Merry Christmas

Christmas Packages ready to be delivered Christmas Eve!!

Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends!!

Love The Atwoods

Biting Off More Than I Can Chew

Well I think I finally did it - this weekend I officially bit off more than I could chew.  That said, I did get everything done and it all went really well.  But I took yesterday to recuperate and to be able to blog about it.

It all started Friday when Jason and I got a sitter and finally got our Christmas shopping for the boys done.  Then Saturday morning I was incharge of a Christmas party for the primary children in our ward.  We had about 18 kids in attendance and I think they had a good time.  They made crafts ...

The kids put on the nativity, they looked cute in all the costumes!


Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem



Our Wise "Men"



I didn't know there was a turkey in the Nativity story

The kids wrote out their gift for Jesus this year.

Of course no party is complete without food.  Little kids can eat alot.  While they ate they watched "Mickey's Christmas Carol".

Ice Cream Bar

Lastly was a visit from Santa!!

Later that evening was our Ward Adult Christmas Party.  The food was delicious and I sang "Please Come Home for Christmas" on the program, as well as playing for carol singing and accompanying a couple other numbers.

When I got home I made rice krispie squares for Sunday and got sharing time ready, and stayed up waaay to late.  Sunday started with choir and meetings.  After church I quickly came home and prepared the house and food for my student recital.  23 students were able to come and they all played so well - I was very proud of them.

Of course after I took a few pictures the battery in my camera died.  Typical!  After the kids all played and sang for each other I had some munchies for them.  I served sausage, cheese, crackers, pickles, carrots, chips, rice krispie squares and chocolate fingers. 

After everyone was picked up Jason's brother Ty, his wife Jill and their two boys arrived for supper.  They munched on a bit of the leftovers from the recital while I got dinner ready.  We had hawaiian haystacks and ice cream sundaes.  We had their name for Christmas so they opened their presents and we had a great time together.  I love that they live here and we get to see them so much.  I had lots of cuddle time with sweet little Bennett and got my baby fix.

Sorry for such a long post - but alot happened this weekend.  This week is so much calmer.  I still have students, but I just have a little bit of baking to do and some shopping for Jason.  Whew!!

I'll Be Wearing a Dress

Unless you live under a rock you've probably noticed all the talk about "Wear Pants to Church Day".  There is a group of mormon feminists in Utah who call themselves "All Enlisted" who have started a movement to encourage any mormon women who want more gender equality in the church to wear pants to church this Sunday.

I know this is such a hot topic for so many women, but I must say I don't understand exactly where their complaint is.  In my life in the LDS religion I have never, NEVER felt unequal to men.  My role is different from a man's.  But I'm not a man - nor do I want to be one.  I attend meetings where decisions are made and I always feel heard and often my suggestions are used.  I don't understand how you can say you are an active, believing member of the church - but then not agree with something as fundamental as the role of men and women in the church.

Maybe some women have had experiences with men who practised unrighteous dominion - luckily this has never been my experience.  I looked at my parents as equal partners in their marriage and in the way they raised their children - but their roles were very different.  My husband and I have that same kind of marriage.  I feel equal to my husband and we discuss how to raise our family together.  On occasion when my husband has been inspired to lead our family in a certain way - I trust he is intune with his heavenly father and support him as the patriarch in our home.  This doesn't lessen me in anyway.

If you want to wear pants to church - you can!  This is so not about wearing pants.  I think we should be worrying about much more important things.  When we start to think like this it is such a slippery slope and is why people lose their testimonies and leave the church.  But I also think every person has the right to feel however they want to and it is not my place to judge.  My feeling is that being dressed in my best helps me show respect and reverence to my Heavenly Father.    So I just wanted to publicly say that I will be wearing a dress to church this Sunday.

Remembering

Remembering my Dad today.  2 years ago today he passed away.  It seems like longer.  I think it is because he was such a presence in my life and I notice the void.  I'm thankful for so many wonderful memories.  He was a fun dad.  So many things I do and say remind me of him - what a blessing that is!  He certainly left a legacy.  My boys speak of him often - especially Bowen, I'm grateful they had such a special bond!  I love and miss him so much.  It is a comfort to know we will see him again - but it sure doesn't make your heart ache any less.  Love you Dad!!

Tickling the Ivories

Yesterday was a busy music day for me.  It started with choir rehearsal at 8:30 a.m.  Then I sang in sacrament meeting with a man from our ward.  He asked me last minute and he was unable to find an accompaniest for us.  I offered to just let him sing a solo and I'd accompany him - but he wondered if it would be too wierd for me to sing from the piano.  I checked with Jason (who was in charge of sacrament meeting yesterday - handy!!) and he thought it would probably be okay since I wasn't singing the entire piece anyway.  So that is what we did.  Steven stood beside the piano, we didn't mic ourselves, we both have pretty big voices and it actually turned out kind of beautiful. 

