December Nuts and Bolts

First, here's Kadence playing the part of Mary during our Nativity scripture reading Christmas Eve. She's giving Joseph (her cousin Camden) a little kiss while they rode atop Uncle Russell. Aren't kids great?!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! We ushered in the new year with a pair of patients...Elizabeth with strep and Kadence, an ear infection. Hope our girls feel better!

Here's December's Nuts and Bolts entry:

Is there seriously a greater month than December? Simply put, the other eleven simply pale in comparison. The Smith family had a magical one, as you now learn.

Let’s start with the Christmas activities for the month. Here’s the run-down: BYU Christmas party (for all employees and their families), First Presidency Christmas devotional, BYU Telefund Christmas banquet, a fun “souper” Christmas party with neighbors, gift-wrapping with the Young Women, Christmas lunch at Tucano’s with my student supervisors, Young Women’s leaders party, ward Christmas brunch, singing in our ward choir’s sacrament program, BYU Annual Giving retreat at our house, all the usual yuletide movies, and countless hours of music. While the gift giving and receiving is wonderful, it’s all the everyday things that makes the season what it is.

We spent the holidays with Elizabeth’s family in Old Town, ID (just on the border of ID and WA). It was wonderful spending time with her parents, two siblings, a niece, a nephew, and Grandma Torgesen. It was nice and relaxing to spend time catching up, playing games, eating, and watching movies. We were blessed with an abundance of snow while we were there, which Kadence took advantage of—her first experience playing in the cold stuff. She was all decked out in her pink snowsuit and went sledding with Mommy. After each run, her enthusiastic reply was always “Again! Again!” We drove the 11-12 hour drive, including a stop to visit her sister and family in Pocatello for a night. The girls did quite well. Tayah’s our best traveler, succumbing to sleep most of the way. We all did come down with some illness (including strep throat for Elizabeth and an ear infection for Kadence), but it was a wonderful holiday vacation.

Christmas day is even better with little ones. Tayah’s one easy customer—she spent most of the time playing with one toy (and then moved on to bows and wrapping paper). Kadence had fun and while she’s still not totally aware of what was going on, it was cute to watch her rip the paper. We won’t bore you with the gifts we each received (all of them were fantastic), but for some reason, Santa forgot to bring us that mini-van, the 60-inch flat screen, or some interior defense for my struggling Utah Jazz!

Tayah’s red hair is not going away anytime soon. It’s especially noticeable in the sunlight. She hit the half-year mark and celebrated by taking several naps, spitting up, and being adorable. Tayah’s gotten much more interactive. For instance, when we playfully shake her from side-to-side, she continues to shake her head after we’ve stopped. What an angel!

Kadence is starting to show the temperament of a soon-to-be-two-year-old (that’s a lot of hyphens). Her fits are prize-winning. It’s a broken record, but she continues to astound us with her increased words and sentences. What fun it is for her to communicate so well.

Elizabeth continues to really enjoy her YW calling. She’s got a stellar group of girls. I can never say it enough—I’m so grateful for all she does for our family. She is one amazing mother to our baby girls!

30 years old. I hit the illustrious mark this month and am not too damaged physically or psychologically. Elizabeth and the girls made it a wonderful day, as did my crew at the Telefund. I was able to conduct December’s sacrament meetings. We also had a giving tree for our ward and it was humbling to see everyone’s generosity.

Sarah’s mother and my dear grandmother passed away on the 12th. We were blessed to be with her a mere hour before she left us. We held her memorial service the following week, where I spoke and Elizabeth and I sang with our siblings. It was my honor to dedicate her grave as well. What a wonderful mother and grandmother. She had a profound influence on my life. We cannot wait to do the temple work for her. We love our Po-Po.

We’d be ungrateful if we didn’t express our gratitude to the Savior. We have truly felt His love during this season. He is the greatest gift in our lives and we love Him immensely. We also love you all, believe it or not!