We had a great Christmas season this year. It began for me early because I joined a choir this last September. December 1st though the 14th the choir sang 9 different times. Most of the performances were for nursing homes or Relief Societies. We ended our season with a big concert that all our families could come to. Shawn, Riley, Makenzie and her husband Ross came. I think Shawn was surprised how good the choir was and enjoyed himself. I have missed being in a choir sense high school, I am grateful for the chance to do choir again and have a loving husband's support.
I love the stage Riley is in. He is getting the holidays more and more. I love all the little saying he is saying during this past month. He got what the Christmas tree was and what the manger scene was. He would say happy birthday Jesus all the time. I would ask what Santa said and he would say "ho ho ho". Shawn and I got to see the Christmas season through Riley's eyes which was special.
The Christmas week was so fun. Christmas Eve, Shawn and Riley were on the tail ends of having cold, I got a cold on Saturday night, so we just took it easy in the morning. Then went out for lunch- a new tradition. That night we went over to Grandpa and Grandma Bartlett's house. We had a yummy dinner and then did our annual Christmas program, were we read the nativity story and sing hymns. Then we got to do some fun songs and Santa came!!!! This year Santa thought he was still in Taiwan and was speaking their language. All the kids were trying to tell him that we were in America and spoke English. It was so funny. Santa give us all pajamas for Christmas and then read a poem from Grandpa Bartlett. The poem is the best part of the night for me personally. After we said goodbye to Santa, Grandma had made sugar cookies for the kids to decorate for Santa. (I hope this becomes a tradition) Riley just liked squishing the icing in his hands. He was a mess by the end. We then said our goodbyes and went over to Papa and Oma Hehl's house. Ashley had asked if all the kids could sleep over and wake up together for Christmas for old time sake. So that what we did.
Christmas Day, we woke up and instead of the kids waking up the parents. My dad came down at 8:10 and woke up the kids. It was funny. Every year my Dad hides the stocking for us to find (love this tradition) Riley was still sleeping but Shawn and I went up to find our stockings. The stockings were in weird places this year, like in the vacuum, in a game box and others. Good job Dad!!! Riley woke up a little while later and Papa help him find his stocking. After we were all done we had to get ready and go down to my uncle and aunt's house for our first Christmas at their house. We got there and began opening presents about half way through the kids had disappeared to their rooms to play with their toys and the adults were hungry so we broke for breakfast. All the traditional stuff. I love it. After breakfast we did the rest of the presents. The rest of the day was spent playing with the new things we got, playing games, and best of all talking to my brother Adam who is on a mission. I loved talking to him and being able to hear his voice. After the almost a 2 hour conversation that we had with him. We had a wonderful dinner. It was a great Christmas!!!
The nest couple of days our family just took it easy. Shawn had Wednesday and Thursday off but because I was getting the worse of my cold we just stayed in and watched movies and played as a family.
New Years Eve, we didn't do anything in the day but that night went up to my best friend Makenzie's house. We played our new game Janga and Blurt until 12 and then talked for another 2 hours. No we didn't let Riley stay up till 12 but it was past his bed time when we put him down. We had a great time. The next day we went back up to Makenzie's house and Ross her husband cut Shawn and Riley hair. Then we went to Charlies house and had a wonderful dinner with some of the Bartlett family.
It has been a great holiday for our family. It been hard to get back to normal life but we are so excited for the coming year
Love Amanda and Family
