It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The popular song has it right: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Here’s why it was so for our family:

•   Kadence and I went on a daddy/daughter date to the Forgotten Carols.      
•  Elizabeth and I went on a husband/wife date to BYU’s Christmas Around the World dance concert.
• We made it to the BYU Christmas party, complete with crafts, games, music, etc.
• We attended tithing settlement, as well as the baptism of an eight-year old I home teach.
• Our wonderful neighbors had us over for a delightful Souper Christmas party. Our gingerbread house stood up the whole season for us…a rarity!
• The First Presidency Christmas devotional was marvelous.
•  My birthday was special, thanks to Elizabeth and the kids, as well as messages and well wishes from many loved ones.
• We thoroughly enjoyed the high priests group leadership Christmas dinner.
• ·         I attended the Telefund Christmas banquet and the LDS Philanthropies Christmas social.
• ·         Darrell and Tanya has us all over for our monthly gathering.
• ·         Elayna and Aubrey were beautiful ballerinas in the Nutcracker, which had our girls mesmerized.
• ·         Kadence did a stellar job in her kindergarten Christmas program.

• ·         On a very, very cold day, we went to the Dicken’s Festival (at the Utah State Fairgrounds) and the Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo. It took us a day to thaw. 
• ·         We had fun sending/delivering and receiving Christmas cards and neighborhood treats.
• ·         We visited the Bean Museum’s exotic nativity.
• ·         The Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork was the best one yet.
• ·         We loved having Elizabeth’s sister, Denise, stay with us for Christmas. She regaled the girls with stories, played games, etc. Thanks for coming out Denise!
• ·         Christmas Eve was a delight as we had lots of family and friends over for dinner, stories, and our reenactment of the nativity. Adorable kids!
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• ·         Christmas day was magical, as all things are through children’s eyes. Santa and the parental treated the children well. The girls sang in the sacrament meeting program (tri-ward).
• ·         We also had Mom and Dad Torgesen and Elizabeth’s sister Andrea stay with us. Elizabeth’s cousin’s husband unexpectedly passed away in his sleep. The funeral was very powerful and spiritual.
• ·         We prepared to usher in 2012 (which officially will have to wait until next month).

                                            Christmas morning, before coming down the stairs.

Stockton has had an up and down month—lots of falls, bonks, bruises, and sickness (flu, fever, cough). He is still very much a daddy’s boy, which I love. He is one verbose little boy, learning new phrases each day. Tayah had another great month at preschool and will miss her Sunbeams teachers. She had a fun Christmas party at school, as did Kadence. We enjoyed several days off, listening to the music of the season, watching every Christmas movie imaginable, going shopping, out to eat, and so forth. Most of all, as a family, we felt the love of our Savior. What a remarkable season this is.