A Month of Travels, Part 2: Christmas in New York

I continue my travel log. . . .

After finishing up my adventures in Idaho and Utah, we flew in to BWI and took a bus to my parents in NYC. The bus ride was terrible because Stuart was really sick. He was miserable. All the people going to NYC were miserable and not friendly. I think it would have been better had they talked to him and distracted him. He loves people.

We went to NYC before Christmas so I could be present for when my sister and her husband attended the temple and received their endowments for the first time. Although Stuart was sick and later I got sick that week, I am so happy I didn't miss going to the temple with my family.

Then, later that week Jared drove up to be with us for Christmas and Krista and Benny's sealing to each other and their gorgeous son!

Every Christmas Eve we have a tradition of opening one gift in the evening. We enjoyed the gifts and beautiful scripture readings and stories from my dad. He told of his trip to Bethlehem and his spiritual experiences in the places where Jesus was born and grew. It was a beautiful evening. Here we are opening our gifts on Christmas Eve:

Jared and the babies. Stuart is so sick and his eyes are red from wiping all the goobers away. :(

Stuart was so happy when his daddy finally joined us. We missed him so much!!

No one was looking at the camera, but I wanted to capture our candle-lit dinner on Christmas. I suggested we do it because I want my family to have this tradition every Easter and Christmas. It makes me think of a simpler time and creates a reverent atmosphere. Jesus was born in a world with only natural lighting. :)

Christmas morning after church! We opened all the presents and Stuart was actually able to participate this year. Although, he was pretty weak and tired. Below he got a puzzle from his aunt and uncle. We love puzzles.

A journal I gave to Krista. It had an inspirational quote or scripture I wrote on every other page.

Benny is SO happy. He liked his Dr. Bonner's castile soap from Krista. We use this soap for EVERYTHING in our house. From scrubbing the tub to washing our hands.

The little boys fighting over the ball Stu got for Christmas.

Such a happy boy! Oh, I adore him!

Stuart loves these blocks and box he got from Aunt Jenn. Thank you!!

Then, a few days after Christmas my dad treated us to a show on Broadway: "What's all this, step in time!!" I LOVED Mary Poppins.

This is dad, Jared, me and Karla (and my mom took the picture) enjoying a day downtown to see the new memorial site at ground zero. I didn't get any great shots of the actual site.

"MAY WE NEVER FORGET"

This one made me laugh. Stuart is trying to fit his butt on the top level of this doll house. He wanted to sit in it.

A visit with my cousin, Tracy, and her family. Thanks for popping in!

And last but not least, the event my whole family gathered for: the temple sealing of Benny, Krista and Camilo!!! Below is the happy family with the missionaries that taught Benny the gospel before he was baptized. They came all the way from Utah!

This is the whole family that was able to make it for the sealing. Everyone except Karla, who had to fly home early. We missed you Karla! Almost my whole family in the temple together. Amazing.

After the sealing, we had a dance party to celebrate, but Stuart was not interested in dancing or celebrating. He went home early to sleep.

This video is from the sealing celebration. It is Krista and Benny's "first dance." They started out dancing to a traditional love song, swaying to the beat. However, they are definitely not a traditional couple, so they surprised us all and busted out with this about 10 seconds into the dance. I missed the beginning, but here is the rest. They made me laugh, and unfortunately I giggled obnoxiousness through the whole thing. :)

Late in the week we opened more gifts with the family members who arrived after Christmas. Jared was enthralled. :)

This gift was extra special. I gave it to the sister behind the frame, Marcia. She had been crying from when she opened it. This little cross-stitched beauty says "Ewes not fat. Ewes fluffy" and has been up in our grandparent's house for decades. It reminds me of them and has been a joke between us sisters whenever we feel fat. At my last visit with grma and grpa Stephenson, grma insisted that we take something to declutter her home before they relocate to a rest home. I took her up on the offer and took this family "heirloom" for the sister that reminded me of it the most. But not because she is fat. ;)

What an eventful month!!! Two first endownments, two sealings, a graduation, travels across the country and time with lots of friends and family. What a blessing to have been there.

