Christmas is the one time of year where I usually feel like my expectations for what I think it is going to be like never really come through.  I always want it to be like the "perfect" family celebration.  You know, where everyone gets up at 6:00 am sharp looking their best in their new Christmas pajamas and smiles on their faces.  Christmas music would be playing in the background (softly of course) and the tree would be lighting up the dimly lit room where the stockings are hanging from the mantle full of oranges and bananas and new toothbrushes (well, at least that is what you find in our stockings).  Anyway, you get the picture. . . . and then one by one we open the perfect presents that are given from the heart -- each one with sentimental value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

What, your family doesn't have a Christmas like this either?! 

Well, I think ours came pretty close

minus the sentimental value of gifts
and the 6:00 am wake up
and the constant smiling
and Jim and Megan and their boys
and the quiet. . . . . there was NO quiet. 


However, there was:

a nativity with full costumed characters and Phebe the feistiest angel that ever was

ripped paper scattered across the floor and toys strewn about

and there were
beautiful Christmas roses on my kitchen table with evergreen sprigs for the perfect centerpiece
and of course

church to celebrate the birth of our Savior

and
stockings and oranges
and laughter
and
smiles
and

a family gathered together

and that was enough.  

more than enough.

We don't really all fit on that couch, but close is the name of the game

Here is the clan, gathered together at Grandma and Grandpa Ostler's house on the day after Christmas.  See, we are all still smiling.  Miracle. 

For Christmas a couple of years ago my mom promised my sisters and myself this "generational picture" She finished it this Christmas and I love it. 

Knows you can hardly wait. . . . .

Can hardly wait for all the posts that are upcoming. 

As of 12:05 today it is Christmas Break (Winter Break if we are being politically correct, but Christmas Break if we are being climate correct, because unless it snows a lot in the next 2 days it isn't exactly going to look like winter)  When I picture winter it is beautiful.  Not so much right now.  I digress.  Back to the point. 

As of 12:05 I will have time, (what is that you ask? I'm not sure, but I'm hoping to relearn). . . . time to blog, to deep clean my house, to catch up on the ward Book of Mormon challenge (I'm reading, but behind) to deliver presents to my neighbors, to spend with my family, to sort out my yw binder, to set goals for the new year. . . . and that is only the beginning. 

12:05 can't come soon enough. 

I'm sure you will want to check back FREQUENTLY to see what sort of posts I come up with. (think marathon, sticky faces, roommate reunions and general musings)  You won't want to miss it (and  yet, if you do miss the initial minute it is posted) it is going to be on this blog FOREVER, so you can always look at it. 

stuck around for Thanksgiving

I had a nice long break for Thanksgiving this year. 

That's good. 


It wasn't nearly long enough. 

That's bad. 

Jim and Megan came with the boys.  

that's good.

They took the boys back to California with them. 

that's bad.

We took matching family pictures. 

that's good. 

We forgot that our non-matching feet would be showing

that's bad. 

We had a lot of amazing food.  

that's good. 

We ate and at and ate and ate and ate and ate and ate. . . 

that's bad. 

We had no fights or disagreements. 

that's good (and a miracle). 

We usually do. 

that's bad. 

Jim took his boys fishing and Ben loved it.  

that's good. 

Jimmy did not exactly like it and barely escaped with his life after a little "scare" at the lake. 

that's bad (and sorta funny now that it is all said and done). 

We stayed up late at night laughing and talking. 


that's good. 

Jim was part of the sleepover/pillowtalk because we were sleeping in the same room.  

he probably thought that was bad.

Dad brought mom. Jim brought Megan. Kristin brought Mitch. Heather brought Jason. Derek brought Ashley. . . . (you get the picture).  

that's good?

Daniel and Amber brought. . . . nobody. 

that's bad. 

We all shared what we were thankful for.  


that's good.  

I come from a long-winded family.

that's bad. 

The weather was perfect for running. 

that's good. 

It is at 9,000+ feet elevation. 


that's bad. 


Thanksgiving is the best time of year.  

that's good.  

It won't happen again for another year.  

that's bad.  

Overall, Thanksgiving was good. . .  . . maybe even the best I've had in years.