We didn't do everything, but we did many things

We have a lot of kids and a lot of Christmas traditions that have evolved through the years. I love Christmas more than anything, and it comes only once a year, and I'd  like to be able to do everything, so I dream big.

And there is nothing wrong with dreaming big in attempt to make Christmas everything I want it to be for myself and my family. But there is only so much time. I listened to a talk by President Monson, who counseled us to slow down and to focus on what is most important, so the season doesn't become a mad rush of shopping, wrapping, decorating, and baking, resulting in major stress and leaving no room for the peace that Christmas is.

So this year, I didn't do everything. A few wonderful things got left out, simply because I didn't have time and chose not to rush to the point of frenzy.

 I did not

• Make shortbread for my adult Sunday School class. I really wanted to do this because I love these people so much. They are a group of 10-12 faithful, dedicated souls, who come every week to my Gospel Essentials class, even though they don't have to. We have no actual investigators (for whom the class is intended), and these people show up anyway to discuss the gospel with me week after week. They are wonderful! I will still bring them shortbread; it will just be sometime after the New Year.

•  Frost cookies Christmas Eve to leave out for Santa. This is a die hard tradition with my kids, but with Seth working until 7:30 Christmas Eve, we just never got to it. Next year!

• Watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with Seth. What? How could we miss this one? Well, his work schedule was grueling this December, and though we talked about it lots and even made several plans, it just didn't happen. You can be sure this will be a priority next year since it's possible Seth could spend Christmas of 2018 in the mission field (yikes!).

I think those are the main things I missed this year. Rest assured, it was a glorious Christmas anyway. I observed many of our long-standing traditions and added a couple new ones.

I did

• Orchestrate matching Christmas jammies for all the girls. For years, this tradition involved only Shulamith and me, but it gets more fun as we add more girls. Gerald told us we looked like we were wearing prison garb. Well great.

• Visit Temple Square to see the beautiful lights, only this year, I had the added joy of watching Seth sing with his concert choir in the Assembly Hall. Love!

• Attend church Christmas morning, which is only a tradition in those years when Christmas falls on Sunday, but it's always a special treat when it does. This year Gerald and I got to narrate the musical program, something I've done many times in other wards, but never in the five years we've lived here. It was super fun!

•  Make our favorite egg casserole for breakfast Christmas morning. But this year we added Waffle Love dough, which we made into delicious waffles that tasted exactly like the ones they serve at Waffle Love, topped with fresh whipped cream, biscoff, and bananas. Yum!

• Pass out gifts one at a time, youngest to oldest in order of age, which makes the whole gift-opening process last several hours. Not everyone loves this as much as we do, and you can read about that here, but we Erichsen-Websters wouldn't have it any other way. It's so much fun to see everyone open his or her gifts, to see what everyone got, and to celebrate the surprise, one gift at a time. I think the best surprises this year were Matt's Dr. Martin boots and Isaiah's Jazz tickets. Score!

• Dream of a white Christmas and then awake to its reality. I'm a terrible photographer, but I opened my front door Christmas morning, and a Christmas miracle occurred as I somehow took this lovely photo. I think it belongs on a Christmas card; really, I do.

• Eat copious amounts of fattening food and not even worry about it, as we play games and laugh and celebrate. We taught Amanda how to play Cribbage, a tradition that reaches back to my childhood, as my dad stood over me and taught me how discard properly (always, always hold for the double run!). Memories. 

• Wish all of you, friends and family both near and far, a Merry Christmas. May we hold onto our faith as we head into 2017, despite a most incredulous and disappointing election outcome and the fear it brings. May we hold together and stay strong through the storm.

Why Matt hates our Christmases

The blending of two families as a new one is created can be tricky. Oftentimes, our traditions are so firmly established, layered year upon year, that we can't imagine shifting even a little from the way we do things. And at no time are traditions more meaningful or well established than at Christmas.When Gerald and I got married, I know he was taken aback by the intensity with which my family celebrates holidays, especially Christmas. Over time, I think he got used to it. I don't know how much he likes it, but he doesn't object.

