No Landon with the Clause's This Year

We took the boys to SLC again, stayed in a hotel, had dinner, swam the night away in the indoor pool while watching the snow fall through the hotel windows, ...got ready for bed,...and then it hit. Food poisoning. Landon. Macaroni Grill. Seafood Linguini. All. Night. Long. And continuing in the morning. Poor little boy. We all went to Santa's breakfast without him, and he was very content to sit and watch TV in the hotel room- (no appetite afterall!) So, no picture of Landon with Santa this year.

We also had plans to deliver food boxes to some elderly people as a volunteer service for the Utah Food Bank. That didn't happen this year either...Landon was too sick. So after checking out of the hotel, we drove on to Eric's parents house for the family Christmas party. Luckily it wasn't long before Landon started feeling much better, and was able to enjoy the night with all his cousins. He was in the best mood after remembering how awful he felt. We had a great night with the family. The cheese soup in bread bowls was delicious, the chime ringing was hilarious, and the gift giving was great. As always, a very fast weekend. Just 2 days before Christmas- how time always flies! (Oh, and YES, I called Macaroni Grill to let them know that they need to CHECK THEIR CLAMS!)

No such thing as "Simple"

Simplify they say. Keep it simple. I realize that there is no such thing, really. I mean, you can simplify each individual thing to the best of your ability, and there IS such a thing as being organized and prepared, (for example having your Christmas cards out on time, and other such gratifying things...) but at Christmas time, simple is just not possible in my humble view. Buying less? Yes. Easy December? No.

But the realization I have come to is that Christmas can't be easy, you wanna know why? Cuz it's the season of giving, sharing and thinking about other people. And that is OK. If your Christmas seems hectic and you find that the reason is because you are thinking about what to give to others and who you need to help, then...you are doing the right thing. Secret Santa, The Giving Tree, the families in need, the neighbors you haven't introduced yourself to yet, the people you visit teach at church, the collection drive in which you need to remember to put out the "gently used stuff" on your porch, the class parties you are helping to plan for the little kids who are really important in your life, the giving gifts to neighbors to foster friendships, etc. etc. Nope, Christmas can't be easy. And it's ok. Just keep on moving and LOVE it! (Even if that means you wake up THINKING at 3:30 am and you have to get up at 4:00 cuz you just can't bear to let the time be wasted...yawn.)

Whistling All the Way Back to the Car

Small confession. There have been plenty of times in the past 10-13 years that whenever we go somewhere where there will be crowds or the public in general, Eric and I (mostly I) have to give the "we-are-going-to-have-a-good-time-in-public, we are-not-going-to-get-annoyed-with-people-or-our-own-kids" pep talk. I am just being honest. We have had to really work hard to have a long day with all the kids, in crowds of people, and still be smiling at the end of the experience. I am not sure if we are the only ones who have to prep for this kind of thing, but the combination between His and My personalities calls for it.

This year we decided to start a Temple Square tradition of eating at the restaurant on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, seeing the lights, and watching the JS movie. Before our reservation at 3:30 PM, we did some shopping at the Gateway Mall. I love that mall. We worked up a nice appetite and before we knew it, it was time to head over to Temple Square.

Well, the restaurant is a nice one. You don't go in there in your scrubby clothes, and you hope that no babies will scream and ruin the ambiance that the pianist on the grand piano is creating. This was my hope as the server said, "your table is ready, follow me." I gave "the look" to my boys and they knew I was saying, "ok, here we go. Remember the 'manners talk' earlier today." They all gave me "the look" back as if to say, "don't worry mom, we can handle it." So we enter with the boys following Eric, and me guiding Bronson while holding his hand. All of a sudden SMACK! I guide my little man right into the corner of a wooden booth. And he really smacked into it hard. I see the cry developing into a scream and I quickly exit before everyone turns to look. I just let Eric go ahead and I take Boo out to calm him down very quickly because at this point, I am starving.

Ok, he is calm, pacifier in place (I know, he is getting old for a pacifier, but if you think I care even a LITTLE bit about what someone else thinks about that one, think again. That piece of plastic is my truest friend and my security when things don't go my way...) and we are ready to try again. A miracle occurs and we all enjoy the best dinner I have had in a really long time.
It was a buffet, my fave. Soup, vegetables and salads of all kinds, shrimp and cocktail sauce, Lion House rolls with sweetened butter, cilantro chicken (and other meats that did not tempt me), desserts such as mousses, bombs, eclairs, creme brulee, layered cakes, tarts, ...you name it. It was my one meal for the whole day and I am sure I ate all the calories of 3 meals in one. The boys were on their best behavior and we had such a great dinner as we watched the sun set behind the Salt Lake Temple which was the perfect view out the windows. Camden said, "Can we come here every week?" Very funny, child. But, what about every year? Yes, ok. Every year it is.
We walked around a little bit, watched the lights come on, ran over to get in line for the movie, and again, a perfect experience in the Legacy Theater. Short of Boo getting a little antsy, the movie was very enjoyable for us all. Eric's parents met us there just in the nick of time and we all enjoyed sitting together and then walking around to look at the lights afterward. We took pictures, said our goodbyes, and as we walked the downtown Salt Lake streets back to our car, Eric and I were actually whistling a Christmas tune. We were! Perfect Family Days only happen now and then. You know, the really perfect kind. This fit right into that joyous category, the one where you would not want to be doing anything else but being right there with those people. (who make those Ethan kinds of faces that crack me up)
And when we are smiling and whistling all the way back to the car, long after the sun goes down, after muscling through the crowds, you KNOW that it was a REALLY great day. Thank you, my little family.