The One About Christmas (Written On Christmas)

It's 9:15 pm on Christmas night. Scotty is sick, so he's in bed. He got hit with the fevers this afternoon, and is now out of commission. The kids are in the basement playing Nintendo together (there is a lot of screaming - equal parts joyous and contentious). I have already taken all the ornaments off both Christmas trees. The Christmas garbage is managed, and since I'm kind of ahead of the game, I decided to take a seat at my laptop for a few minutes and document our Christmas. The end of the year brings a lot of blog posts, so I need to stay on top of my writing. No one can go into 2025 without knowing what my most-played board games of 2024 were, can they? (Post to follow). 

This is Nicky's last childhood Christmas, so I tried to make it a good one. I've been very ornery lately (post to follow), so I had to focus really hard to get myself out of "check list mode" over the last few days. I'm happy to report that I was able to recenter myself and truly enjoy the last few days with my family. 

Christmas Eve

Scotty and I both had Christmas Eve off work. We started out our day by going to see the lights at Temple Square. This is contrary to the norm - people go see the lights at night, but we went at 6:30 in the morning. The lights are on for a couple of hours in the morning, and since we are morning people and we don't care for crowds, we went to walk around downtown early Tuesday. 

This was my last day with a broken camera on my phone (I got a new phone for Christmas and now have a mediocre camera instead of an extra crappy one)

After we went to Temple Square, we went to breakfast at a place called Alice's Kitchen. We used to go there all the time, but we haven't been since before COVID (Scotty just went recently for the first time, and this was the first time for our whole family to return). It's a very obscure little place at a truck stop in North Salt Lake. Give it a try. They have heart shaped scones (fry bread for you non-Utahns), great nachos, and weird hours. 

In the evening, we went to my in-laws' house (Scotty's dad and step-mom) for their yearly Christmas Eve party. We always have dinner, a Santa visit, and a talent show. 

Our Santa is very thin and clean cut

All present cousins (we were missing five or so)

My brother-in-law Riley is hosting an exchange student, so they sang a German Christmas song together (I think he just wanted an excuse to wear the outfit)

My nephew's talent is being the top of the pyramid

Nicky singing "The Hannukah Song"

After the in-laws' party, we came home and did a bit of cleaning. Since we got up so early, the kids went to bed pretty easily. Even Nicky and Daisy were asleep by 10:00. Santa arrived and left by 10:15. 

Christmas Day

Our Christmas mornings usually start off pretty early. Scotty and I were up at 6:00, and I got breakfast in the oven. We ended up playing a round of Wingspan, and the kids were still asleep. Grandma and Grandpa were coming over for breakfast at 8:00, so finally, at 7:30, we had to wake up the little ones (Nicky and Daisy rolled out of bed on their own right around that same time). 

Santa had stuffed stockings with some fun goodies and gave each of the kids an exploding gift box with some cash for an upcoming family vacation. The kids got some gifts from Scotty and me as well, but overall, it was a very simple Christmas. We produced much less trash and experienced a lot less chaos than we did in the years of toys. It was really nice!

"Exploding" gift boxes

Scotty's mom and step-dad arrived at 8:00. We had breakfast casserole, fruit, and mini muffins. I bought Peanuts Christmas plates from Sam's Club and was excited to get to use them for company (we've been using them for our family meals all month). 

Zoe gave Eva tiny hands for Christmas, and she insisted on using them at breakfast

After Scotty's parents left, we lounged about for a while. A confession: I don't know what people do at home on Christmas. I have some friends who designate Christmas as a stay home day, and I don't understand how they spend their time. You just stay home? And what? What do you do all day? I would be bored out of my mind. My kids would fight all day (they do anyway, but we break up the day with visits to family) and drive me batty. I've always gotten out of the house on Christmas and can't even imagine just staying home. 

At noon we went to my mom's house and had lunch and opened some gifts. My brother traumatized us with his elephant pants. He wore them for half the day before he realized the trunk had a squeaker!

My niece was the center of attention. Babies on Christmas? Yes, please! My kids all fawned over her. 

We came home for a while in the afternoon. Some of us napped, and the kids played a bit of Nintendo and fought a lot. Scotty and Nicky watched football, and Scotty took Eva to the park for a while to burn off some energy. 

Scotty's dad and step-mom stopped by to see what the kids got for Christmas. Then we went up to Scotty's mom's house to eat some dinner. She wasn't home, but she made a really big Christmas dinner even though she was invited elsewhere for dinner, so we went and raided her fridge. My mother-in-law has really weird food practices. She made enough food to feed 50 (IYKYK - I'm not exaggerating at all, I promise!) even though no one was going to her house to eat. 

After dinner, we came home and played Taboo. It was a nightmare I will not revisit. 

The kids ended up playing more Nintendo (they got the Bluey game and new controllers for Christmas) while I did some cleaning and undecorating, and Scotty was dead to the world with his fever. 

