tis the season

For...

-seeing pretty Christmas lights with good friends

-baking yummy Christmas goodies

-making diaper cakes

-having chocolate covered faces from yummy cupcakes

-playing with cousins

-spending time with family

-SANTA

-quilting with sisters (Thanks Nat)

-mugs of Hot Chocolate with mini marshmallows

-watching White Christmas, Frosty, Rudolph and Christmas in Connecticut

-feeling the spirit of the season

-celebrating our Savior's birth

Merry Christmas to all our wonderful friends and family and a Happy New Year!!

Christmas Program

Last week at Joseph's school they put on a wonderful Christmas program for all the parents and all of the kids did such a great job. They have been practicing for this all year and it really showed, Joseph has been walking around the house for weeks singing and then the other day he asked me how to snap so he could do it for one of the songs. All the kids looked so cute all dressed up. After the kids had finished singing they got a surprise visit from Santa that was so exciting they all lined up at once to see him.

Looking good!
We love you Santa!!

The whole class. There are 35 kids.

Waiting to begin.

Marching In. I think they were all blind by the time they got up front from all the parents camera's. :)

Joseph playing the bells. He did such a good job!

Over the river and through the woods to the

Hermansen Family Christmas Party!!

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go over to Utah to visit family and PARTY!! We had so much fun seeing everyone, holding the new babies, eating yummy food and catching up. It is always nice to be together this time of year.

Sarah with Baby Audrey
Baby Jace enjoying bath time.

Kaden and Joseph having a bubble fight!

Uncle Collin and Joseph

Being fed like a KING!

Collin and myself with Grandpa and Elaine

Ben, Joseph and Grandpa

Me, Grandpa and Collin

The fearsome foursome! Don't let these faces fool you, these boys were known to cause all kinds of trouble.

The sweetest girls in the world!

White Elephant time.

Some of the gang.

Missy with Jace

The Lone Rangers

Of course no visit is complete without a special visit from Santa!

Missing

I feel like I have had a whole in my chest for the last week.It has been just over six months since Bill passed away and the other day I was upstairs getting something and I found myself wanting to go in and talk with Bill when I hit me like a ton of bricks that he wasn't there and all of sudden it feels as if my grieving has started all over again. Ever since that moment I find myself having more of those moments. I had one the other morning at Joseph's Christmas program while listening to Joseph sing and thinking Bill would have loved watching Joseph or we have had NO snow all winter here and all I can think is Bill would love this winter because he hated the snow.

I don't know if it is the season and all the focus on family and being with our loved ones that has brought all this about but I sure do miss him and I am not the only one. The other day Joseph asked me if he would be an adult when Papa comes back from heaven and all I could do was give him a hug. I know I should have answered his question but it's not the first time he has asked and I couldn't bring myself to tell him that Papa isn't coming back.

I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who can soothe my aching soul when I need it the most.