Holiday Catch-Up

This year the holidays were totally unique for the Clive family. Not only did we have a brand new member, making us a family of 5, but for once we didn't travel to be with families but had our own Christmas in our own apartment. And, Spencer was able to be with us 100%--a nice long break from school, no applications to prepare, no interviews, just family. It was so wonderful!

Our first Christmas Tree (*with the exception

of one Charlie Brown tree in Walnut Creek that

we only had for a week or so before we left town

for Christmas.)





Not a bad decorating job from the Spencer/

Cadence Task Force.

We missed our families very much, but considering that we were (and are) still adjusting to having a new baby around, it was really nice to just be at home.

This tree-topper/heart-stopper
of a star was one I purchased when I

was probably 17 from Christmas World (Sprinkler World's alter ego) where I worked for 6 years as a youth. I have loved it and cherished it and waited for the day it would finally shine for my own family.

I love this star.

C

Museum of Science and Industry.

Cutest Mary and Joseph EVER. On Christmas Eve we went to some friends' home and celebrated together. It was a lovely evening and so fun to do the nativity, even though it was about 1.5 minutes long and still too long for the kids to pay attention to.

Campbell played the all-important role of "star". She has a pretty commanding presence so I thought the role fit her well.

Above: Mary and the Star tend to Baby Jesus (Layla) in the manger/videographer (Mardee).

Right: Christmas Morning! Cadence was so glad to see that Santa ate the cookies and drank the sparkling cider. We enjoyed toasted panettone (next year we'll warm, not toast it), got ready, and then finally got to go see if Santa came. The girls were really excited and of course Cadence directed the present opening.

The week after Christmas we went with some friends to Nauvoo and stayed at a log cabin/lodge with all three families: Olivers, Hutchisons, and Clives:

Visiting Nauvoo in the winter really paints a more clear picture of how hard it must have been for the Saints to leave. We all know they loved the city, but it is CO-O-OLD and dreary there. I can't imagine loading up a few things in a covered wagon and heading into the great unknown, knowing that we would never return to the city we built and loved. It sort of breaks my heart.

We had a lot of fun with our friends and Cadence wanted to "live with Jacob and Simon for even more days".

Funny note about that. Simon's dad Jeff is a really mild and nice guy. For some reason Cadence is very afraid of him. As we drove into Nauvoo she said to us, "Okay--Mom and Dad: promise you won't let Jeff talk to me?" She was so serious. Jeff did talk to her and she survived. :)