Christmas Preview

True to form, December was a CRAZY busy month!  Here's what we have been up too:


Christmas sing at school:

Dance performance at the old folks home:

New Christmas skirts:

Dance performance at the church Christmas party:

More handmade Christmas ornaments (ooooo....I love making these!!!):

Going to the Nutcracker with Georgia's preschool:

Annie's reader theater at school (she did Stella - Queen of the snow and she was the narrator):

Luckily, Abby and Carter were able to come and watch Annie:

Skiing at Brighton with a favorite cousin:

My first time skiing in TEN years (as in before I had children)!!!  Thankfully, it is just like riding a bike!

Georgia in ski school:

My extended family on Christmas Eve (all the kids gathered for a game):

Christmas Eve pinata:

Me, Callie, Aunt Jane and Jenny

I don't have a picture, but I went on an eight mile run with a favorite running bud.  When we started, my driveway only had a few rain drops.  By the time we finished, my rain jacket was soaked and I had a few inches of snow on my hat.  It was absolutely majestic!  Fresh snow tracks and great catch-up conversation.  It was a wonderful way to start my day!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  I can't even begin to express what a wonderful day it has been!  First, we had a massive snow storm yesterday.  Can't beat a white Christmas!  Second, I got to spend the WHOLE day with my little family.  And everyone has been happy!!

It began with our mandated picture on the stairs:

Abby opening gifts:

Annie opening gifts:

Peachy opening gifts:

Carter opening gifts:

Carter testing out his new pogo stick:

Annie testing out her new skip rope:

Almost 1000 Lego pieces put together this morning:

Utah Food Bank

Did you know that you have to call for a reservation almost ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE to be a volunteer at the Utah Food Bank during the holidays?

Yep....for real.

So December 2011 I called to make a reservation to be a volunteer for December 2012.

And it was well worth the wait!

First they had us decorate food boxes.  Who wouldn't want a festive looking box full of food?

Then we went to food sorting.  When you donate food to the Food Bank, it is just put into a very LARGE box (see picture below).  The food needs to be sorted into various categories (i.e. cereal, soup, meats, etc).  So we took food from the BIG and sorted it into little boxes.  If we were a really great family, we would have burst into song while doing our service.  But we aren't THAT great!!

Carter had to climb into the BIG box because we couldn't reach!  Thanks for taking one for the team Carter!

After the food is sorted it is brought to various Food Pantries throughout the state.

We headed to lunch after our 1.5 hours of service.  Refueling was much needed!

Though we had a great experience, I still don't think we understand HOW much we have been blessed.

After School Fun

When it snows, my kids always ask me to go sledding at a local park.  Usually this park is busy and the snow is gone by the time we think about going.

But yesterday, my mom mojo was ON and I surprised my kids by an after-school sledding fiesta.  It had stopped snowing and the park was not crowded.

We had SO much fun and I wish the pictures would capture the accompanying squeals!!  (Well...my iphone doesn't even take great pictures so capturing squeals is totally out).

Thanks kids for an awesome afternoon!

Tag-A-Long

As I was reading one of my favorite sewing blogs, I noticed she was doing a "tag-a-long".  Use her template but customize the Christmas tag to your style.  I was so smitten by these darling tags, I know I had to make a few.

(I really do need to figure out how to take nice pictures....but until then, enjoy these bad ones.....)

Friday #2/Plunking Out Tunes

Our second Friday Christmas Countdown looked like this:

"Put on your new Christmas jammies, grab a cup of hot chocolate and let's watch Charlie Brown's Christmas movie".  Super awesome!

The big kids started piano lessons at the beginning of the school year from their VERY favorite babysitter (let me clarify...she use to be their sitter, now she is married and expecting a baby soon).

They had their FIRST piano recital this week.  I was REALLY nervous that we couldn't memorize our Christmas songs on time.  The songs were much harder than our normal theory songs, so I was a bit worried.  But they did a wonderful job!!!  Except Annie was at home puking her guts out.  She didn't go, but put on her own recital at home for the family.

The Day After

The day after Turkey day, we put up our Christmas tree.  Quite to my surprise (and delight), the big kids were VERY helpful.  In years past, their "help" was very disastrous and tree decorating was stressful.  But not this year!  We put our tree in our new basement, turned on some tunes and had a wonderful afternoon.

This year the kids received a basket of presents.  I knew couldn't be dedicated (or creative) enough to do a 25 days till Christmas....so we are doing "every Friday till Christmas".  The kids get to open a gift on every Friday night until Christmas.

Our first Friday present was new Christmas jammies (that way they get to wear them all Christmas season).

Don't we look excited???

On Saturday, we headed up to Brighton Ski Resort.  Tim and the big kids headed up the mountain first thing in the morning.  Georgia and I went right before lunch.  I didn't ski on this first time up the mountain.  Instead I was "ski support".  I brought lunch, held mittens, took kids potty and took pictures.  We knew Georgia wouldn't last all day, so we left after she did a few runs.

We made our traditional stop at 7-11 and got Slurpees on the way home.  Everyone slept well that night!!