One really crazy thing happened this past weekend though that will make this Christmas especially memorable for me and Mark. Our friends, the Alders, had invited some families over to make candy houses Saturday night. We were there in the Alder's home with friends having a fun little party when Brian Alder, who is Mark's good friend from both work and church, started having serious chest pain. His wife Lindsay rushed him to the hospital and we were all left there with nothing to do but clean up the house and watch their kids and worry. Mark took me and our kids home after a while and went up to the hospital to see if he could help at all. After some long hours he came home and said that Brian had suffered a major heart attack, had undergone surgery, and was in the ICU but doing okay. Yikes. That was way too close. Brian is our same age! He is tall and thin and healthy and just an awesome guy. He and Lindsay have kids the same ages as our kids. Brian is the chief ophthalmology resident, just like Mark will be next year. It was so scary thinking about how close we were to losing Brian and how fragile life is. We are oh so grateful that the Lord is watching over Brian and his family. We've been able to help the Alders a bit--we even got to decorate Brian's hospital room for his little family to have Christmas there--and that has added a nice spirit to our Christmas.
For our Christmas Eve party, we had the Preeces, the Paxtons, and the Maglebys over. After dinner, I made everyone participate in a talent show, and it was awesome! Here are a few highlights from the show...
Kimball's piano song, "Silent Night":
Grant's demonstration of his amazing ninja skills:
Eliza wanted to sing "Rudolph." She was so funny whenever I asked her if she wanted to practice because she'd say, "No Mom, I can do this."
I can't get the video to upload, but all my kids sang "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem" together. I loved Grant's smile when he said his favorite line, "and carried bread and goat cheese..." :) Good times.
True to tradition, we finished off the talent show with "Gentle Jesus" and then acted out the Nativity. I love how the Spirit always comes in when we do that. Here's our cute bunch of actors:
Once everyone went home, we opened new pajamas and put the kiddos to bed.
Christmas morning came, and it was so fun to watch the kids open their gifts. I can't decide if Christmas is more fun for kids or moms. :)
Eliza really wanted an art set with markers and paints and the works. She was thrilled with her Santa gift and has already spent hours creating artwork. (Yes, she's holding her new toothbrush in the pic, but you can see the art kit behind her)
Grant is all about the Avengers right now, so here he is with his new "Hulk smash!" toy and his little action figures of his favorite super heroes.
Mark got Kimball a pocket knife, and he LOVES it. I am still nervous about it, but what can I do? I guess my little boy isn't so little anymore.
Here's Eliza's new baby doll I got her. I had so much fun making a baby carrier, a quilt, and clothes for the baby. Liza named her baby Heidi and she's taking good care of her.
Playing an awesome new game, the Disney edition of Hedbanz. It's hilarious to play with the kids and help them try to figure out which character they have on their forehead.
New Legos!!!
And here's my super cool present from Mark--a magnet board! We've started collecting magnets from the places we visit the past couple of years, so Mark put this magnet board together so we'd have a good place to display our fun magnets.
I just had to throw this one last picture in of Grant in his new Avengers sleeping bag. He's in heaven with all his new Avenger things.
We spent all day today just reading books and playing with the kids' toys and eating leftover Christmas treats. I wish we were heading off to visit our families in Utah this weekend like we'd hoped (then we'd even get to see some snow!), but we're doing great here in NC and loving this magical time of year. We miss all of you far away and hope you're having wonderful holidays too. Love you!
