December Review

AKA:  The longest blog post ever! 

(I know it has to be because it's taken me several days to upload all the photos to blogger)

Our December was fun and crazy and exciting.  Rather than trying to post twenty different posts (because I'm that far behind on my blog), I thought I would just do a review of the majority of our December...

Ward Christmas Party where Lydia (middle row, second from the left) was one of the many angels in the nativity and Wyatt was a Shepard (but I never did get a picture of him..whoops!)

 Another Sunday morning picture in front of the tree (mostly to test out my new camera...and because it's fun taking pictures of these cute kids all dressed up!)

Dallin, getting excited for the festivities to begin at our family Christmas party

 and not so excited to see Santa Clause at the same party

 My kids getting ready for the cousin nativity.  It was Amy's turn to play Mary...the coveted role among all the girls.  I had been prepping her all week to the point where she was so excited to "get married!"  She got all dressed up and as soon as she realized she actually had to go out and perform for everyone, she backed out as fast as she could.  At least I got a picture of all three of them before she bailed.



Lydia and I made reindeer nose kits for all the cousins (another fun pinterest idea) and they used them while caroling.

 Wyatt added another "head" to his little collection.  The stuffed reindeer head was the gift I ended up with from our annual Christmas party's gag gift exchange.  Believe it or not, I actually stole that thing.  I knew it would make this kid happy and it didn't disappoint! (and sorry there are no pictures from our party.  I moved it to our local community room since we have outgrown it in our house and I forgot my camera.)

 

 I saw this other fun idea on pinterest for Santa pancakes and decided to be a fun mom and whip them out.  What you don't see is Greg off to the side eating his "normal" pancakes because we are "crazy".  Luckily, my kids like crazy!  They loved them and I was the favorite parent for the day ;)

We made a trip to my parents the Friday before Christmas where the kids were spoiled with gifts from Grandpa and Grandma.  I loved the bears my Grandma (paternal Grandmother) made for them out of an old chenille quilt that my Maternal Grandmother used to have on her bed.  Very fun keepsakes!

 And we FINALLY got to meet Baby Clara!!!  My sister and Brother-in-law were surprised when their little girl was born 2 weeks BEFORE Christmas instead of her due date after.  She is the most precious little thing and SO good!  I could have sat and held her all day and she makes me want another baby...except that my babies were NEVER that good.  Maybe Carrie and Jared would just let me have her???

 I'm so excited for this new little family!

Greg ended up getting sick with the flu that same night (the rest of us had been sick earlier in the week).  So while he stayed home (with Dallin, who was asleep by this point) and remained miserable and out of commission, my mom and I took the kids to the famous Christmas lights close to my parent's place.  The kids LOVED them!  I think it made up for us not ice skating the next day like we had planned.  Taking 4 kids ice skating by myself was not something I thought seemed fun.  Darn flu bug!

For Christmas Eve we made our way back to Greg's parents once Greg felt well enough to travel.  Normally it is a full house when his family gets together, but since all of the married couples except us were at Thanksgiving, we were the only married couple there for Christmas Eve.  We enjoyed a yummy dinner, listening to Lydia and Joelle play the piano, singing with the candles, and playing games...Wyatt especially loved the newspaper game!

And then we went home to get everyone to bed.  I was excited for the kids to wake up to this on Christmas morning...