Santa Claus is Coming to Town

We just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  This just makes me laugh every time I look at it.  Sadly, it was by far the easiest picture to take, but it did remind me of the Christmas song (notice the lyrics around the picture).  Hope it brings a smile to your face too.  We are alive and well and enjoying life. 

Ben is still the 2nd Counselor in the Elder's Quorum in our ward and 2 months ago started working for McCarthy Tire again as an outside salesman based in Richmond and enjoys it--he says it reminds him of his mission sometimes.  His commute is still long, but it's shorter than going in to D.C. and he doesn't get any of the traffic.  Thankfully, he has a company truck and they pay for his gas.  Hopefully, Ben will get some accounts nailed down and we can sell our house and move closer to his work.  Ben is currently in his first ever hunting season and hopes to kill some deer.  He's been out a few times with our neighbor, but no sight of one yet.  If Ben can hunt as well as he can fish (believe me he's amazing and knows his stuff) we'll have meat in the freezer without a problem as long as the animals cooperate.  Every so often Ben has to take some time to wrestle the kids and feel young again, just to feel old the next day and for a long time after because he overstretched. Ha ha ha!  He thinks he's sooo old and he's only 33.  Ben, is truly great and especially as he's had to step in and do a lot of things on his own with the kids while I'm attending meetings here, there and everywhere.

I am the Young Women President in our ward and I will have been in this calling for a year in Jan.  It takes time, but I love it.  I'm also the room mom for Natalie's kindergarten class and I'm serving a 3 year term on our HOA board as the Architectural Chair (I've done it for a year).  Now you see why I''m always at meetings and hopefully my friends understand why I no longer attend book club and a lot of other extra stuff.  It's not that I don't enjoy those fun meetings but I really cherish family time and alone time with Ben.   I love being a stay at home mom and wouldn't trade it for anything (even on days when I feel like I'm losing it).

Natalie is 5 and loving kindergarten.  She is a bundle of energy, intelligence, spunk, and a joy to have in our family.  She still has her beautiful red, curly hair and can always be found with or near books.  Lately, she has been teaching her children (stuffed animals) when she comes home from school.  She adores her teacher and never wants to miss riding the bus.  Why?  She says it's fun and she doesn't have to wear a seat belt.

Lincoln is 3 and misses Natalie during the day, but loves to have mom's attention.  He is still our passionate child and has all the grandmas in nursery at church wrapped around his finger.  He adores all those women and they adore him.  He is also very energetic, intelligent, loving, and a joy to have in our family.  He is a lot like his dad and he enjoys teasing people.  He can still be found carrying his blanket and loves books too.

Preston is 2 and is a daddy's boy most of the time.  He has the cutest smile and laugh and gives some of the best kisses.  He is about 2 steps behind Natalie and Lincoln all the time and wants to do or have what they do.  He loves his babies and will often be found carrying a blanket and/or an assortment of dolls or animals or cars.  He is also a dare devil as he climbs on everything and also jumps off things.  He also enjoys books.

That about wraps it up without going in to too much detail.  We are especially grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and for this time of year when we can celebrate his birth, life, atonement and  resurrection.  We love the gospel and are grateful for the fulness of it restored to the earth and that we have a knowledge of it and that are family can be together forever.  We miss all our family and friends and hope you have a very merry Christmas and happy new year!