Birthdays and Candles

My cousin recently posted that she wished the Christmas season were long enough to read all the fun stories, sing all the great songs, and do all the wonderful traditions we THINK about doing, which is exactly how I feel every year, but we've enjoyed the ones we fit in this year:
We've had some caroling, dingdongditching, 12 days of Christmas, made nativity fingerpuppets, decorated gingerbread houses, watched the Christmas devotional, heard a brief Suzuki Christmas Concert, seen Temple Square lights, had Maddie's orchestra Christmas concert, listened to tons of music, watched a few Christmas programs, and attended ward, work, and bishopric Christmas parties.
Our most exciting night was the Family Home Evening we decided to decorate gingerbread houses.  I was reading from the book A Christmas Carol, candles were lit on the table, and then before I knew it, we were all on our feet screaming, because Anne's hair had caught on fire! That moment of hesitation seemed FOREVER as I tried what to do--a towel would do the trick, but the flames were so huge (4-6 inches?) I was afraid the 3 steps it would take me to grab it would be too long, and while I debated, Brian took one step over, patted her head w/ his bare hands, and all was well! I shakingly took Anne to the bathtub to wash her off and assess the damage.  After CLUMPS of long curly hair came out in my hands, she amazingly still had TONS of hair left!!, and the burnt hair still had about 1/4 inch left before it would've gotten to her scalp.  It was really just one thin stripe that started at her hairline, and went back to the crown of her head.  I can still catch a hint of that odious burnt hair smell every time I wash her hair, but we're so glad it ended as well as it did! Emily said to me later, "Mom that was ALMOST the perfect night!" Maddie (who wasn't screaming as much as the rest of us) just said later, "I kept thinking, 'This is hilarious--I finally know someone who's hair caught on fire!'" We got a box of the candles as a white elephant gift from the bishopric party, and thought it would be fun to have them at the table more regularly to increase our festivities.  Even after our scare, we lit them most nights for dinner, and would you believe, the last night they burned down to the end was on Christmas Eve? Just perfect!

This was Emily's birthday (I didn't have the wherewithal to take pictures that gingerbread night, but it does give the candle flame effect!)
Emily turned 10 at the beginning of the month, and was excited to get a new bank she could paint, and a "Best Friends" necklace.  She was almost MORE excited to get to shop for, decide on, and spend her birthday money from both grandparents this year.  (I enlisted Maddie to help me keep her from buying her Christmas presents!).  She finally narrowed it down to a bead making kit, and a rather large nailpainting set.  She was also a good sport about having her birthday on FAST Sunday.  Here we are enjoying her "Skookie" Birthday cake and presents. 

Anne was so excited about seeing Santa this year--she tracked him down at the mall (they didn't allow free pics) , and loved seeing him at our Ward Breakfast.  Fortunately she even asked for a dollhouse :).  Lucy, on the other hand was not so keen on the idea, and clung to me for dear life any time we were near him.  The ward party left me feeling a bit shaky myself, since I only went to get her a candy cane, and our "Santa" proceeded to GRAB her from me, insisting that backing her into his lap was the best way (???), and that these (w/ the baby screaming) make the best pictures!! I was not so inclined to agree, and poor Lucy was a bit clingy all weekend! Here is the picture of Santa commanding, "LET GO, LET GO, LET GO!!!!" while I tried to rescue my baby! I still don't know if he was talking to me or Lucy.  

thankFULLgiving

We were already counting our blessings this time of year, but with Grandma Priday's death the Sunday before Thanksgiving gave us an opportunity to REALLY recount how rich our lives are! Her life and example alone give us so much to be grateful for.  Mom flew out to be with her in the hospital after she had broken her hip the week before.  Dad, Briant, and Taylor all gradually joined us, and we were thrilled to be able to be a bit of a gathering place.  After definitely deciding to go to Idaho, we changed plans at the last minute Wednesday, and imposed on Scott and JoAnn's dinner in Brigham City so that we could be with Mom, Dad, and Briant, who was just flying in.  It was a wonderful day, and really gracious of Mildenhall's to let us bombard.  I think Scott spent 12 hours Wednesday peeling and mashing enough potatoes!!!

The rest of the week we spent going to lunch w/ Mom, Aunt Janet, and girl cousins,

at string practices for the "family orchestra"(neat for Maddie to be able to join in!), putting up Christmas decorations, practicing more music (which was heart-soaring, even if also VERY humbling trying to accompany all these musicians!),

and eventually attending the viewing and funeral for Grandma Priday.  The whole week was such a lift, being surrounded by so many great people, and remembering how much we love Grandma and her perfect and personalized influences.  Such an amazing woman! In wanting to be just like her, I feel like I need to live to 200 to get close! I was impressed as all of the Priday children focused on her strengths, at her constant encouraging uplift, her powerful connection to Grandpa, her dedication to service--always putting herself 3rd, after the Lord 1st, and others 2nd, of her constant missionary mindedness, her love of music, of learning, and especially of family.  It does something to you to be related to people like that--a sort of constant reminder of the divine heritage we all have.  It was such a warm and tender week, made doubly nice by having so much family in our home.  

 It was a real treat having G&G AND uncles (I think THEY wish they could bring them every time!--having the children wear out playing football sure beat sitting through 72 rounds of Uno or Dalmuti!)

It's funny too, how these major event in life make it easier to enjoy the simple things:  A landmark day yesterday when I was able to enjoy doing dishes since Emily and Anne came in wanting to help and just be together (I thought Grandma Farnsworth was crazy once, trying to tell me at age 7 how fun it could be singing and doing dishes together), the older girls throwing a "Bath" tea party so Anne wouldn't put up a fight for soaking time,

hearing Spencer and Emily at a choir concert,

Brent getting up early on his own for fast offerings, Spencer getting so excited about advancing in Karate,

praying about even little things like finding a swingset, and having the perfect opportunity, price, and help come along at just the right moment,

and just the great chances to be together as a family.  We really are SOOO blessed.

(thanks TJ for the impromptu photo shoot!)