Holiday fun! and Christmas thoughts

We are super excited and getting everything ready for our trip to Texas to visit Ilcy's parents this Xmas. We will be leaving this Saturday early morning and coming back on December 27th. This will be our first Xmas in Texas. We haven't spent a Xmas with Ilcy's parents in 5 years so it will be pretty special. We are looking forward to make Guatemalan tamales and ponche, a delicious Guatemalan hot fruit beverage on our visit to Lubbock.
There have been so many things going on in our household and it has been hectic but definitely full of fun! We had our yearly xmas celebration and gift exchangewith the Orton side of the family this Monday since we couldn't be here for Xmas this year. It was really a special evening.
We had dinner at 5 and a special Xmas program that Ilcy Put together for the evening. Ilcy, Melinda, and Cherie, sang "Away in a manger" in English and Spanish while all of the kids played out the Nativity dressed up in costumes. They all did well. After the gift exchange we all gathered for a fun game of Bunko! That Stacey put together. Everyone got to come and It was so much fun. "The best Christmas gift of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up with one another"-unknown.
Yesterday evening we had the privilege to attend Asha's Xmas program at her school. It was a really cute program put together by all of the 2ND graders at Virginia Ave. Elementary.
The kids did an amazing job at acting out their parts and memorizing all of the songs.
There are still many things to get accomplished this holiday season. But the most important and special part of it is that it all involves celebrating our savior with acts of kindness and love toward every one. Christmas It is definitely the best holiday of all! from sending Christmas cards to baking cookies and wrapping presents and telling everyone how much you care for them.
We are enjoying it so much.
Yesterday, Asha requested that we make a cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus so we will be doing that this year.
Today for mutual Bryan and the youth of the church will be going Xmas caroling. How fun is that!
On Friday, Asha and Bryce will be having their classroom Xmas parties and we have our ward's Xmas dinner where Ilcy will be performing Oh Holy night, Asha will sing "When Christmas comes to town" and Bryce will perform a cute song he learned at school.
We also want to express our gratitude this holiday season for coming in contact once again with old and special friends and for keeping in touch with all of our friends through the wonderful world of Internet.
We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year
and let us remember the words of our prophet :"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others" -Thomas S. Monson
God bless you all!
With love,
The Orton family