sunshine on Christmas morning.

I can't tell you how nice it was to experience Christmas morning after the sun was shining. Our boys both slept until a little after 8 am and I didn't mind getting more sleep at all. I know it will be exciting to have our kids anxiously anticipate the magic of Santa's visit at Christmas but I really enjoyed this year anyway.

Sweet Lee boy doesn't understand the gift concept, he got a little upset when we tried to have him open more than his initial gift.  (I guess we could have stuck with just the one.)

Drew was content to chew on whatever was in front of him.

We got to Facetime with grandparents and join in on a group call with Elder Tanner. And eat lots of Swedish bread and drink lots of egg nog and chocolate almond milk (have you ever tried it??)

outfits from Grandma Tanner.

It was such a nice relaxing morning and we quite enjoyed it. Merry Christmas indeed. 

christmas eve delights.

We loved our Christmas in Texas with just our little family.
We missed seeing and being with family, of course.
But we loved the time to share and make traditions and memories with our boys. And I especially loved sleeping in until past 8 Christmas morning and having the boys sleep in their own rooms.
(I didn't even know well-rested Christmases were possible)
I also loved the 60-70 degree weather we enjoyed for the holidays. I loved being able to go for a run nearly every day of our holiday. I was born for the South it seems.

from my run in the morning.

We had dinner that night with some of our friends here. It was so fun. We even attempted a nativity even though the oldest kid was 5. We made it all the way to when Mary and Joseph ask if there's room in the inn... Lee was one of the cutest little Joseph's I've ever seen, his costume provided by our friends rocked. (he obviously didn't feel quite as comfortable with his role...or at least his costume)

getting to the inn...aka the end.

yep, definitely not feeling it.

When we got home that evening we had the boys each open one sleep-related gift.  Drewsy got new pj's and Lee boy got a special white noise/picture projector to help with his nighttime fears. (he LOVES it.)

Lee loved the presents (which I'd wrapped earlier but soon found that they'd have to stay hidden until the last minute) though the "opening a gift" concept is still a little lost on the sweet boy.

We also watched a few nativity movies from LDS.org, here is one.  We'd been watching them over the month of December and I was touched over and over by the incredible gift of our Savior and all that He did and has made possible.  What a reason to celebrate, His life and His death and the remarkable eternal consequences they have for us as individuals and as families. 


We ended the night with one of my favorite parts of the entire holiday, skyping with Sister Tanner who is serving as a full-time LDS missionary in Australia.

What a wonderful time of year it was for us...just ten and a half more months till it comes again but who's counting?

i love to see the temple.

I’ve had a focus in my work for a few years now on spaces, buildings and places that I’ve found happiness in. 

A few months ago I realized I wanted to do a painting of the LDS temple I was married in. I’d been looking for a painting (or a print rather) of that temple that fit my “style” aka “artistic preferences” but I was having quite a time of it. <<I’m really artistically picky, I admit it.>>  It dawned on me one day that I paint buildings… all the time. (duh) Why don’t I just do it myself? So I did. And it made me happy, and the painting makes me happy everyday. I love that my oldest boy points to it every time we come down the stairs and says"em-ple!". And I thought, maybe it would make other people happy too. 

So, I’ve decided to make my temples available to you.

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/MichelleMakesArt

>>In several formats to fit your “style” and your budget.

SLC temple original.

Bountiful temple original.

charcoal print on cream paper.

Bountiful temple giclee print.

St. Louis temple giclee print.

"transparent" SLC temple on 12x12 panel.

San Diego temple original.

"solid" SLC temple on 12x12 panel.

SLC temple giclee prints.

St. Louis temple original.

mounted panel example.

Bountiful temple original.

I truly do love to see the temple in my home. Everyday. Hope you do too.