My Christmas Tree

Today my fifth graders and I decorated a Christmas tree! I turned some Christmas music on and we colored paper ornaments, cut them out, then stuck them on my little Christmas tree. It was so much fun! We made the tree look so pretty and they all had a blast doing it! I love bringing the Christmas cheer to all of them. It was a fun class! Then when I got home and plugged my tree in, all of the lights worked for the first time! It just wanted to be decorated, that's all! :) I love Christmas time.

The First Presidency Christmas Devotional was so amazing. I love the arrangement of The First Noel that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang at the beginning. I can't stop listening to it!!!

These are my crazy fifth graders next to our decorated Christmas Tree. They are wild, but I sure do love them! :)

I am thankful for Skype

Yesterday was December 1^st and it was the coldest day we have had here yet. I came home after teaching and put on my big comfy sweater and slippers and turned on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas CD as I sat curled up in my chair with some hot chocolate in front of our fake paper fireplace. What a welcome into December, the most wonderful time of the year! I love December. I love how it can be so cold outside but you can still feel the happy warmth that comes with the spirit of Christmas. I do miss all of the holiday decorations and lights surrounding everything, all of the sales and the music and the smells and the glow and excitement that comes with everything this time of year. I miss the snow adding that frosty glow to the houses and the trees. The most important thing at this time of year though we can have here. Even though nobody is celebrating with us, the excitement is still present as we decorate our apartment and buy gifts for one another and sing Christmas carols as we ride our bikes down the streets, but most importantly as we study Christ. We can even share the story of his birth with the Chinese people who don’t know why we celebrate Christmas. There is a glow everywhere this time of year, even here in China. I love Christmas.

This morning I woke up and talked to Mommy and Daddy and Jay and Thomas on Skype. Skype is just about one of my favorite things in the world right now. I am so thankful that even though I am on the complete opposite side of the world I can still go home for a few minutes when the internet works well enough to video chat. I am so thankful I was able to talk to Grandma and Popi last week on Thanksgiving. They were such a huge part of my life those two years I spent at Snow College, and they still are as I remember those many blessings and prayers and the complete peace I always had when I was with them. I also loved talking to Uncle Bob and everyone. I love my family so much.

So here are some pictures of my favorite moments on Skype. J

It was the best when I answered the call and this was what I saw:)  They all looked so cute I almost died:)

Thomas being cute like always!

  

Favorite part of Thanksgiving-Having all my sisters home:)  They are so beautiful!!

Me: "Dallin, Why are you making your eyes big?" 

 Dallin: "I'm trying to scare you."

This morning at Mommy and Daddy's Salt Lake apartment.

hahahahahaa Daddy!  This is one of my favorites:)

Daddy and Jay showing me the lights on Temple Square from the balcony!

Thomas making his way to the big TV!

Bye!!!!