Skip to main content

Our first Christmas in Texas

This was our first time since we moved to Austin in March, 2000, to not go to Colorado for Christmas. It turned out to be wise since there was a huge blizzard while we would have been traveling there, and there was another snow storm today, the day we would have been driving home.

I was really happy to stay home for once because I love Texas and I enjoy being at home, although Kelly's parents always try to make everything fun for us when we head to the Rockies.

Christmas Eve was on Sunday, so we were able to participate in our own ward's church services for once, with Kelly and Lindsey singing in the choir. It was a nice program and then I taught the adult Sunday School class for the first time. It was scary, but it went fine. Then in Relief Society, a few people had volunteered to bring their own nativity sets from home to display. My friend, and co-counselor, Shauna, brought hers. I brought mine too, and displayed it with the nativity sketch that my niece, Morgan, had drawn which became the art for her family's Christmas card.

Karina, formerly in my Laurel class, and I were in matching Christmas colors, and since she was home from Utah for the holidays, I seized the moment to have our picture taken together. I really would have liked to have gotten a family picture of the four of us today in our church clothes, but the effort it would take seemed impossible at the time. We all were dressed in matching Christmas colors and managed to get out the door with no time to spare. Then by the time we got home, everyone was hungry and wanting to eat and slip into comfy clothes.

Our Christmas Eve dinner was spectacular. My sister, Julie and her family, surprisingly shipped us a box of frozen steaks and more from Omaha Steaks, that was packaged with dried ice in a Styrofoam container. Lindsey and I set up the card table in the game room in front of the upstairs Christmas tree where we put the gifts and planned to play games later. Our cozy little table for four was festive and charming and the entire meal, including the sparkling cider, were Christmas gifts that we had received. Julie's family provided the mouth watering filet mignon, stuffed potatoes, and chocolate cake, and RuthAnn dropped off the sparkling cider. It was such a treat. All that I had to do was grill the steaks, which is very doable in Texas in December, and steam some broccoli.

After the incredible meal, we played a game of Scrabble. Christopher only lasted through two turns and was eager to get in bed to make the time go by quickly so he could see what Santa would be bringing. Lindsey and Kelly and I had fun playing. My best word was a 56-pointer, that Kelly didn't think was really a word. It was "juris" and he challenged me, but eventually relented that it could count. He could call it an early Christmas present! This year's Christmas was so wonderful and rare, spending time with my little family in our home.













































Comments

Heidi said…
Sounds like a cozy Christmas with the four of you. very fun! Your hair is looking very long!
Summer Adams said…
Fun, Kelly! Cute table settings!!! How unique. That Omaha Steak thing sure sounds like the way to go. The less hassle the better right?
Kelly said…
Yes, Summer! With Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday and getting home from church after 4:30, it was nice to not have to worry about much prep time for our dinner. It was SOOOO tasty too! We really appreciated the gift from my sis.

Popular posts from this blog

Book of Mormon Stories Pool Party!

Hopefully this title, Book of Mormon Stories Pool Party , does not sound irreverent, because as an Activity Days leader, I felt compelled to come up with a fun end-of-the-summer event that is also uplifting, and after all, who doesn't love a splash in the pool on a hot day in August?  My current church calling, or official role that I volunteer for, allows me to plan two activities each month for girls ages 8 to 11, that will encourage them to learn and live the gospel, serve others, and use the talents Heavenly Father has given them, to learn to do many good things.  This year's seminary course of study for high school students is The Book of Mormon, and since I am a huge fan of this inspired book of scripture, I came up with this idea to have each girl show up to my house with a written summary of one of her favorite stories from within its many pages, and share it with the rest of the girls, while outside in our swimsuits near our backyard swimming pool!  As each girl shares

Our new daughter!

This picture was taken at church a few days ago while Kelly was on his way to the US for work this week. We have some wonderful news to share.  We are adopting 7-year-old Yeh Min Yu, who has been in our home off and on the last couple of months.  There's a lot that goes into making this official, dealing with US Homeland Security to arrange for her immigration visa, Taiwan courts and Chinese documents, getting a home study done by a licensed, qualified person, applying for a passport.  You have no idea.  I'll be glad when it's all done, but I couldn't wait to share this bit of joy with everyone.  We will name her Hannah to go on her new US birth certificate.  She's excited and nervous to go to America with us.  She can say more than 100 words in English so far.  Some of her favorite things to say are "small dog, butterfly, apple, pig."  She says it more like pig-uh.  We love her and feel this is one of the reasons we came to Taiwan.  Who would have thoug

Elder Larson to return from Thailand soon

Soon is relative, I suppose. Our son has been away from home more than a year and a half as he has been volunteering as a full-time missionary in the Thailand Bangkok Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since September 14, 2016. He will be home in four months and is working so hard, knowing his time there is winding down. He has been assigned to train Elder Ben Meyer, from Sydney, Australia, as they serve in Ubon, Thailand. Christopher has been there since November. We are very proud of his dedication and hard work. This week in Thailand, the new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, with his wife, Wendy Nelson, along with one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and his wife, Patricia Holland, will be on their world ministering tour and be where our son is. The Church members and missionaries in Thailand are very excited and happy for this special visit! I can't wait to hear how it goes, and I look forward to pictures and stories to come.