You Better Watch Out

I could hear the beginnings of a fight coming from the other room between Lincoln and Ella. I waited as I usually do to see if I would need to intervene or if things would resolve on there own. I hear Ella say,

"Oh, Link, we have to stop fighting, Santa might be watching.

We have to be good so he will bring us presents."

Link responds, "yeah, presents."

And that was that.

Good to see they've got that down.

Merry Christmas!

From left to right: Joshua Smart, Lincoln Jones, Layla Smart,

Ella Jones, Carson Smart, Logan Jones

Also shown: John Smart (holding Josh), me on the piano, and Larry Smart (holding Logan)

Nativity

Recent FHE reenactment of the story of Christ's birth (thank you, Brittney). I've included partial Bible narration for those who need a refresher or just like to hear the story.

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee...unto the city of David...to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. While they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

Carson & Macy

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

Lincoln, Paul, & Addelyn

"And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid."

Ella

Logan - sheep

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

Lincoln

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem...there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem...Lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. "

Amanda, Polly, & Layla

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him."

The Cast & Crew

Enteraining to say the least.

The "Perfect" Tree

We went Christmas tree hunting on Saturday. Rule #1 in tree hunting is don't take the easy path because you won't find a tree...it's where everyone else has already been. However, when you have 3 little kids who all look like the kid from "The Christmas Story" and have a hard time putting one foot in front of the other, the easy path is what it has to be. We ended up walking a long ways and then going to where we should have in the first place, straight up the mountain, before we found any sort of decent tree. Even so, we had to settle and our tree just isn't quite as beautiful as it was last year. Really, though, once a tree has lights and decorations, how can it not be beautiful, especially with the "pretty" cluster of decorations kids tend to do. You know what I'm talking about...7-8 christmas bulbs on a small branch that struggles to support just one small bulb. On top of that, our "perfect" tree is a little lopsided with its distribution of branches and has tipped over twice now, decorations and all. I think we have the problem solved now and hopefully will have no more broken bulbs scattered over the living room floor.

I love Christmas! Really, I do, I'm not being sarcastic. I love Christmas!