Six years ago an unsuspecting young man named Mathew came into our lives. I've joked that it's a very good thing he had already proposed to Shulamith before he experienced his first Erichsen-Webster Christmas, or the marriage may never have happened. You see, as with most relationships, Matt and I have some things in common and other things, not. The most significant thing we have in common is that we're both head-over-heels in love with Shulamith.

Where we part ways most significantly is on the subject of Christmas. I don't know anyone who likes Christmas more than I do, and I don't know anyone who likes it less than Matt. One time a couple years ago, for a Halloween gift, I gave Shulamith some pretty tree ornaments. Knowing this would not be a good gift for Matt, I also included for him some of his favorite candy. I wrapped the gift together, though, and when Matt started to open it, the first thing he saw were the ornaments. He was livid. Really. I don't know if I've ever seen him angrier.

So all this serves as an introduction to a recent discussion between Matt and Shulamith, which demonstrates the experience of hangin' with the Erichsen-Websters on Christmas.

Shulamith: "So first we'll go to church, and then...."

Matt:  "Wait...what? We have to go to church? On Christmas?"

Shulamith: "Well, yes. It's Sunday, so yes."

Matt: "So first we'll get all dressed up and go to church for an hour. Then we'll all come back home, and your mom will make all you girls go change back into your "matching Christmas jammies," which will take another half hour. And  then your dad can take a bunch of pictures until you find one you like. Then everyone will be hungry, so we'll spend another half hour eating.

And finally, it will be time to begin the gift opening marathon. Your mom will pass out gifts, one at a time, to all 9,000,000 people in your family, and one at a time, each person will open his one gift while everyone else watches (ooooh and ahhhh!). After one round of this, your mom will say, "I think we should take a break and go have hot chocolate," and we'll all go back up the stairs to the kitchen.

Then right after hot chocolate is done, we'll do a few more rounds of slowly opening presents, one at a time, and someone will say "I'm hungry," so everyone will stop again to go upstairs and eat while there are still presents to open. Why would you want to do anything else when there are still presents to open? Why would you want to sit and watch everyone else, when you have your own presents under the tree waiting for you? It's just not how it's supposed to be. And this will drag on for the next four or five hours."



All I can say about this whole scenario, Matt, is yes! Yes, yes, yes, YES! That is exactly how it will happen. Isn't it glorious? Just three days from now! I cannot even wait. The most perfect Christmas ever! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Christmas, 2016: Three Questions

With just one week left before Christmas, I wanted to share our annual Christmas letter. This year, I asked everyone the same three questions, and recorded his or her responses word for word. Enjoy!

 2016: Three Questions

1. What is your favorite memory of 2016?

2. What is your favorite TV show or recent Netflix binge?

3. What is your favorite past Christmas memory?

Erichsen-Websters

Seth
1. Today! I saved up $1,000 to buy a new gaming laptop, and it FINALLY arrived.
2. Breaking Bad
3. Late Christmas night 2013, after I had already gone to bed, my dad called me to say he was locked out of the house and asked me to come let him in. When I opened the door, he walked in with my WiiU. It was the best surprise ever!

Isaiah
1. Berlin. (Of all Isaiah's amazing travel destinations for his job, Germany was his favorite. Just ask Mom how jealous she is).
2. NBA Basketball.
3. Senior year in college, when I was poor, and you got me a laptop and a smart phone in the same Christmas.

Terrianne
1. Sitting next to Eli in the temple, and then watching as he was sealed to his bride for time and all eternity.
2. The Good Wife, except I am so furious that Will died, I may not watch the rest of the series. Seriously, I am so mad. If Fitz and Liv (Scandal) ever come back on, and Suits comes back, I won't even need Good Wife anymore. That will teach them to kill off my favorite character.
3. Waking up on Christmas morning, when Luke was three weeks old. Holding him in my arms, as I sat under the lights of our tree while Gerald cooked us breakfast. The little baby who made me a mother, the role that transformed my life and shaped my destiny.

Gerald
1. Spoken like a true introvert: Wandering the sandstone hills of Utah's Snow Canyon State Park at sunrise.
2. I've been unable to find a Netflix series that's as good as those I've already seen. My favorite current show is This Is Us.
3. Watching children show their excitement when opening Christmas presents – specifically, Seth surprised at getting his WiiU when he thought he had no more presents, and Shulamith with almost any article of clothing.

