Ahh the holidays...

December was definitely a fun month. I think I will kind of recap the month in a list because it is simpler for my brain to think that way.

1. Teaching school was pretty great that week before break. We had a teacher conference day where I had no students. Then my kindergarten teachers canceled art class one day along with my last period of the day so I only taught 2 out of 5 classes that day. The last day of school was a little nuts but not as bad as I thought it would be.
2. We bought a tree this year. Usually we go and cut down our own but it didn't work out so we bought one and I Loved how soft and full it is. Our usual trees are pretty scraggly because they are desert pine trees.

3. Eleanor understood the whole Santa Clause thing this year so she had fun meeting him at the ward Christmas Party. We checked out a couple christmas board books and she wanted to read those every night and now she knows all the words that go with the season.

4. Eleanor Loves Christmas lights. We took her to the cactus garden at Ethel M and she kept saying "Look at these lights!" Also anytime we were driving at night she would point out the lights. Happily alot of people on our street like to put out lights so that made it festive.

5. This year Warren's parents went to AZ to visit their oldest daughter and her family so we got to have a  Christmas at home, which was extremely relaxing.

6. We were able to go bowling with my family on Christmas Eve(family tradition). We haven't been able to go since the first year we were married, because we usually spend Christmas Eve with Warren's family. Eleanor had fun bowling but mostly just running around with her cousins. Warren bowled his best score ever and beat everyone, I think it was like 122. 

7. The week before Christmas, Eleanor received a visit from Santa and his elf(Warren's cousin Andrew, and his sister Laurel) They brought her a present and visited a little. She was a little hesitant at first but was pretty happy at the end, especially when she got her first present to put under the tree.

8. Christmas morning, Eleanor slept in because she was so tired from bowling. I had to finally wake her up at 8:15. My sister who has 4 kids, gave us the scooter and bike since her kids had grown out of them. Eleanor loved those the best out of all her presents. I had a lot of fun this year just watching Eleanor open gifts and to see her reaction.

9. We went to church which was a nice break and it felt good to have an hour devoted to the real meaning of christmas. Then in the afternoon we went to my parent's house were we opened presents, ate food, and did the story of Christ's birth. I made a white dress for Eleanor to wear as an angel and she was so excited to get to be the Angel and wear her dress. She wouldn't take it off once we put it on. I'll have to ask Warren for a picture, he used his phone to do some since I was a shepherd.

10. We also did a holiday party with two couples that are the same age as us and they each have one kid. That was a ton of fun. We put the kids at one house with a babysitter and then all the adults came to my house and we did a ham and everyone brought food. It was enjoyable to just visit with each other and talk and play games. Definitely something we will have to do more often.

Overall, December was an awesome month. I enjoy the holidays so much more now that I have a little person to share it with. I'm grateful we were able to spend time with family and friends this month. It was a great month to remind us of what is important in the coming year. I hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas too.

Christmas Time

Christmas 2011

I think 2011 was way better than 2010. 2010 I didn't even want to send out a christmas card because I felt it was such a junky year that I wanted to just move on and do a new year. So this year was quite an improvement on it. So this year in a recap.

1.Warren finished his financial classes and got some traveling in. He visited Kentucky and we went with him to LA.

2. I went back to substituting which was emotionally challenging but ultimately made me feel much better about myself.

3. Eleanor had her 2nd birthday and is such an amazing kid, I can't believe all the stuff she does. 

4. I did a 4 day girl weekend with my sisters to Los Angeles and it felt amazing!!

5. Warren did a 50 mile hiking trip through the Sierra Nevadas for Mt Whitney and he survived!

6. We went to Solvang CA and then to San Francisco where we stayed for 4 days at a fancy hotel, ooo la la!

7. I was hired on as a full time art teacher at 3 schools so I get to teach awesome classes and not get asked to do anything because admin forgets I 'm there.

8. Eleanor Loves hanging out with her friend Camden during the week, sometimes she doesn't even want to come home with me. 

9. We've been trying to have another kid but haven't had much luck but I think next year will be our year, and if not, I'm ok with that, I'm so grateful that I have Eleanor.

10. Warren is losing his job but now he can finally finish his Bachelors degree which will improve his opportunities and he will get to watch Eleanor 3 days a week which will help relieve my guilty feelings and he is a big kid so they will both have fun. :)

My faith has grown stronger this year as we've made decisions based on what the Lord wants us to do and we have seen our lives go on a good path because of it. I know that what I am doing is right and I am grateful for this year, that I have grown and progressed. I hope other people have improved this year, I think that is something we can all do, work towards slowly improving ourselves so each year we get a little better. I wish all my friends and family a wonderful Christmas season, thank you for all your love and support. 

Many blessings to you, 

Love, the Stenders.