Sunday - December 6

Tonight after church and the devotional David put the lights on the tree. He works so late this time of year that I needed him to do it tonight so we could decorate tomorrow. Chad helped him out a lot and they got more white lights on than I expected. David wanted all white lights this year. He used two different kinds of lights. The picture does not show it as well as in person but it is beautiful just like it this. The Weitzel family is coming on the 20th for our family Christmas party and it will be fun to have the festivities up here in this room. This room has been many things the last couple of years and finally it is our family room. I love the vaulted ceilings and I am so glad we decided to have them put in. It really makes a great space for such a big tree! Today mattered because as the lights came on the tree I felt the greater light of the one whose birth we celebrate!

Saturday - December 5

Picking the right tree has always been very important to David. The last few years we have gone to the same Christmas tree farm. They have hot chocolate and cider and cookies. After we get our tree we all meet in the trailer to eat and drink. It was sunny today not at all like last year when it was snowing the day we got our tree. This year because we decided to put the tree upstairs we were looking for at least a 12 foot tree. Thank goodness we found one and it is a beautiful tree! We had to keep it bundled up until we brought it in the house. That was the only way we could get it up the stairs. We will decorate on Monday or possibly tomorrow. Today mattered because as a family we picked our tree and everyone had fun!

Friday - December 4

Today was supposed to be bead group. That got canceled. Good for me as I have lots of things to do to get ready for our progressive dinner next week. The house is a complete mess from all the decorating and I have not done one bit of Christmas shopping yet. I hate this feeling of everything undone. Tomorrow we are supposed to get our tree and we have had a hard deciding where to put it this year. Well, we finally decided to put it upstairs so that Jonathan won't bother it to much when he is here. But that adds to my list lost more cleaning. Chad and Autumn really helped out a lot. They moved the bookcases and picked up all the toys. Taylor did a lot of organizing and by the time my day was done when I went upstairs lo and behold everything was ready for the tree to come tomorrow. What great kids I have. There are times when they see what needs to be done and they really put effort into getting it done! Today mattered because the children served me and made my life easier today!

Thursday - December 3

It was time today to start decorating for Christmas. Cleaning the house and decorating go hand in hand. It will take me at least a week to get everything done. I have many interruptions during the day to make this be quit a project. One of the first things I always do is set up the nativities. I collect them so there are a few. I clear the bookshelf in the family room and dedicate that to these cute figurines. For me that really is the beginning of the season when these are all out and displayed. Autumn especially loves these things. She calls them her "activities". I think she means nativities but it is so cute to watch as she plays with them. This year we made sure to have some that Jonathan could play with as well. So all those are on the bottom shelves and the top ones are dedicated to the more fragile ones. Today mattered because we put Jesus first in our celebrations!

Wednesday - December 2

The kids sure missed me. I think they missed Autumn too. Today started like a normal early day. It was hard getting back up and knowing all the things that I had to do today. Vacations are fun but catching up on everything is lots of work. Not only getting everyone out the door for school - but loads of laundry to catch up on, a kitchen to thoroughly clean and carpets to vacuum. The kids and David did pretty good while I was gone but it just is not the same as when I am home. I missed these two (Noah and Hayden) especially. They keep me on my toes and always have something to say. It was nice to see their smiling faces and know that they missed me as much as I missed them. Today mattered because I realize how much I matter!

Tuesday - December 1

Toshia and I have had such a great time in California! Today we fly home and go back to our busy, busy lives. I love this daughter of mine. I know things have not always been easy for her. But she seems to always come out on top. I love that her testimony is so strong and she is a great strength for me! Thank you Toshia for coming with me and spending this last couple of days with me! Today mattered because a mother and daughter grew closer together!

Monday - November 30

Today we spent time at the park by my moms house. The kids had so much fun. We went for a while in the morning and then again in the afternoon. The weather here is so nice and it does not feel like winter is just around the corner. It will be a while before we go play at the park again when we get back - it will just be too cold! I went for a long run this morning and it was so nice. There was not a lot of traffic inside the housing development so I could just ponder and look at the all the beautiful things around me. Today mattered because time was spent well and even though there was nothing in particular to do everyone had fun!

Sunday - November 29

With all the wedding things done I went home to moms and to church at her ward. I played the piano for them. I did a Christmas medley of a couple of songs. I don't get the chance to play in front of people that often anymore so it was fun to have this opportunity. Other than church it was a quiet day with lots of conversation and playtime with Jonathan, Autumn, Toshia, mom and John. What a great Sabbath! Today mattered because I could use a gift and share it with people!

Saturday - November 28

Today was the wedding day. I started off with a short run with Kelly early in the morning. I loved spending this kind of time with her. When I used to visit in Utah we ran and it was wonderful to have the quiet time to talk. Lots of work to be done when we got back so that made the time together even more special. There was lots to do and not a moment of rest. I loved that I got to be here and in the hub bub of all that was going on. I miss this part of my family very much!. It did rain and that moved the reception inside but other than that everything went off beautifully! Lindsay was beautiful and being in the temple with lots of my nieces and nephews and sisters and mom and John and Toshia was the highlight of this whole trip. Today mattered because families are forever!

Friday - November 27

Today we went to Kelly's house to help out with all the preparations for Saturday's wedding. Autumn had lots of fun playing with her cousin. That is the hard part of living so far away. Cousins don't get to see each other as often as I would like so when they get together it is extra special. We worked on the flower arrangements. They were cute but I don't think Grandma Ardee liked them very well. I had fun making them and it was fun to create with my sister and nieces. Today mattered because we spent time together!

Thursday - November 26

Today Toshia, Autumn and baby Jonathan and I flew to California to spend time with family there. It is my niece's wedding on Saturday and we are going down to help with that. It is also Thanksgiving and we are spending time with my mom and John for Thanksgiving dinner. It is Jonathan's first time flying so we were a little nervous as to how he would do. He was great and we had a good flight. The kids were good and so excited to see everyone. Today mattered because even though it was not spent with all my kids - I got to spend time with my mom and John for this fun family holiday!

Wednesday - Novemeber 25

(I don't have a picture for this one so will edit later.) Today was billing day at Steve's. I had to get it all done today because I am leaving for California tomorrow. There was no school so I took the little girls into to town with me and they met up with Ashleigh. She spent the morning doing make overs with them and shopping at a local toy store. They had so much fun. After they were done I met up with them at Red Robin for lunch. They had fun, I got my work done, so all in all it was a very productive day. Today mattered because good times and loved were shared!

Tuesday - November 24

I know I should not complain. Today was very important for David. I needed to get the oil changed in the Suburban. Don't laugh - he treats this car like his babies. It is very well taken care of but because of the nature of his work I am the one stuck doing the taking care of. It usually means I have to change whatever plans I have for the morning and spend time waiting for the oil to be changed. This morning though I took advantage of the time and went to the book store next door and browsed the books. I went for hot chocolate at the bakery next door as well. I had a peaceful, lovely time. What started as a chore ended up being a very reflective time for me. Today mattered because I turned a boring thing into a good use of my time!

Monday - November 23

Today we watched Jonathan. He was so busy! I had been thinking of decorating for Christmas since am going to be gone for Thanksgiving but I am just not in the mood today. We played, ate, played some more and finally he slept in my arms for a while. All the time Autumn played with us. She loves being around him and really takes good care of him. Today mattered because it was a grandma day!