Thursday, January 4, 2018

December


Here's my first attempt at jumping back in here and recording more of our family memories this year. :) Some December highlights -->


+ I got to help out with the middle school PTA fundraiser, selling candy and soda at lunch time. Goodness there are a lot of kids at Landon's school! 

+ I always look forward to our neighborhood's Ladies Night Christmas party, and feel grateful for good friends. 

+ We had book group at our house, and read "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" - probably one of my favorite books this year. 

+ April came for a quick visit which we always love (and joined us for our ward Christmas party too). And she watched the kids so Jordan and I could go on a fun date - out to lunch at Elements, and book/piano music/stocking stuffer shopping at the Book Table. 

Cookie party with April
+ We had a fun little visit from my Dad and Shauna.

+ Jordan and I kept making progress on figuring out how to make Lego Robotics work. A good friend offered to watch Porter and Isaac during that time and that made a world of difference! :)

+ Landon performed in his first band concert on the trombone.

+ I took Landon and Owen to our first Aggie Basketball game (and it was so fun I hope we can make it a more frequent tradition)

+ The kids (Landon, Ellie, Owen) performed in a neighborhood music recital with friends.


+ Jordan and I went to the temple

+ I got to go to school with Owen for an entire day. It was such a delight to see all the good things his teachers are doing, and to see all the little routines and activities Owen does each day. 

+ Ellie and Owen sang and danced in the Hillcrest Christmas concert

+ Fun preschool time 

"Sense of smell" day
+ Landon, Ellie, Owen and Porter all got to be a part of the live nativity our Stake presents each year. It was a great experience.
Landon as Joseph and Owen as a wiseman (with donkey and camel in the background!)

Porter and Ellie with others as angels

+ Landon and I sang with our ward choir for Christmas Eve, and we had a great Sacrament meeting with lovely music and touching thoughts shared. 

+ Baking pizzelles for neighbors and friends (and more fun baking/cooking too).
Making Chex Mix
+ We had someone come and paint our house - hooray! (We realized after we'd committed, that there was a reason the painter was available the weeks before/after Christmas -- maybe not the most ideal time to have our house all taken apart/rearranged! :) We're still working on getting everything put back together again :)

+ Playing in the snow


+ Christmas Break fun -- playing games, Breakfast at Angies and Kneaders, Lego robotics (+ putting together our own new robot), Wii, (a stomach bug for most of us, not so fun), making New Year goals and plans, Playing basketball/rc cars at the church, sledding, Yogurtland, setting up our trampoline in the guest room,etc. :)


+ Celebrating Christmas with our own little family.


We don't do Santa, but I thought this was so funny :)

+ A New Year's Eve celebration with snacks/games/Brazil fireworks/9:00 bedtime :)