Christmas Preparations and Traditions

We decided to break with tradition this year and prepare for Christmas at the beginning of December instead of 3 days before the holiday. We actually got the tree up before November 30th....a first for us! With the stress of finals, it's easy to forget about decorating and getting into the Christmas spirit. And then I wonder why I feel like such a grinch. We made it our goal this year to try and focus more on the spirit of Christmas than other things that seem to detract from the true meaning of the holiday.


To start out we got our tree up and decorated and started our Christmas tradition of reading the Forgotten Carols.

When we lived in Utah, one of our traditions was to go and hear the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir sing at Temple Square. I have missed hearing them sing for the past three years so I guess you could say I decided to make my own "Christmas performance" this year. To fulfill a personal goal, I prepared and performed two piano solo's for our ward's Choir and Creche on December 4th and 5th. I was very nervous having not played a solo since about, oh, high school...so 15 years ago. But I practiced and felt they went very well. I also accompanied my friend while she played her flute and accompanied our ward choir.

Something new that we did this year was to make gingerbread houses. James is finally old enough that he can help and actually enjoy the process.

Steve wanted to make the gingerbread from scratch so I said, "Go for it"... then he realized how late it was so we cheated and bought a kit. But Steve made gingerbread cookies the next day. I kept telling him how sexy he looked in an apron so hopefully he'll make more cookies. By the way, the cookies were divine!

So tree up: check, attend a christmas performance: check, play christmas music: check and still in progress (I love Christmas music), start a new tradition: check, listen to First Presidency Christmas Devotional, tonight. Anything I forgot????

I think I actually feel the Christmas spirit this year.