He's still got it.

Three years, two months, and six days ago Seth took me on our first date. We went ice skating. I think he planned skating because he wanted to hold my hand... and it worked. It's pretty easy if you're as charming as my man. And it's made exponentially easier if you strap a pair of blades to my feet and send me onto a shining sheet of ice ;)

Now, over 3 years later and more than 3,000 miles from where we first met, we again stepped onto the ice--this time in the heart of Washington, D.C. at the National Art Gallery ice rink. White Christmas lights lined the rink, and the National Archives provided a stunning backdrop. Romance was certainly in the crisp wintry air. In fact, one guy had it right on when he stopped in the center of the rink and proposed to his girlfriend! All of us skating round and round cheered - it was right out of a romantic comedy.

We had lots of fun, and I called it a night when my toes finally lost all feeling and threatened to abandon my feet altogether. Thanks to Matt and Kim (Provo friends now living in Alexandria) for sharing this double date with us!

Look at that face--he's still got it!

Christmas card 2010

If one of these little treasures didn't show up in your mailbox, then please accept this digital copy of our Christmas card. Love Seth, Leia, Max & Lucas

Baby Wolfley

We had a mini baby shower for Chelsea yesterday at Kimi's house. She's having a little boy in March. Sadly, her and Aaron are moving next week to Twentynine Palms, California. I've always known the day would come when everyone would start moving away, but I'm sad it's happening so soon. I guess that's what you get when you live next door to a marine base. Chelsea and Aaron are such a fun couple! They'll be missed.

Enough sad stuff... the shower was fun! I made two cute little onesies (forgot to take pictures of them). One had a tie on it, and another had a mustache... they turned out really well. And I tried my hand in fondant frosting for the cupcakes. It's pretty fun stuff. Kimi made the darling diaper cake, and as always we had delicious food and great company.

A Night in Bethlehem

Seth and I can't decide in what year Christ was born. 0 AD, 0 BC, 1 AD? I'm going to put my marbles in the 1 AD basket. Who wants to live in year zero?

On Saturday Seth and I were blessed to spend an evening dressed as Bethlehem-ites at our ward Christmas party. It was a beautiful event where everyone came dressed in "biblical attire" obeying the decree they received from Caesar Augustus to get their booty to Bethlehem and pay their taxes. Most everyone came dressed for success, but I ran a little time-warp dressing room and smothered anyone from the 21st century with a sheet around their body and a pillowcase over their head. The kids were the cutest in their little shepherd outfits.

While the people were easy to transform, the church gym was another story altogether. Luckily Seth and I were just worker bees on the project, leaving the actual planning, organizing, and stressing to people far more qualified. The end result was beautiful. A homemade stable of wood and hay served as the focal point of the production and housed the darling Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Tents adorned in rich fabric (i.e. more bedsheets) served as the street side shops serving era-appropriate food. And hundreds of Israel-ish props (baskets, lanterns, trunks, etc.) made it feel like it may have truly been Bethlehem (just squint your eyes so so can't see the basketball hoop).

Long story short, a lot of work went into this production. Seth and I happily spent the better part of last week at the church. Him helping to build the stable and city wall - manly stuff. Me packaging dreidels and hanging fabric - fluffy stuff. We had a great time being involved.

You know who wasn't involved? Ol' Kris Kringle. Don't get me wrong - I love that big red guy and think he does great work. However, it was nice to take a minute and turn the focus back to the real message of Christmas - the celebration of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He led a perfect life, teaching us the way in which we should live. His death and resurrection provided us with the Atonement, the ultimate gift, which enables us to receive eternal life and live with Jesus Christ, God, and our families again forever. I'm so grateful for that gift, and this season we have to celebrate and share it.

We hope the ward party was able to convey that message to all who came. I know it did for me. It's the primary kids that always get me. When they stood and sang (dressed in pillowcases and sheets mind you) I felt that stinging in my eyes that can only mean one thing - here come the tears. And they did.

Merry Christmas all! I hope you make some time in these next few weeks to consider the true message of Christmas.

Edit: According to Wikipedia, scholars put Jesus' birth sometime between 7-2 BC. Go figure.