Monson-Websters

Shulamith
1. I have had a really rough year. It's hard to think of a favorite moment because it all sort of sucked. Can I choose a future 2016 moment? Yes, I think I can. I think Christmas day this year will be perfect and wonderful. Swen is 4, and Kennedy is 2, so they are the PERFECT ages for Christmas, and I can hardly wait.
2. Watching TV is my favorite thing to do at night when the kids are asleep. I can't pick just one. I loved watching Suits, The Good Wife, How I Met Your Mother, and of course my reality series Survivor and Big Brother!
3. In 2009, Matt drove up to Montana with me for Christmas, and he surprised me by proposing! I was completely surprised and thrilled. My other favorite Christmas memory was when I was eight, and my grandma surprised me with my own TV for my room. It was the best Christmas ever because I had been wanting my own TV forever. But then, on that same Christmas, in all of our stockings were notes telling us to pack our clothes because we were heading to Disneyland the next day! What?! It will always be the Christmas that stands out to me because there's nothing better than a TV and Disneyland in the same year.

Mathew
1. That one time I found that song that made me feel really good and tingly.
2. I have enjoyed binge watching my emotions bloom into a beautiful bouquet of contrasting colors and intensities.
2. When I had that crippling condition that had me tied to a crutch, and we all thought that things were just getting worse. When suddenly it seemed as though the entire world had a change of heart and my health completely rebounded. Then the culminating moment of it all when I jumped into the arms of that strange man and he lifted me up and I yelled, "God bless us, God bless us everyone!"
That was my favorite Christmas moment.

Swen
1. When we got our new dog, Woof!
2. Car washes (you-tube videos)
3. Getting new Christmas pajamas.

Kennedy
1. Being a princess for Halloween.
2. Blaze and the Monster Machines.
3. (It's hard to have a favorite Christmas memory when you've only been alive for two Christmases and you don't remember either of them, but Kennedy is super excited to make some Christmas memories this year).

Erichsen-Valentines

Luke
1. Having our new house all set up!
2. Mr. Robot
3. Opening presents by the Christmas tree

Desiree
1. Watching Evelyn dance in her dance recital
2. Seinfeld
3. Having my family together for a cozy and fun day

Evelyn
1. Playing with Pebbles!
2. Project MC2
3. Running downstairs to see what Santa left

The Newlyweds

Eli
1. April 8, 2016. Being sealed to my beautiful wife Amanda for time and all eternity! :)
2. Amanda and I have been into cooking competition reality shows lately! Food Network FTW. Netflix though, Breaking Bad, How I Met Your Mother, The Office are always good if you haven't seen those. Law and Order: SVU is one of the best shows out there. Watch it. Almost as good as Survivor! One of these days, this Christmas letter will talk about how I was on Survivor! One day...
3. Last year the week of Christmas, I proposed to Amanda! Also, way back in the day, I got a pet turtle for Christmas! It was my favorite animal at the time, and I was jaw-dropping surprised! RIP Speedy.

Amanda
1. Eli
2. Watching Eli sleep
3. Eli

And there you have it!

May we settle in this week, as day by day, inch by inch, we draw closer to the manger. As we feel the Savior's love, may we love each other better. As we feel his grace, may we be more gracious. As we experience the joy of his birth, may we bring joy to those around us. As we come to understand his perfect peace, may we live in peace, one with another.

From the Erichsen-Websters, merry merry Christmas!

"Bye, Seth's Family!"

Seth had to work tonight. December is the busiest month of the year at Macaroni Grill, and they try to give him Sundays off but can't always. Shulamith and I stopped by to visit him, and as we were leaving, several employees shouted after us, "Bye, Seth's family!"

"Seth's family." Because now Seth is the Mac Grill employee, and we are his family.

As we got in the car, it occurred to both of us that when Shulamith first started working at Mac Grill, Seth was only four years old. She was 18 and a freshman at Westminster College. I wanted her to get a job on campus, but she decided to drive all the way across town to host at some Italian restaurant. I was sure she'd wind up in a ditch somewhere, after sliding off the snowy road late at night while driving back to her dorm, and I'd be in Montana unable to do a single thing to help her. Oh the nightmares of an anxiety mom!