At the end of the night, I declare our Christmas a success. I enjoyed it, but I'm excited to move on. I always get a burst of energy when Halloween and Christmas end. I'm going to channel that energy into everything I possibly can before I hit my wall. 

Merry Christmas

Things I Love Right Now

My Christmas tree

I simplified my tree this year and left off most of the ribbon and some of the ornaments. It ended up only taking a few minutes to decorate, and I’m totally sold on how easy it was! And it was still really beautiful, in my opinion. Now I just need to write a letter to myself to remind me next year. 

Yonanas

I’m a frozen fruit hoarder. Any time we have fruit that we won’t eat before it goes bad, I throw it in the freezer. Last week I bought a Yonanas machine. I’ve used it four times, and so far, I’m loving it. It’s a great way to use up our fruit and satisfy my sweet tooth.  

My friends

Oh how I love those guys.

Shrinking 

This is my favorite show right now, but it’s really naughty, so don’t watch it.

(Meanwhile, I’ve watched it twice).

These gift bags

I already wrote about these this week, but I love them enough to mention them again. I still need to get through Christmas morning for a full analysis, but so far I have nothing but praise for the simplicity these bags have afforded me this year.  

Scrub Daddies 

I got my first Scrub Daddy (actually, a Scrub Mommy) from my friend Julie for Christmas last year, and I fell in love. I used it until it became completely decrepit, and then I saw that Sam’s Club sells Scrub Daddies in bulk. Mommies? Daddies? Either way, I’m a happy lil scrubber these days.

Food apps

I’m not gonna lie, when I’m in line at the McDonald’s drive thru (or whatever food place I’m keeping in business), and I’ve ordered through the app, I feel like I’m better than everyone. I’m like, “Step aside, folks! McDonald’s has been waiting for me.”

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Arctic Circle where I had I get my debit card out and pay at the window like some Neanderthal, and I was so tripped up by it. I forgot that that’s even a thing! The worker pretty much had to coach me through it. 

One thing I really like about using food apps is the rewards. Cafe Rio is the best at rewarding their customers - hands down. In fact, this very day they had 4x points, so we splurged and spent $50 on food but got $20 back in rewards (plus we paid with my $100 Black Friday gift card that I buy every year that got me an additional $40 in gift cards). 

Walmart + (and other delivery conveniences)

Last month I signed up for Walmart + while it was half off for Black Friday. It has been a total game changer and life saver for me! 

You guys. I place an order at 9:00 pm and have it delivered before I leave for work the next morning. It’s fantastic. It has helped eliminate so much stress this holiday season. I didn’t know I needed this in my life, but I’m in love!

Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) I’m trying out Sam’s Club’s delivery service (which I just found out I have with my membership). I’m totally willing to pay a tip for someone to bring my Christmas potluck ingredients to my porch!

Going to Music & the Spoken Word

(Learn more here)

Scotty and I went back in June, and then I wanted to take my kids before the year ends and our church time changes (Music & the Spoken word airs from 9:30-10:00 on Sunday). We went the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Then last week Nicky asked if we could go again, so we went on the 22nd. It’s such a great, uplifting activity with the kids. It’s short enough for their attention span, and they get to enjoy the behind the scenes of the broadcast. When they get bored, we just remind them that it’s going to be on YouTube, and that perks them right up.

Christmas is in Three Days (and ten other random facts)

Fact #1: In my current state of existence, I am ornery 95% of the time. The other 5%, I'm absolutely delightful! You would be blessed to experience me in that mode. 

Fact #2: I’m giving some strange Christmas gifts this year. Some of them I’m excited about because, unusual as they are, I know some of the recipients will still like them. Other people won’t like them. I, personally, would love to receive these weird gifts. I did a test run with Timber the other day, and had positive reports. 

Fact #3: These bags have saved my sanity this year. 

I don’t enjoy wrapping presents, but I’ve always felt like wrapping paper is a key component in Christmas morning magic, so I have suffered for the sake of the fantasy. This year I decided to simplify things and put most of my kids’ presents in these bags after buying them on sale on Amazon. Folks? I think I’m sold, but I need to experience Christmas morning to be sure. This may be my method from hence forth. It removed so much stress from my life.

Fact #4: Santa doesn’t bring much to our house because I don’t like to inconvenience him by forcing him to spend a lot of time at our home the night before Christmas, so he just stuffs our stockings and leaves one gift. Scotty and I take care of the rest so he can be on his merry way, which means most of our Christmas presents are under the tree already (in the aforementioned bags). 

Fact #5: Why not use regular gift bags? I do use them for gifts that leave my house, but I don’t want to use them for gifts for my kids that will sit under the tree because I want something a little more tamper evident. The bags aren’t fool proof, but they’re a little harder to snoop with. Go ahead, though, pick it up, feel it, and see if you can see through the bag. Snooping is a fun part of Christmas, and if you’re smart enough to do it, I’ll throw you a bone. But I’m not going to make it as easy as just moving aside tissue paper. 

