December Days

December is always filled with fun!  We started off the month with a neighborhood Christmas social!

Alex's school kickball team won the championship!  He was super excited to bring home his tiny trophy!

Alex also decided that it might be fun to hold on to the garage door as it opened up.  And while I can see how that might seem fun... he also learned that it causes major damage.  Luckily it was a fairly easy fix and didn't do permanent damage.

Alex helped me to "Light the World" by setting out water and snacks for all the delivery people who brought packages all month.

Lydia decided to pull out my flute and try to play.

Maybe one day she'll really play in the band like her brothers!  William and James had their winter concert for Middle School band.

The leaves finally fell off the trees at the park.  Henry and Lydia had so much fun one morning before school playing with all of them!

I finished reading the Book of Mormon to complete President Nelson's invitation to read it by the end of the year!

For the first time since we've lived here we finally took our kids to see the glittering lights at the speedway.

Susan, Curtis, and Lisa came for a few days because Kimmy Kipack was getting married here.  Lydia loved playing with Grandma and showing her all the toys she had.

We enjoyed our ward Christmas dinner!

Rich and I went to Kimmy's sealing and luncheon with Curtis and Lisa. We all had fun at Kimmy's reception.  Lydia especially loved dancing all night long.

For the Sunday before Christmas we surprised the girls with donuts, hot chocolate, and Christmas stories.  It was so much fun and the girls really liked it.

It was sad to say goodbye to Grandma, Grandpa, and Lisa!

Rich volunteered to tell Henry's class about Christmas in Russia.  He did a great job and the kids loved it!

I love when Lydia decides to take a nap!

Rich and I made salsa for his co-workers for Christmas!

I saw Santa at Target!

Lydia and Henry helped me to make Christmas goodies!

We went over to Floyd Lamb Park to visit with Santa.

We loved seeing the peacocks wander around, look at the different decorated trees, and even find some bunnies!

We read A Christmas Carol this year as a family and followed it up by watching The Muppet's Christmas Carol.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Lydia really needed a picture of us "matching".

Lydia is also really into making "soup".

The boys enjoyed sleeping by the tree.

We decorated graham cracker houses together.

Everyone enjoyed our Christmas Eve feast and nativity play.

And then it was finally Christmas morning!

We used some of our Christmas money to take everyone to Gravady and IHOP the day after Christmas.

We worked on the puzzle we got from Jacob!

In mid-December the Church made the announcement that beginning in January all boys turning 12 in 2019 could receive the priesthood in January and would be moving up to Deacons Quorum.  James hustled to finish up his Faith in God so that he could earn it before graduating from Primary.

We've started having an "appetizer dinner" on New Year's Eve and the kids love it! 

William went to his first church dance and Rich and I went to a neighborhood party at the Bishop's house.  Since we were just across the street the other kids stayed home and watched movies.  Happy New Year!