In some ways that all seems so long ago. In 12 years, the "Mac Shack" has played a significant role in four of my kids' lives, and mine. I've been there dozens of times to hang with one kid or another as they hosted, bussed tables, ran food, or served guests. In all those years, there was only one, brief, three-month period when I didn't have a kid working there. Eli worked both pre and post mission, and Isaiah worked there all through college. They still go back and help out occasionally, during the busy times.

But in reality, it's now all Seth. He is everyone's favorite: favorite busser, favorite food runner, favorite host. "Bye, Seth's family!"

The first time I walked into Macaroni Grill was 12 years ago, when I was here to spend the weekend with Shulamith, and she had to work. I sat by myself in the corner; I still remember which table even. She was brand new, so she couldn't come hang out and talk with me. I just watched her work, so proud. I love to watch my kids do anything, even seat guests in a restaurant. It's the same pride I felt this evening as I watched Seth set up tables for parties, seat guests, and train new support staff.

As we left and began to think about our family's history there, both Shulamith and I decided time goes by way too fast. "Mom, he was only four years old when I started working here. That's just crazy."

Yep, crazy. Now he's a legacy, the final Erichsen-Webster kid to work at Mac Grill.

"Bye, Seth's family."

"Now you're actually allowed to listen to Christmas music"

...declared Seth the other day. He refers to the fact that I have been listening to Christmas music since a couple days before Halloween. And I won't apologize. Some of the most beautiful music ever written is Christmas music; why should I only get to hear it for three weeks in December? That's simply not long enough. I exercised tremendous discipline to wait until just before Halloween, and I should be congratulated.

Hardly anyone loves Christmas more than I do. Although I start the music early, I never feel like the actual season begins until after the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, always the first Sunday in December. I still wish it were the way it used to be, with literally the First Presidency and only the First Presidency speaking, but I still love it and thoroughly enjoyed watching last evening.

So let the season begin! 

How are my projects coming along, you want to know? (Maybe you don't, but humor me):

• Christmas cards printed.
• Christmas letter written and printed, to be copied tomorrow, so cards can be mailed out.
• Shopping maybe 3/4 done? Something like that. Oooh, how I love shopping!
• Wrapping 100% caught up. Now I just need more presents to wrap.
• New 9 ft. tree set up and beautifully trimmed. 
• House decorated
• Baking day set, and recipe selection underway.
• #LIGHTtheWORLD daily Christmas focus - Seth and I are on track with Day 5 today (we are both organ donors). 
• Semester finished? Not quite. And speaking of school....

When I was in college, if students needed to ask their teacher a question, they pretty much had one choice: wait until the next class and come a bit early or stay after. Amazing, huh? We all still managed to get educated. We progressed in our studies, learned stuff, earned our degrees, went out into the world to use them, all without the benefit of 24/7 access to our teachers.

Because of this, we also felt compelled to make the very most out of that precious class time, taking copious amounts of notes. Yes, it's true. We came to class with paper and pens and actually wrote stuff down. We listened to the teacher and tried to comprehend what he said. We tried to sculpt out the most important ideas and then commit them to our notes. College classes were, indeed, active learning experiences.

This all must sound like science fiction to today's college students. Most don't ever write down anything, because they expect all course content to appear in the management system, which they can access online. And if they have questions, they can just email me, and if I don't reply within two hours, they can email me again asking if I received their first email.

Okay, that was sort of a long rant. Sorry. I have lovely students, really, and I enjoy them most of the time, but there was a moment today when I told them I felt like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons: "Wa, wawawa.....wawawa." They just laughed at me and took pictures with their phones of a couple things I had on the board, which is the closest they come to taking notes.

Enjoy this glorious season, everyone. This year, we even get to attend church. I love, love, love it when Christmas falls on Sunday. And this time, Gerald and I get to narrate the musical program that morning. How excited am I? Very!

Meanwhile, go listen to some Christmas music. Seth says you're allowed to now.