Then after church back to church at 5:30 p.m. for another choir rehearsal.  Our choir was singing at our Stake Choral Festival.   The Stake Music Chairman had asked if I would play some prelude.  I thought I'd take the opportunity to play some pieces I rarely get a chance to play since some are not appropriate for a sacrament meeting.  They asked me to play for 15 minutes so I prepared 5 pieces.  First - One Small Child with Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, second - Once in Royal David's City, third - Go Tell It On the Mountain, fourth - Away in a Manger, and last - Still, Still, Still.  I realize people didn't really listen closely but I hope it set a nice mood for the evening.

I thought I'd give you a little taste and play my favorite for you - Go Tell It On the Mountain.  Sorry the recording is not that fabulous (it's just the webcam), and I promise my piano does not sound that tinny in person.  Hope you enjoy!

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Last Friday the boys' report cards came home from school.  I was pleased with both of their reports and they continue to do well at school.  Ashton is having a much better year.  He likes his teacher alot, and she seems to get him.  At parent/teacher interviews today she affectionately called Ashton "her little absent minded professor".  I thought that was a great description of Ashton.  He is so bright, but can be easily distracted or start thinking about something else.  His reading and spelling continues to improve and I'm proud of the work he has been doing this year.

Bowen is doing great.  He is reading and comprehending at a level well beyond his Grade and loves to learn.  His teacher mentioned to me today that "Bowen has so many ideas and thoughts and wants to share them that he sometimes doesn't wait his turn and talks over others."  REALLY??  I never would have guessed that.  He is such a talker.  He's doing great and I'm so pleased my boys are in this great little school.

Last night during parent/teacher interviews a committee had organized a meal for the teachers.  I had volunteered to bring dessert - so I tried a recipe off of pinterest that Amber had pinned a couple of weeks ago.  They turned out awesome and my family really liked them as well.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH PEPPERMINT CREAM CHEESE ICING

Christmas Wishes

Yesterday at school Ashton wrote his letter to Santa.  When he got home and told Bowen, Bowen then decided he wanted to write his letter.  I found a template for a letter to santa on pinterest that Bowen could just fill in the blanks.

Letters ready to go!

Putting them in envelopes so they can get them in the mail today.

Ashton really doesn't like the taste!

Hope they aren't on the naughty list and they get their Christmas wishes this year!!

Preparing for Christmas

While cleaning the house on  Saturday before we had company over on Sunday I also got the rest of the house decorated for Christmas.  We had put up the kids tree a week or so ago, but had stopped there.  I love decorating for Christmas and love how cozy it makes our home feel.  My mom requested photos - so here they are.

Kids tree in the family room.



Dollar Store Christmas flowers replace fall ones on the kitchen island.

Love our new star for the octagon window!

Home decorated, chocolates made - next on the list is the Stake choral festival, visiting teaching lunch, primary christmas party, performing at the ward Christmas party, student holiday recital and lots of baking.

Bowen's Adventures

Last Friday Bowen's Grade One class had a sharing assembly.  I promised Bowen I would come as he would be singing and he wanted me to see it.  It was cute little assembly and as promised the song "A Tu ti Ta" was worth seeing.

Bowen patiently waited for the assembly to start.

They said a cute little poem together.  Everytime Bowen would see me point the camera at him he'd stop and pose.

The kids performed a silly song and dance.  Bowen was having a great time.  He's quite the performer.

On Saturday we ran a couple of errands and then cleaned the house for company on Sunday.  I wanted to listen to some Christmas music while I worked so I put the TV on the Yuletide Fireplace so I could listen to carols.  Later that night Bowen informed me that he didn't want to watch the "Fireplace show" again as it was really boring!

Sunday both Grandma's, Mitch, Ty, Jill and their boys, and Jill's sister all came for supper.  I had made Chicken Taco soup and homemade buns.  We had a nice time together.  Bowen and Dane had fun playing together and Ashton was able to hold baby Bennett, which he was happy about.  These boy cousins will get into lots of mischief together I'm sure.

Monday morning Bowen came down the stairs to get ready for school.  I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he said he wasn't feeling well.  I said he should try and eat something to which he replied "I haven't felt well since Tuesday!"  He's so dramatic!  Turns out he really wasn't feeling well and spent the day laying on the couch and throwing up.  Even in the back of Grandma's truck coming home from Ikea into a bucket!  Poor little guy.  He's feeling much better today - we'll see if he can keep food down.

Love that little guy of mine.  He's constantly entertaining!