A Traditional Haller Christmas 2014

I love Christmas for many reasons. I love the smells, traditional foods, giving gifts, the remembering the love of our Savior Jesus Christ, and the winter season. Jim and I have tried to make some traditions for our little family amid the Christmas season. Jim did not have many family traditions and we have been very aware that because his mother was not in his life as a child that leaves a different sense for him around the Christmas season. Jim's mom was from Holland so we have incorporated some of the Dutch traditions into our family traditions. Hopefully Benjamin will carry these Christmas traditions forward. We eat Dutch cookies, two thin wafer like cookies pressed between caramel-like filling, so delicious. We have some blue and white Dutch ornaments that we keep in a Dutch bowl on the mantel. We also have several traditional American practices, like setting cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. This year was the first year that Benjamin had a hard time going to sleep so Santa could come and bring his present and fill his stocking. Jim had been sick and so Santa's helper was left to me. I waited and waited until I thought that Ben had to be asleep. He soon popped his head in the TV room and asked when Santa was coming...I panicked but luckily he didn't see anything that would give me away! I tucked Ben into his bed again, it was about midnight at this point and I was tired! Again I was getting ready to help our Santa and again Ben got up out of bed. I thought the only way he was going to go to sleep was to let him sleep in our bed. He went to sleep, Santa came and then I couldn't sleep! I finally dozed off after 2:30 and before I knew it Ben was up and the day was beginning at 6am. I seriously thought about just sleeping in. What mom sleeps in on Christmas? After all that work who wouldn't want to see the face of their child as they see what Santa brought and open the presents? I hurried up and got out of bed, it was all worth it in the end! We had a wonderful Christmas and Santa did get the items on Ben's list, Ben was pleased! Whew, another year of believing in Santa...next year I'm not so sure that the magic of Santa will be something he still believes in! Maybe I can pull off just one more year of being Santa's helper!

Twas the night before Christmas

It was Christmas eve and we were doing the traditional Haller Christmas eve thing. Ben always gets new pajamas on Christmas eve. I always let him open a couple of gifts on Christmas eve. He HATES to get pajamas but I love it! This year he got a set of Santa pajamas, red pants and a top that looks like a Santa suit. I guess he is getting older and Santa pajamas aren't fun, I hate to see him grow up because it is not so much fun anymore. He whines and complains about getting pajamas but it is one of my favorite things about Christmas. He got to open a book that Dr. Carl Bell wrote. Dr. Bell is a sweet, kind, older physician who recently joined our little hospital to provide care in the ER and in the clinic. He wrote a book called "With a hug and kiss". It is a book of simple stories with pictures that are like a coloring book, Ben can color the pictures and read the stories. Dr. Bell had addressed the book to Benjamin. Recently we found out that Dr. Bell has cancer and will not be working with us anymore. It makes me sad and thankful for the book the Ben opened on Christmas eve this year. We have read most of the stories in the book and always end the night with a hug and kiss!

Cousin Brothers

Cousins...one of the most important things in this life is family. I have always wanted my child to have good relationships with his cousins. Benjamin loves his cousins. On our trip to the Polar Express, Ben, Darrin and I had a conversation about how cousins were really like brothers. Darrin said that Ben was lucky to not have any brothers...Ben didn't get bugged or beat up by a big brother! It was so touching to me that Darrin said that Ben was like a brother to him except that it was great because they were almost the same age and they don't get into big fights like real brothers do. I am thankful for brothers and sisters and brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws that want their children to have good relationships with their cousins and other family. I have so much love for my all of my extended family and am grateful for being a part of an enormous family. I have learned so much about finding love for others.

Polar Express Train Ride~ 2014

Benjamin was going to ride on the Polar Express train with the Singers on Friday, 12/12/14. Grandpa Winn and Grandma Laraine had come home to take Ben and Darrin to Durango for the ride. Allyson had gotten tickets for all and Jim and I were going to stay home for the evening...alone! Grandpa Winn got sick and had to go to the Emergency Room so Grandma Laraine asked it I would take Ben and Darrin to the train ride so she could stay at home and take care of Grandpa. So I got to ride the Polar Express Train. We actually had a good time and Ben enjoyed being with the Singers and Darrin. We went to Cortez and ate dinner at the McDonalds, the new one with the computers and games, Darrin had never been there before. Both laughed so hard as they were playing games, it was fun for me to watch. Then we drove to Durango and met up with the Singers for the ride including hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and a visit from Santa who delivered each child a bell. We went to the train museum, saw the live reindeer and the model trains. One of the pictures is of Ben, Darrin and Isley all looking in the train workshop. The train workshop, where they fix the trains was one of the most interesting to the boys. We went into the gift shop and Darrin and Ben got a little sack of gold nugget magnets. We told Darrin we would buy them for him as it was his 9th birthday the next day, 12/13/14. Then Ben, Darrin and I went to the McDonalds for an Oreo shake for Darrin, chocolate shake for Ben and nuggets to share! On the drive home I told them the they had to lay down and sleep, Darrin took a nap but Ben never went to sleep. He rode in the front of the truck with me, he is big enough to ride in the front now. Where has my little boy gone...he is growing up too fast!!!! It was a fun evening and I enjoyed watching Ben, Darrin, Isley, Stahli, Quincy, and Adney all love being together. Thanks to Ally and Spencer for all the fun and planning it all! Dad has recovered nicely and will be returning to Mesquite this week!

Penguins

We went to see the Penguins of Madegascar movie on Saturday. Such a funny movie. I love it when Ben laughs out loud in the movie theater! We had our usual popcorn and diet coke! We also ate dinner out and enjoyed ourselves and our yummy food. One burger just isn't enough to fill Ben up anymore. I am getting scared, a few years and I probably won't be able to afford to take him out to dinner!!!

Ashley Lauren returns from Canada

On Sunday, Nov. 30th we listened to Ashley Lauren Anderson, my niece, first born daughter of Kristin and Jan Robert Anderson, in the Orem Windsor Ward in Orem, Ut, give a talk about her mission to Toronto Canada. She spoke about the topic that had been assigned to her, fasting and paying our fast offerings, along with giving examples and stories about her mission. She has a tremendous testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was so impressed! We traveled to Orem on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we enjoyed a dinner at Kristin and Jan's home. We had fun sitting around eating more food! I love my sister Kristin and her family, they are good and kind people! On Sunday we attended their ward sacrament meeting and listened to Ashley talk. I am excited to watch Ashley as she continues to grow and to attend BYU. I am guessing in this next year she will get married to her missionary boyfriend that will be returning in April 2015. Such great things to come in her life! I enjoyed my time with my family. I don't really enjoy shopping, malls, crowds of people in a hurry, long lines to pay for my items, but I do enjoy it when it is all done. I had to begin my Christmas shopping, I wish I did not dread it as much but I do. This year I am working hard on staying within budget, a MAJOR goal for me!