golden

Almost every day these past weeks, I find my eyes filling with tears as I stir hot chocolate, spread peanut butter on bread and send everyone out the door to school. Not out of sorrow, but because the mornings are so good, so beautiful. Yes, we still have bruised shins and hearts, lost homework and scuffles over who gets the comics next, but those are little things and our chaos of breakfast and practicing, making lunches, curling hair and singing out loud feels like the very best of motherhood. Even if I sleep in, Hans and Xander creep to my bedside to pray, Gabe still likes to cuddle in my lap as he wakes and Mary smothers me with affection. As she says, “Cars run on gasoline; but I run on hugs and kisses.”

I know, I know these are golden days. And I feel an urgency to enjoy my houseful of children, savor the afternoons driving to and fro, the animated conversations and extraordinary enthusiasm. I’m drinking in every Christmas concert (and we’ve had lots!), laughing at every silly pun:

Q. What do snowmen wear on their heads?
A. Ice caps.
Q. What do you get if you cross a snowman and a shark?
A. Frost bite.
Q. Where do snowmen go to dance?
A. A snow ball.
Q. What do you call an unreliable snowman?
A. A snow flake.

Gabe’s furrowed brow as he tackles the tricky notes.

A surprise visit from Stefan who put in his mission papers just yesterday. We should know where he’s going the day after Christmas.

I’ve never seen him so giddy.

Testing Xander’s viola before a visit with the Stake President.

Sunday afternoon, we embarked on cookie baking and our annual tradition– the gingerbread building.

Ambitious Xander chose the Tower Bridge. I’m wimpier and thought we should go with Big Ben, but I admire his vision.

Mary let Hans help a bit– but he doesn’t use enough frosting for her taste.

Continuing our Les Miserable obsession, we watched the entire 25th Anniversary Special. Listen to the four Jean Valjeans sing “Bring Me Home” and you’ll get teary eyed too. p.s. Colm Wilkinson– the very first Jean Valjean in the stage production– plays Bishop Muriel in the movie! I can’t wait to hear him sing again.

Without Mary and her awesome decorating skills, the Tower would have never been finished.

Ta da! Hmm, well it may have looked a bit better before I tipped it while sprinkling on the blue sugar and it crashed to the floor. Uh oh. Not one of my smartest moments. But funny. And Xander didn’t yell at me. Which was good. I had to cheat and use cardboard to fix it.