Christmas Vacation (Part I)

For a few years we remained in California for Christmas because of the health of our youngest child. It was during that time that we realized how much we missed Christmas in Utah. Fluffy white snow, skiing, sledding, snowmen, snowball fights, family time, family parties and our own family vacation time and visiting friends that we haven't seen for awhile. For the past few years we have been blessed with good health and safe travel to Utah. We used to take this trip for granted. Now we are grateful for each moment. We savor the time. And as typical for us, we "tear it up" every moment!!

Here are a few pictures from the first part of our Utah trip. We decided to enjoy the ride this trip and so we took the kids to Circus Circus. We loved playing the "Chicken Catapult" game. Bry knew that I wanted the Rudolf stuffed animal to add to our Christmas decorations. He enthusiastically spurred on the effort to "win Mommy the Rudolf."

I'm still amazed that my Mother-in-Law agreed to let us bring our dog to Utah. Kashi is loving the snow! We love having her here with us. Twice she has been "naughty" and both times my Mother-In-Law was right there; first - Kashi nibbled a hole in the lining of a blanket & second - she got caught sleeping on the couch. It didn't help that she was sleeping on the couch next to the one that Karen was sitting on. But Karen was great and laughingly told us she didn't like our dog's behavior at the moment. Karen is a great sport.

My Mom took us all, including my sister and niece, to the Salt Lake Ballet's Nutcracker. It was beautiful with beautiful costumes and the dancing was awesome. When my sister I were young, our Mom took us to musicals, the ballet, modern dance performances, and plays. Keep in mind that she was a single Mom and we didn't have a ton of money. She made this a priority and I'll be forever grateful for this gift of the arts that my Mom bestowed on us. Attending the Nutcracker each year is a special time to be with my Mom and sister. Thanks Mom. (Bryan isn't in the picture because attending the Nutcracker is a painful form of torture for him:))

Another Christmas tradition when in Utah is walking the temple grounds, enjoying the lights and home for hot chocolate. The lights at the temple were beyond words this year. Grandma and Grandpa Holt came with us this year.

We also went to Hogle Zoo with Grandma Twitchell, Aunt Stacie & cousin Jaiden. I don't actually have pictures from this event because it was sooooo cold my hands would have frozen to the camera. Just imagine light displays of animals all over the entire zoo!! We had a great time and yummy dinner Cowboy Grub.

Bryan and I take an evening to ourselves during our Christmases in Utah. We love a dinner at La Caille. Yep - seriously costly but worth every moment. The ambiance, food, service, grounds, lights...... it leaves us in awe each year. I love my husband and loved this evening together.

We always squeeze in as many movies as physically possible because it's cheaper to hit the theaters here than in Cali. We loved the movie "Waterhorse" and they this fun picture opportunity in the theater.

Sledding in Grandpa Holt's driveway is always a treat. Grandpa snowblows everything except of the sledding path which is a large portion of his driveway. It's a great starting point and perfect for Noah too.

Bowling was great fun. All I can say is - "Thank goodness for bumper pads!"

The skiing has begun but Griffin, Isaac & Bryan are going to try and squeeze a few more ski days before we head home. The boys enjoyed skiing in fresh Utah powder a little this year. I strongly suggest this Utah powder experience to my California friends. There is nothing like it.

The Christmas Eve nativity play by the grandkids was sweet. Thanks to Marie for her organizational efforts. Christmas for our family was delightful. We spent the Eve with Bryan's family and the Day with my family. Fun Fun Fun. Thank you to both Bry's parents and my Mom for a beautiful Christmas.

We have another week here in SLC - pending cooperative weather. We still have lots of friends to visit. Although with Bry and the boys skiing, it will most likely be Cathy visiting Cath's friends. Isaac turns 8 on Wednesday!! (A special blog about Isaac will be coming soon). Bryan and I will take him out for dinner. Just the 3 of us wherever Isaac chooses. Hopefully he will choose someplace a little higher on the restaurant scale than Denny's. But, ya never know!

MOD MOMENTS

Christmas Capers

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17 - Book of Mormon)

We spend a ton of time focusing on serving other families during this time of year. It brings Christ's love to others and I'm grateful to be a part of giving that kind of love. It's difficult to get my kids to serve each other sometimes though. But this year we had a perfect opportunity to serve Noah. I love this picture! While Noah was in the hospital, his calf muscles as well as his lower arm muscles constricted severely causing a lot of pain. Griff, Isaac, Mom & Dad massaged away. Our only focus was to help Noah get out of pain. It was the most beautiful Christmas time service project that we could have done within our own little family. We all felt the Spirit warm our hearts and bond us more tightly together as we spent an hour rubbing and massaging little Noah out of pain.


THE BIG DDB HOLIDAY BASH -went off great this year too. It's always themed and costumed. The party was held at Bruno's off of Mission in San Francisco. Fun atmosphere, yummy snacks and dessert. Enough food to keep people from drinking on an empty stomach. Of course an open bar which served amazing Shirley Temples:) We really know how to tear it up! You know us, we are all about the dressing up and who cares about the drinking.

So, here is our Mod 1960's costume. Could I look any taller? The boots were outrageously high!! The highest I've ever worn. If you're wondering where my conservative clothing might be - you seriously don't understand our costuming craziness. We live for the bi-annual opportunities to dress up - Halloween and the DDB Holiday Bash!!
If I ever do this again, I'm purchasing the Twister game and making the same type of Go Go Dress from the Twister plastic!! I saw that idea on-line but it was too late to sew it. But I loved the orange boots. The outfit was totally planned around the boots!!! Bry's suit reminded me of the Beatles with it's skinny look. Love Bry's Chelsey Boots too!!