A Month of Travels, Part 1: Idaho

For me, December = traveling. But not just normal holiday travels. I usually travel for weeks every December, several years included moving across the country. This year was no exception. Minus the moving part.

Last month, Stuart and I were on the road for nearly three weeks! For Stuart, three weeks was too long. An eternity. And for me, it was almost too long. But I got to be present for several unforgettable events that I am so grateful I didn't miss.

First, I flew to UT with my dear Deborah:

She was an angel and helped me with Stuart at the airport an on the planes. If I could afford to pay her I would because she was like my nanny. She and her family helped so much with this trip and made it go smoothly. Thank you!!

We spent a night in UT and got to see family. Sorry. No pictures of UT.

Then we rented a car and spent four days in Idaho to be at our dearest Brittany's wedding. But lucky for me, two of my good friends were also graduating that weekend and I got to be there for the graduation, the wedding, the parties, and even stayed with Jared's grandparents! It was very eventful.

First, here are the handsome graduates from Brigham Young University-Idaho. I am so proud of you guys!!!

Sincere cheers to the graduates, and to their friends and families who supported them through it. Here are some of the best pictures, with some of the best people I know:

"Congratulations, daddy!"

I love you friends!! Thank you for letting me tag along for your special day. Congratulations!

The next day was the wedding and reception. Deborah and I are just so mad, but we both forgot our camera's during the sealing at the temple. :( But here are some from Deborah at the reception that night.

Their first dance as a married couple and they were singing to each other. I cried!

"These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive. These are the moments I'll remember all my life. I've got all I've waited for... And I could not ask for more."

It was seriously the sweetest reception I have ever attended. They are SO in love.

And I love my new "brother-in-law." Just look at that clown in the background.

Congratulations, Brittany and Zac. It was such a beautiful day to watch from the sidelines. I love you!

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures with the great-grandparents. They housed us, fed us, let me drive their car, and they watched Stuart!! Such giving and loving people. It was truly a memorable weekend.

Happy Birthday Dri and Sydnie!!

This week 2 dear friends of mine turned one year older! And might I add they must have gotten wiser too, judging from recent chats with these girls. They are the cream of the crop. I am so lucky to call them my friends. I love you Dri and Sydnie!

One characteristic I really admire in Dri is her ability to adapt and have a positive attitude in a new place. Just look at that smile! She is so happy and upbeat, even though she is far from home, far from family, and making a new life in a new culture. Dri, you inspire me to be a pioneer and to do it with a smile on my face.

Oh Sydnie. Happy birthday, mija! :) This is the most recent picture I have of you, unless I swipe one from the inter-webs... This was the last time I saw my Sydnie. I admire Sydnie's sense of humor. This woman can make me laugh harder than almost anyone on the planet. If we could hang out every day, I wouldn't need to exercise. I would burn through all my calories laughing the day away with you, Syd. I miss giggling with you. It's an out of body experience.

Happy birthday, amigas! I love you!

Happy Birthday Dan!

I have wanted to start this "tradition", if you will, for a long time: giving a shout out to my peeps on their birthdays. I got the simply lovely idea from a friend's blog. There is no better time than the present! Lucky me because I have a birthday to celebrate today! And so I start a new tradition, in hopes that I don't forget anyone's birthday in the future. ;)

(this is the ONLY digital picture I have of you, Dan. Sorry!)

Dan is one of the best friends I have ever had, and I am SO glad he was born. He is a fiercely loyal friend and an excellent listener. He shares wise advise and nerdy jokes. He was one of two friends who flew out to my wedding and here he is at our reception DC.

Thank you, Dan, for your friendship and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Temple Visit with Deb

Dear Deborah,

I am so pleased that I was a part of your special day. Your first time to the temple! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are glowing with heavenly radiance and I love you. And your parents are adorable. Thank you Tom and Susan for sharing your daughter with the world! And especially with me.

The temple is like the yellow brick road: it leads you Home. It is the closest place to heaven on earth and I feel honored to have been there with you. I'll go with you any time. I hope you remember that day - remember the promises you made and the promises you received - and return often. With me. Or without me. :) Just go often.

