Victorian Christmas

This is just for you non-locals, who may not know what Victorian Christmas is. Basically it is a street fair on frigid December nights in downtown Nevada City. The above picture is of said downtown. A not so long walk from our house. We like it best on summer evenings when the sunlight lingers and we can meander downtown to get a bite to eat and walk home via the park for the boys. The church at the top of the hill is where our Santa was residing. At the bottom left of the picture was the Santa that was not free- or had a real beard.

Doesn't this make you want to come and visit us? We will also take you to downtown Grass Valley (better shopping), Empire Mine, The Bloomfield ghost town, Malakof diggins, and the Yuba river. We know some great hikes and historic church buildings. And if we are lucky when you are in town there may be a good play in the theater that Mark Twain preformed in (is there an old theater he didn't preform in?). Have I lured you to our little corner of heaven yet? We would love visitors.

Santa Christmas Photos

We went to see Santa at the Methodist Church in Nevada City. He was the best Santa ever! And they had free hot cider and cookies. As soon as Beckett saw him he went running across the room calling "Santa Santa!" And then gave him one of those great Beckett hugs where he squeezes so tight and buries his little face in your neck. He patted Santa's cheeks and would have been happy to sit there all night. He couldn't think of anything he wanted- but when Coen gave Santa a list he ran up to his lap and said "Me too Santa- Legos for me too!" As you can see in the pictures Coen had to think pretty hard about what he wanted. So a big Thank you to the Methodist church and all their volunteers that made this possible- we had a great time.

A you can tell it was pretty cold that night at Victorian Christmas- but we were bundled up and left the church to go sit by the fire and eat fried dough and hot drinks- but no chestnuts this year. Beckett loved all the different music- I think we saw well over ten different groups. The favorite was one by the fire playing a large strange stringed instrument hooked up to an amp. I think it was Asian. Trust Nevada City to provide some good hippy entertainment (dreds and all)! So I highly recommend Victorian Christmas next year- and we didn't even do the pony ride. And if you go give us a call and we will meet you there- it is a short walk for us.

Because Becky Says I Need To Post Photos

Because it is the beginning of the Christmas season I will help you celebrate by posting pictures of our trip to the pumpkin farm. Mind you I still have over two weeks of Europe to post- so you can tell that I am really on top of it. And what says Christmas like pumpkins?

We did run in the fields. I did love the views and the cool weather. But we didn't like the rotten pumpkins and the poorly kept field. The kids kept complaining about the smell and my neat freak wouldn't walk across the field- but would walk only in the mowed paths- which was funny- and a pain in the neck.

Coen asked me to arrange a play date with Kennidi- So we went to the pumpkin patch. On the way home he said "Mom next time I will arrange the play date because I just wanted to go to her house and play with her new toys."

We rode horses.

And the kids put up with me taking pictures.

We looked pensive.

We pulled a pumpkin wagon.

Beckett was thrilled with his pumpkin (I wasn't thrilled about paying for it).

We saw chickens (and goats and cows).

We climbed on haystacks.

But we were not so successful getting a group picture. sigh.

Today Emily DeMartini taught a beautiful lesson in Relief Society. She did a lovely job- and charmingly said some things in Spanish as she hasn't quite made the transition back from Honduras completely (Yes- little Emily DeMartini is a return missionary- yes we are old ladies). Her lesson was on the atonement. Then in choir practice we were working on O Holy Night and I was struck by the lyrics of the second verse.

I was really touched by the personal note in these lyrics. This in general is a formal grand song and there hidden in the middle is the sweet message that he knows all our pain- feels all our sorrow. The personal message- the tender mercies- the daily graces you need in your life.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger

Just Because Some Things Should Be Recorded

I was just turning on the TV to try and see if I could record the Christmas Devotional later in the week since Alma told me as he got in bed that he had gotten distracted while he was setting the recorder and didn't finish the process. As I was searching the schedule a devotional with Pres. Monson was on. Beckett saw it and said "Pesident mama pesident." As I was looking for my show Beckett asked to keep watching President Monson and is happily sitting next to me watching, laughing with the crowd.

It is an especially good devotional we are watching- Monson's memories of the prophets he has known. And a very funny reference to his Navy vocabulary. And soothing to my wildebeest child in the middle of the night.