The party was totally groovy complete with a photo booth and 1960's DJ!!! We had a great time socializing and just being out on the town by ourselves.

Christmas Traditions

I love Christmas! It is my favorite holiday. I love celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I enjoy tying all of the different Christmas traditions into the "true meaning" of Christmas- Jesus Christ's birth. Here are some of the things I enjoy during the holiday season including our Holt family traditions.

I had great family Christmases. Most often, I stayed with my Dad and Step Mom during the holiday break. Dad went the extra mile every year to help encourage the reality of Santa Claus. Reindeer hooves on the roof, clomping on the hearth, eating the things left for Santa. We knew that we were not allowed out of our bedrooms before our Grandparents had arrived. On Christmas morning while we waited as patiently as possible for our Grandparents to arrive, Dad would sing Christmas songs outside our door and say things like, "Wow! Look what Santa brought for Cathy! That is huge!" It was killer anticipation but Christmas was fun because of Dad. I loved being able to use Dad's pocket knife to carefully open the present without tearing the paper. We opened presents one-by-one. It took all day and we took a few breaks during the day too. After staying with my Dad, I would head back home and have Christmas with my Mom.

I have a special Mom. She always waited for us to come home from visiting Dad to celebrate Christmas. Christmas Eve and Christmas Daywere celebrated immediately when we got home. She purchased the things we had asked for too. I still get a warm feeling while visiting my Mom and seeing the same 40 year old centerpiece I loved when I was a kid. I remember being really excited to go to Modern Display and choose new, fancy decorations for our tree. I didn't want mismatching ornaments on the tree so, my Mom indulged me one year and took us to Modern Display.

• Choosing a living Christmas Tree.
• Visiting Temple Square and enjoying the lights.
  
• Putting lights and decorations on the outside & inside of the house.
• My kids love our Advent Calendar decorations
• Another favorite decoration are the glass orbs with music & snow

• The colors of Christmas bring a smile to my face: red, white, blue and a deep green.
• Searching for the a great gift for family members.
• Providing Christmas for families/children that don't have the means to purchase their own.
• Finding a way to help our friends and neighbors.
  
• Santa brings our children 3 gifts. Why 3? That is the number of gifts given to Jesus from the Wise Men. We divide it up with 1 spiritual, 1 educational and 1 fun gift.
• Warm fires and hot chocolate.
• Reading from our a nice "Christmas each day' folder.
  
• *New Tradition (perAmy) RAK (randomn acts of kindness) for our family member. Each one has an envelope on the fridge. When we complete a random act of kindness for each other, we write it on a slip of paper and put it in the envelope. On Christmas Day we'll each open our envelopes and read the service that another family member has given.
• Caroling
• Utah - Family - Snow
• Me - putting up the lights on the tree followed by Bry and the boys decorating it while I get hot chocolate! Yum
• Singing Christmas songs with my children.
• Nice dinners and conversation with friends.
  
• Explaining what "virgin" means to my kids.
  

Merry Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy the season and don't let presents get in the way of the most beautiful holiday of the entire year.

Home & Happy

Noah came home Monday afternoon. He is over the stomach flu and seems to be past the cramping. He's happy to be in school again too.

Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, emails, cards, dinners, visits and positive thoughts. They wewre all amazing.

We're humbled by the outpouring of love for our little Noah.

Hand Hand Fingers Thumb

Hand Hand Fingers Thumb
Children's Hospital Here We Come.
Legs Legs Feet and Toes
No explanations - No one knows
Many more needle sticks, many more tests
Many more Doctors helping Noah to rest.

• Yep - Noah's had a few issues this week BUT NOT SEIZURES.
• Woke up with the Flu on Wednesday and a fever. Fever resided on Thursday but did spike up to 101.2.
  
• Withing 2 hours he was suffering from Carpal Pedal Spasms. Lower arms, hands fingers and calves, feet and toes all locked up tight. He wasn't able to walk or pick anything up. "Mommy rub my feet. OWWWW . Rub my hands. OWWWWW." It reminded me of palsy hands like this picture that I found on the net. It was incredibly painful for him and lasted well into the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

• Off to Children's Hospital on Wednesday.
• We thought it was an Electrolyte issue - potassium/phosphorus/calcium. Although a little on the low side none of these were to blame.
  
• Consultations and lab work done with Nephrologists, Endocrinologists, Neurology and Keto Dietician as well as CHO Residents/Attending Pediatricians
• Blood draws like crazy around 4 a day and not always getting the draw on the first stick. The sweetest part is that Noah never cries during blood draws just a big "OW."
• The 5th floor Playroom Manager came over to ask that Noah come to the Playroom on Thursday and be in a media photoshoot. Quick picture with the Halloween Spirit Store Rep. and Hospital Charitable Foundation people because the Spirit Stores gave the Playroom about $13k. I'll post pictures if they are used.
  
• We're all tired of being in here. Sadly Noah will miss the Ward Christmas Party tonight including Santa. We'll find a way for him to see Chris Cringle.
• No explanation for the spasms. But we know all the things that it isn't. We don't know when he'll go home.
• Not very many people could go through what this little guy has gone through and still keep smiling. He's a gift.
• Thank you to my two other wonderful boys and my amazing husband for pulling together and managing without me. Thanks to our dear friends for picking up kids from school, keeping them until Bry gets home. Thanks to Seth for coming with Bry to give Noah a blessing last night. The Lord loves us all and we're grateful for these experiences that draw our family tighter together. These silly mortal bodies. It's been an adventurous week for all.