Thank you. I love you. And did I mention I like you?

Congratulations!!

Deck the Halls

Following Ondricek tradition, we decorated our home for Christmas on December 1st! Nate's birthday. Happy birthday, Nathan!!

( I LOVE this kid!!!)

This is our fourth Christmas married, and we still don't have a proper tree. We never have. We are always moving over Christmas. This year, we decided these mini fake trees would do as our tree shrine. We are simple people and we already owned these from our wedding reception. Christmas weddings are convenient like that.

That's the baby Jesus above the trees. After all, he is the reason for the lighted shrine. :)

Thank you to our wedding planner, Rebecca! We owe you most of our holiday cuteness. And thank you to Liz Kershiz for giving me the beautiful star that adorns our tallest tree. It is perfect.

Jared's family had a tradition growing up. Every night in December, they opened a wrapped Christmas book as a family. They read the book all together and placed it by the fireplace with all the other decorations and piles of books they were reading. Each night the Christmas book collection grew. When the month was over and the decorations put away, they wrapped the books in wrapping paper to be stored and ready for the next year. I LOVE that my in-laws always have holiday themed books in the front room for enjoyment. Our little collection is currently just 2 books, but one day it will be at least 31!

What holidays books would you recommend for this tradition or just to read this reason?

Taking Risks

Look at my little guy. He's taking risks and being daring and I am so proud of him!

It's taken him a long time to try walking, and I think it's because of his cautious and observant personality. However, taking risks is also a good thing. We need to take risks. Trying risky things helps us try new things, and consequently learn.

My little son is taking risks, trying new ideas, and learning new skills. He came up with this invention on his own. And LOVED it for 30 minutes straight. Up, down. Up, down. Up, down. And a new skill is born.

Life and Death

I've been thinking about life and death lately. A heavy topic. I know.

Two beautiful friends at church just had two beautiful babies in the same week. I got to see both moms and both babies in the hospital. I teared up meeting both of the babies - such beautiful little souls just starting out in this world. Birth is one of my most favorite events of which to be a part. A bit weird? Maybe. But heaven and earth are so close in times of life and death. Especially when death is a possibility when giving life. Birth is beautiful, unpredictable business. I thank heaven that both of my friends and both of their babies only experienced the birth part, and avoided the possible death. Did I mention that they are BEAUTIFUL babies? Ugh! And I don't even have pictures.

But, there is also a little birth going on in my home. WHAT?!? I don't know? What do you call the birth of a bulb? Sprouting?

I digress. This beautiful little creation has been growing so well on my window sill the last 3 weeks. It was a gift, so I don't know what flower it is, but we love it anyway. We are not prejudice against different flowers at my house. :) Check out this growth in only 20 days!

Amazing right? It is doing so well with just water, sunlight, and loving cheers from it's fans. Grandma Virgie (on Jared's side) says that plants grow best when given lots of love. "Whisper sweet nothings in their ears," she said. I will do whatever she says. She has a back yard vegetable garden the size of Rhode Island, so grandma knows best!

If only my sweet nothings had worked for this little fellow. The circle of life has claimed this mini-rose plant from my potted garden and I am in mourning. This little love was a surprise "I LOVE YOU" gift one afternoon from my dear husband. He is the best! I potted it, kissed it, and lovingly placed it outside. It thrived, bloomed and rebloomed for seven months! Then it suddenly started losing leaves and dying, even after I brought it inside from the cold! I thought maybe it felt the stress and contention at home. Maybe it did. But I think I found the real murderers! Do you see them?

I think these TINY white spiders and their deadly webs killed my beloved rose plant that my beloved gave me! Everywhere these little life-suckers spun a web, the leaves or buds died! I first wiped their webs away and removed the diseased leaves. They came back. Then I wiped again and sprayed with white vinegar. They came back. Then I was worried that if I kept the plant inside, they would make themselves comfortable in my house. So, the plant (almost completely dead by then) and it's inhabitants were moved outside to the winter temperatures. Any ideas of what those little homicidal maniacs are?

And so is life. As one little life died on my window sill, another has taken its place and thrives.