This December, I led the choir on three separate occassions. I had an excellent Christmas breakfast with the neighborhood and a fine Christmas lunch at my workplace. I put up a lot of Christmas lights and a tree that only barely fits in my living room. I played Christmas music by Mannheim Steamroller, The Muppets, and others, through the spectacular speakers given to me by an awesome friend. I listened to daily live concerts broadcast by a local radio station. I visited neighbors, watched a couple of new Christmas movies with my family, toured the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake City with my family, and molded chocolate with my kids' help. It was all quite enjoyable and relaxing. Finally, the annual Christmas Eve party was so great that it actually competed with Christmas morning.

I've been going to my grandparents' house for the Christmas Eve party for as long as I can remember. Between 20 and 40 people show up every year. We eat dinner and dessert, have a talent show, read scriptures, run the toy train, and converse for quite a while. We have a fun little tradition: Grandpa reads letters to Santa and burns them in the fireplace, since Grandpa says Santa can read smoke. Finally, we give each other some early presents.

This year, it was time for my parents to start their own Christmas Eve party. Rolls, ham, a salad with shrimp, baked potatoes, cranberry sauce... the works. Shelly showed off her singing and Irish dancing. She should be a pro! Jake, Chas, and Maria played their flutes (some of them homemade and stunningly beautiful.) A hot fire, a spacious family room, a lot of gifts, and giggly kids made the party excellent.

For Christmas, Tanner got a train set, Esther got toy ponies and a new bed, Tina got a tortilla press, and I got a nice box of Legos. There were many other great gifts, including a gift certificate for a garden shop and funny bedtime slippers. We got a new TV to replace the thirteen inch Commodore monitor that I've been using as a TV for twelve years. The monitor still works perfectly, but it looked silly next to the big speakers.