Finishing Up the Month

 The day after Christmas Austin and were able to package and mail all our returns. Grandma B. came in the evening and rode the hover board.  She was awesome!

 Our nice friends invited us over for a day on their ranch.  We ate a BBQ lunch, rode horses, hiked the hills and soaked in the sunshine.  We are shocked someone other than family invited us for a meal and entertainment!

 Eddie was quite the inventor on Thursday.  He placed gum on his nose and cups on his head to become "Master Shifu" from his cartoon.  Then he made the face of Phineus with his Tegu blocks.  I suppose that he is watching too much TV if that is what his creative side looks like.  I'll just go with it and think he is cleverest 5 year old, because he is!

Christmas Day

Our morning was perfect.  All the children came up the stairs at once, and then the bigger children stood and watched the youngers see their stockings.

 Maddie only asked for this seven dollar animal -- all her dreams came true.

 Molly walked around and gleaned all the candy she could find.  She would eat the wrapper and all.

 Eddie was happy with a body crayon.

 Ryan liked his PJ Mask figurine.  (Ryan collected extra candy and chewed candy canes all month long.  He left them in his stocking for Santa.)

 Meg liked her Nike hoodie.

 Andy liked his portable speaker.

 Maisie liked her roller blades.

 Nick -- in the background liked his drone.

 Here we are for one family photo.

 Austin gave me a helmet and goggles for our upcoming annual ski trip.

 We used our gear to practice on the two new hover boards.

 I felt very safe.

 When Molly was napping, Austin and I slept as well.  The kids quietly watched a movie together.  It was peaceful and lovely.

 Then we headed five minutes down the road and hiked to the river for some rock throwing.  In the end, only Ryan and Molly had wet shoes; I consider that a win.

Then, we played games all afternoon, ate shrimp/steak tacos for dinner and watched a movie together.  We spent the day relaxed and together.  Our Christmas magic was palpable.  We do love each other.  We do love our Savior.  We feel blessed to have each other and have the gift of His life and atonement.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve fell on the Sabbath this year -- which was so lovely.  We spent the morning at church, listening to our local leaders testify of the life and mission of Jesus Christ.  Maddie sang in a trio along side the primary choir.  

 After church Austin and I prepared a lovely feast.  We all ate heartily and quietly spent time talking around the table.  Grandma and Grandpa B. told us all about Christmas in Kenya.

 After our weekly walk and family choir, we headed to their house for the evening.  We acted out the nativity story, ate delicious hot chocolate and cookies, and then watched a movie and opened the pillow cases Grandma made (with a little help).

Home again to unwrap jammies and get everyone settled in the basement in preparation for Santa to come.

Our entire day was reverent and meaningful.  We worshiped together, sang together, played, ate and prayed together.  That's the magic of family -- togetherness.  How blessed we are to have each other.

December 23rd

Molly was happy when I got home -- we had never been apart for 18 hours.  Poor little girl.

 Then, the afternoon was our annual Polar Bear Plunge; I actually participated this year. Our dear friends came to join in the fun and we ate lovely food afterward.

That evening Austin and I went grocery shopping and prepared what we needed to for the Sabbath.

December 22nd

Austin surprised the four of us with tickets to "Cinderella" in Phoenix.  We left our little Molly with the boys and headed to the theater.  This show was the best one I've seen (and I've seen shows in London), it was filled with twists and humor that was unexpected and delightful.  

We went to Subway for dinner (Maddie chose) and then we stayed in the hotel right across from the theater.  It was just so perfect; I sure love my girls.  Austin is a nice guy.

December 21st

I made bread for all the kids' teachers, then we sat by the tree and wrote them nice cards.  The afternoon was very low key and lovely.  (I did spend the morning finishing up the shopping.)

December 20th

Molly empties all my drawers and grins about it.

 Maddie and I did her book report and made her instruments.  Then we practiced her song at the church and completed visiting teaching.

December 19th

Projects: I made 17 nativities to give away this week as gifts to neighbors and friends.  I learned how to use the chop saw, belt sander, nail gun and staple gun.  I'm pretty handy.

 Then I made seven loaves of bread for Austin to take on visits.

 Molly and Ryan were very busy in the kitchen beside me.

 Our afternoon snack was banana and strawberry snowmen.  The kids were pretty happy with it.

Meg got her baby canines pulled by our nice doctor and chains put on by the orthodontist.