Christmas!

Does anyone else get a little bit depressed the day(s) following Christmas? Cuz I sure do.
I hope that New Year's will be a good enough pick-me-up for ya!

Christmas Eve/Sunday before we have a tradition of putting up a stocking for Jesus--since, you know, it IS His holiday.  We put pieces of paper inside with our names and what we want to give to Jesus that year, i.e. "I want to be nicer to my siblings," etc.  We usually watch a Christmas movie like "Elf" or "Grinch."  Buuutt this year we ended up watching a scary movie, which was different haha.
Christmas morning, we did the usual: stockings, breakfast, presents.  I dropped by my nanny house for an open house lunch.  Those boys are so cute!
But the most bestest part of Christmas this year was talking to Elder Ericksen for two and a half hours.  I can tell he has already matured and is learning valuable lifelong lessons.

I hope your Christmas was great!

Elder Ericksen

My little bro is on his mission, now!  It's been awhile, but I wanted to re-cap the Wednesday morning I got to spend with him before I dropped him off at the MTC.
On the way back from the airport, since we drove right through his mission, I was pointing out landmarks and temples and cities.  He was diligently marking my comments on a map and I thought that was so cute.
He got free breakfast at iHop and we ran into other eager missionaries.
I gave him a little tour of Provo: the new tabernacle temple, the view from the Y parking lot, and then ending at the Provo Temple.  We took pictures until it was time to go in.  I drove him in to the welcoming Elders who took his bags.  After a quick hug, he was off!

He is now in the field.  Literally just around the point of the mountain.  I miss him, but I'm so proud of his decision to serve the Lord for 2 years!