, ready or not- Welcome to the Brassell Family, we’ve been saving a spot for you.

Christmas Cookie-ing

I put up Christmas decorations yesterday! The house feels all festive and cozy now. I love the lights twinkling and all the memories adorning the walls.

I thought for sure the kids were going to come home and feel the peacefulness of it all and we'd cuddle and read books...not quite what happened. I guess I forgot they are kids. They came home and yelled "CHRISTMAS!!!" And it was pretty high energy from there. They all got into Christmas pajamas and started decorating their rooms and it was a nut house. 

They finally crashed when I put on the Little Drummer Boy. And I couldn't help looking at those kids and swelling with all sorts of grateful emotions. They are good kids.

 We had the missionaries over for dinner and it was a great way to end the night.

 I love being home with William and Matthew.  They were mesmerized by the leaf blowers this morning!

I almost didn't make sugar cookies with the kids today. It just seemed like too early in the season and a lot of work. I'm so glad we did it. We had a blast together! They worked away while Christmas music played in the background. A few times I'd look over at the table and think,  "OK Mary, promise yourself to always remember this moment."

We talked about a lot of things and it was good for me to know what was going on in their sweet little hearts. It's interesting how much comes out over sprinkles and frosting.
This Christmas....it is already making me smile.

Christmas 2015

I keep trying to figure out what to write about Christmas this year. When I think about the last couple weeks I just get a real speedy reel of memories flashing through my mind and none stay long enough for me to get a hold on them individually, but they combine to make a really happy and content climate in my soul.  The kind of happy that reaches so deep I get all shaky and excited that this is really my life!  I am so grateful.
My dad always said that if you don't write it down, it never happened, so I am going to do my best to write down the moments as they come to my mind, so bear with me!
Decorating the house and the kids mad frenzy trying to help
Kids singing Christmas songs in the back of the van.
Caity making Christmas cards
Kids waking up to look for Sammy (our elf)
Watching Christmas movies and doing puzzles
Family Home Evenings about Christ's birth
Special time every night and how excited the kids were to open another chocolate box
Meeting Santa
The kids play-acting the nativity
Going to the Idaho Falls visitors center and watching movies about Christ's birth
Making treats and taking them to friends
Block towers in front of the Christmas tree
Finding the tree in the woods and the kids marching through the snow.
Waiting in line forever in the cold to see Santa
Making hot chocolate and the kids saving their candycanes so they could melt them in their cocoa
Getting Pizza and watching Santa Clause 2
Our ward Christmas party- the kids were so excited to be a part of the children's nativity.
Visiting our good friend, Melvin in Newdale.
Making Christmas Eve dinner with "helpers" (everyone needs a turn stirring the pot. except William. he needs two apparently.)
Caity coming home with Christmas crafts from school
Reading Christmas stories
Watching Elmo Saves Christmas waaaay to many times.
Watching Home Alone 1 and Home Alone 2 enough times to have most of the movie memorized.
Johnny telling way to many people "Merry Christmas you filthy animal." (Then saying sorry and that he was kidding)
Johnny finding elmo slippers at DI for William for Christmas.
My brother Matt getting Santa letters from my kids then playing "secret santa" and getting them things on their lists.
Matt then going all the way to the North Pole to deliver the letters and get replies for the kids- their faces were priceless.
Riding the horse drawn carriage.
Going to the Festival of Lights in Idaho Falls.
Visiting my parents and going to Temple Square and William's face when he saw the Cristus statue.
John taking the kids to the merry-go-round at Porter Park
The Ogden family Christmas party and kids' faces when Santa showed up.
Caity's face with she saw Kirsten (my old American Girl doll) by the Christmas tree Christmas morning.
Johnny riding his bike down the hall
William's face when he realized how many cars he got from Uncle Matt.
Driving to John's parents for Christmas Dinner and Spencer's birthday,
Kids waking up at four in the morning on Christmas because, hello- it's Christmas.
THE SNOW, it was so magical.
Realizing the John wasn't going to watch It's a Wonderful Life with me, but the kids all said they would- and they did!
Making snowflakes all together.
Loving on those sweet nieces and nephews and seeing my kids spend time with them.
Caity memorizing the scripture story in Luke 2.

OK, I'm not offended that you probably just skimmed that list- but that's what I mean- how do I even summarize all that- not to mention all the wonderful ordinary moments in between...there is no way other than to say- I am so grateful. What a wonderful time of year and really, what a wonderful life it is year round.
This year had some hard moments, yet through Christ the moments have led to growth in faith and a deeper understanding of what is most important.  He makes our burdens light, our weaknesses strong, and turns pain into joy. I don't know how it works- but I know it does. A Savior was born and he lived for us, died for us, and lived again that we may find joy and peace. I know He lives. I know Christ is my Savior.

Now what pictures I can accumulate from this last December (excuse the mis-order):

John took the kids to Porter Park to ride the carousel and meet Santa

John played his brothers for "The Hat" this must have been a picture he took right before John's dad beat him! :)

Winter walks with good friends

William at the Salt Lake City Visitors Center

Brittany making sugar cookies with the kids- note William's lack of a shirt.

Waiting in line with Shaylee and Kevin for Cabelas. It was coooold.

Caity at the carousel

Kids at carousel

John using the axe he got for Graduation to cut down our tree

My baking helper

Meanwhile, in Cate's room....

Excited to find a tree

Staying behind waiting for the big kids adn dad to get back with the tree

Caity on the horse carriage

Waiting in line for Santa

SO worth the wait- haha, William was not having it! But the rest of the kids were excited!

Real camels for the live nativity!

Now...Some creeper pictures of my kids sleeping, because- oh because I just love sleeping children!

Stockings hung with care

Home Alone, please!

William's obsession with Selfies

And a couple more of William Bradley in his Christmas Sunday outfit:

And some of Johnny Calhoun V:

And some pictures of my darling Cate Elizabeth:

And my sweet baby, Matthew Hinckley

puzzle time!

Watching the LDS Christmas Devotional.

Johnny pretending to be Santa. As William would say, "Ho, ho, ho, Merry Mitmas!"

Playing "North Pole"

Their reactions when I said, "You excited for church!?" William hates nursery.

snow!

Johnny and Me on our way home from taking Caity to school.

My parents and Matthew

Noah, Caity, Miles, Johnny and William all tied together like reindeer.

Aunt Becky with the kids

At Temple Square.

Real Reindeer at Thanksgiving Pointe.

Johnny talking nonstop to Santa.

Caity asking William if he is excited.

Johnny

Matthew

Caity

Willliam...still not loving the Santa idea

And you thought your elf was creepy.

Santa waffles!

Christmas Eve before Santa came.

Christmas Morning

Matthew and Grandpa

All the July babies together for the first time!

And finally, that's a wrap...here's to a new year!