Our month, in order of occurrence. The first Sunday of the month, we went up to Plain City for Missy's baby's blessing. Allison was born in October and blessed in December. We went to my mom's the night before and slept over since it was an early meeting on Sunday.
For some reason I didn't get any pictures of little Alli but I got one of baby Brooklyn, Michelle's baby.
We went to The Peppermint Place in American Fork for Family Night on Dec. 8th. It was FREEZING cold and we had to stand outside in a line to see Santa. At least he was a super nice Santa and gave us all peppermint sticks after. We also bought some cute Christmas suckers that could be decorated and made them a few days later. This is Daddy and Dallin while waiting in line.
Ella's Kindergarten Christmas Concert was on Dec. 9th in the evening. It was so crowded in the gym. Every living relative of every child was there. Or so it seemed. Ella was feeling sick and it shows in these pictures but she wanted to go and couldn't miss it.
I cut Ella's hair on the 12th. It was getting harder to brush with it so long and thick. These are before and after pictures minus the after.
I got released from my calling in the Relief Society activities committee, "additional meetings" group and called to be Primary Secretary. That was a big surprise to me. I didn't know they would be releasing the other presidency, much less have me put into the new one. I said to the Bishop, in my appointment, "you do know I'm having a baby in a month, right?" They'll have to manage for a bit without me at the beginning." Obvious, I accepted. Doing that has brought more stress and scheduling challenges but we're working it out- little by little.
This is from our ward's Christmas party this year. They had one of our ward members, Chase A. take them and he did such a good job! I wish I was good with lighting like this.
When we came home we found the kids doing this in their room. They are reindeer pulling the laundry basket-sleigh.
I decided to make some treats for the kids to take to school and share with their school friends. I found some cute reindeers that have a hole for a sucker. I found the idea and pinned this but I was trying to be more economical and have 4 reindeer per page and I didn't care if it was front and back, although that's very cute. I had too many to make to do that. So, I drew up a reindeer and cut and pasted to make 4 to a page and made a layout. It's not perfect but it worked for me. If you find this and are interested in the same, here it is.
I printed on green cardstock and cut them out. All 55+ of them. Then I had the girls each write on the back "From" and their name. They wanted to write each classmates name but I was trying to make it easier on the teacher by just being able to pass them out instead of matching name to kid. They got busy with that and taping the suckers to the back. I didn't know where to find red suckers in bulk instead of picking all the red from an assortment but I did come across some red and green Christmas suckers at the dollar store and taped the mostly red side to show. I think they turned out pretty cute.
We spent an afternoon decorating gingerbread cookies. I made the cookies the night before so that they were nice and cool and the kids didn't have to wait for that and could get started on it. I have to minimize tasks since they are better at focusing on one thing. Especially Ashton but the girls too.
We decorated houses too. They are not gingerbread houses, instead they are graham cracker houses but they are fun. Again, I have to do some preparations for them. I made frosting and made some of it green, I cut all the angles of the crackers and "glued" them together with the frosting. I let them sit and get harder so they would be firm for decorating. I have made the mistake of trying to decorate right away. This way is much better.
I wanted to give something to the girls teachers for Christmas but make it simple, too. I came up with a little saying that could go with clementines and put it together. I had to do 3 since Livvy has 2 teachers for dual-immersion. Ella has dual immersion too but one teacher for both languages since she is in half-day Kindergarten.
I, being a part of the PTA (sort of), received an email about a family in need that attends the kids school. I am sure there are many but this particular one was passing through a lot. I was reading the email, about the mother who had grown up in Colorado and had been involved in the Columbine tragedy and trying to keep a teacher alive till medical help arrived. Their oldest boy is in 2nd grade and daughter in Kindergarten. I realized while reading the email that I knew the family. Their kids are in my kids classes and we are in the same Stake, meeting at the same building. Olivia's been to there house a couple times for play-dates and I really like Tami. Their youngest is Dallin's age and was born with a heart defect and has had several surgeries and they are still paying the bills. They recently learned of the dad, Eric's brain tumor and he has recently had it removed and has upcoming chemo and radiation treatments and the bills will start coming for all that. What the email didn't say but should be obvious is that he can't possibly work through all of this and he is the provider for the family. I just wanted to cry upon reading it. I have been thinking of them off and on ever since and have cried over their situation a few times- learning that his cancer is stage 4 and putting myself in their situation of having to tell your kids that their dad will die. They are in our situation of life. They have only 3 kids but all 3 are the ages of ours and they have wanted more, she admitted to me.
I forwarded the email to Hyrum and a few days later he called and told me that he submitted them to a radio seasonal contest. They were gifting in different ways to individuals who needed the help. He got called by the radio official saying the family had been chosen and they wanted some more details from him. It was the best news ever! I was on cloud 9 with the news. We arranged the time to meet, the where and learned what they were planning to do for them. Santa Claus was coming and the radio personalities were going to do a LIVE airing of the surprise to the family. They were being gifted a trip to Disneyland.
We found out we were not the only ones to submit them to the station and were touched by others who also cared for their welfare. Many arrived the day to surprise.
Dec. 19th. We all gathered at the local park, a few blocks from their house. It was a burning cold morning. We had Livvy go to school late so she could surprise Malachi too. And Ella was able to see Julianne there, even among the crowd.
This is right before getting to their door.
And being let it and after doing a cute surprise Disneyland thing. This is the back of Tami and her youngest little guy, with Julianne with her hands in her mouth. It was pajama day at school so all our kids were still in pj's.
There were a lot of tears and screaming. It was so cool to be there.
And I'll just insert this pic of the munchicins during bath time. We've had all 4 in the tub together but this makes for more room to move.