Fact #6: I LOVED snooping as a kid, and trying to find our Christmas presents (or figure out what they were once they were wrapped) was a big part of my childhood. 

My sister, Anna, and I did everything we could think of including slicing the tape off our presents with a razor blade. We would also sneak out of our room right after Santa left and slice open our presents, take a peek, close them back up, and go back to bed. 

One time, knowing our parents had presents hidden in their room, we put something in their window so it wouldn’t close all the way, and then we snuck home during church, opened the window from the outside and climbed through, and found all our presents (we’d been allowed in the room with supervision, and my step-mom stepped out just long enough for us to pull that off). 

Fact #7: A couple of weeks ago we went to Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday morning before church. Nicky asked if we could go again this week, so we did.

It was such a beautiful event. I am so glad we went! Being the Sunday before Christmas, it was more crowded this time, but it was so good! I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’ve never had the chance to go, you should! I recommend Music and the Spoken Word or even popping in to a rehearsal on a Thursday night. 

Here is more info on how to attend these events, and here is today’s broadcast:

Fact #8: If you had the chance to view the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, did you notice that the women have new dresses? Probably not because they look just like their old dresses. But… I’m very excited about this because they have been wearing the same dresses since the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, and they deserve some new ones! Also, Scotty was heavily involved in purchasing them. 

Us with the Choir’s wardrobe specialist and the vendor who helped produce the dresses 

Fact #9: This weekend we had Scotty’s mom’s Christmas party. She did an Elf themed party, and it turned out really cute. 

Fact #10: I’m not hating the lack of snow this far. Shhh! Don’t tell the weather makers. 

December Quickly

December is kicking my butt. Every year I am reminded of how wild, crazy, and overwhelming this season is, and yet, I can’t think of any way to make it different. I feel like I always live December in check list mode rather than enjoyment mode. 

In my current out-of-control December lifestyle, I wake up everyday at 4:00 am and can’t go back to sleep until 6:00, if at all. My CPAP is always removed, and I have no memory of taking it off. 

Speaking of sleep, every time I try and blog, I immediately start falling asleep. Right now I’m fighting to keep my eyes open. I have several unfinished posts that are about three sentences long. 

(I tell you no lie - I just took a legit 40 minute nap at 8:00 pm right here).

In an effort to try and document some of December before I fall asleep again, here are some things that have happened thus far:

Christmas in Color (drive thru Christmas lights) followed by Leatherby’s where I had the most delightful raspberry sorbet

Nicky has been repeatedly pranked this month 

(This one was the worst! They threw cookies ingredients all over the car, and we had to scrub flour out of every nook and cranny. Also, how could they do this to the butter? Don't these kids know how expensive butter is right now? I am simply agog!)

Not pictured: a photo from the night his friends soaked several pairs of women's underwear in water and then put them all over the Jeep so they froze (a Walmart bag of saturated undies is still laying on the floor of my garage probably growing mildew)

Dance performances for community and school

Moana Jr with our Unified Theatre program (a combination of special and general ed students)

Choir concert for Zoe and Eva

4th grade theatre for Eva 

Christmas parties (with more to come)

A visit to the Giving Machines downtown (on a Sunday at 9 am - highly recommended for my fellow crowd haters)

A night out with friends (much needed)

And the best Christmas gift ever (from my friend Krystle)

Not pictured: multiple birthday parties, Scotty’s and my work parties, game night, basketball halftime, primary program, and a sinus infection. 

This post took me over a week to write! But I got a few naps in. 

Proof I Live with Kids: A Photo Essay

Giant stuffed animals occupying the furniture:

Tape everywhere:

Snowflakes and paper chains hanging from the ceiling (and subsequently falling on the floor):

Legos everywhere:

Please note the Moroni made from a monkey holding a spyglass

The above photos show approximately 2% of the Legos in our household

(and I say "Legos" instead of "LEGO" for plural, and I will not change)

Winter clothing spilling all over the floor:

Holiday-themed pillow cases:

A mini hat on my bedside lamp:

A Music Man banner hung on my bedroom wall (courtesy of Nicky):

There is also a giant poster of Nicky hanging on the opposite wall

LED lights, posters, and artwork hung on every wall:

And Squishmallows. So many Squishmallows. 

Artwork and school papers covering the fridge:

Squishies all over the place - always covered in hair and dirt:

I throw so many of these away, and they just keep showing up 

Kitchen table is never clean:

Random things taped to the walls:

Shoes everywhere:

 Not pictured: bobby pins and hair ties all over the floor, globs of eyelash glue on the vanity table, socks - SO MANY SOCKS!! ALWAYS SOCKS!!!, 18 different advent calendars and countdowns, head-shaped dents in the walls, boogers on the side of the couch, charging cords draped on every surface (until you need a charger, then they are nowhere to be found), earrings, chapstick, misplaced money, inside-out pants with underwear attached, hair brushes, bandaids, zit patches, water bottles, candy wrappers stuffed in the couch cushions, clothes and towels on the bathroom floor, backpacks, and blankets.