Where has December gone?
I feel like the last few months have been a whirlwind of nonstop events, just trying to make it through what's currently going on so I can get on to the next.
I need to work on slowing down & enjoying things while they are happening, but this time of year is just insane.
The above pic is from our ward Christmas party which seems like yesterday but it was the first Saturday of the month, I think.
We had the fun photo booth, dinner, & a musical program entitled 'Rejoice' with numbers about the Savior's life. I love this time of year when we take time to reflect on the miracle of His birth. I always think about Mary & what kind of emotions she must have had knowing the fate of the little babe she brought into the world.
I am grateful she had the strength to do it.
(Fun Fact: I actually know the girl who modeled as Mary in this painting, 'Kissing The Face Of God' by Morgan Weistling, I was her Visiting Teacher when we lived in Emmett)
Since I helped with Kamden's Halloween party I helped with Ethan's Christmas party, but here are some pictures from Kamden's that one of the mom's emailed:
He looks a bit like the Grinch, though...
We also attended his 2nd grade music assembly on the 18th where everyone did a great job!
We took the boys to see Santa & Mrs.Claus at the beginning of the month, & although they've been asking for just about anything & everything they can think of, when it was their turn to tell Santa what they wanted, they were all speechless.
We have watched just about every Christmas movie ever made at least once, Home Alone seems to be a favorite with The Grinch a close second...or maybe it's too close to call & it's a tie.
I've been the Mia Maid adviser for about a month now since the ward split right before Thanksgiving & Jeff is the High Priest Group Leader, which we're still getting used to. But he has some great advisers & we are both excited to serve.
We had a great time celebrating at my parents' house on the 22nd. The day was full of games & prizes, a White Elephant Gift Exchange where my younger brother, Ryan, & his wife, Charly, announced that they are expecting in July!
We are SO excited for them!
There was also plenty of food & a visit from a very familiar Santa...
On Christmas Eve my parents & younger brother, Jeffrey, came over & we had pizza before going to drive around & look at Christmas lights. We found some pretty amazing houses & there was one that cars were lined up 3 rows deep just to watch. Ryan & Charly came over for a bit & we watched movies & put the boys to bed so that Santa could prepare for his arrival.
The next morning the boys waited patiently for everyone to wake up & get out of bed before rushing out to the tree. Apparently they each managed to avoid the Naughty List & found gifts waiting for them. Ethan was so funny digging through his stocking, he would pull each item out before turning toward me & holding it up for me to take a picture, without me even telling him to. So we now have a photographic timeline of Ethan opening his Christmas Stocking :)
Kamden got right to work using the new paints & art easel Santa left for him...I'm not sure what Santa was thinking giving paint, as we've had it on everything from jammies, carpet, & walls, but at least it's washable & cleans up easily.
Ethan was excited to receive more games for his DS...
& Owen couldn't wait to free Thor from his plastic entrapment...
I made the mistake of not putting the boys' names on some of their gifts, thinking I would remember who's belonged to who...but I accidentally gave Owen's long-awaited Hulk to Ethan to open, so we didn't get to see the look on Owen's face when he opened what he's been asking, begging, & crying for...
But he was still pretty thrilled to have his very own "Hulk Smash!"
Way before Christmas the boys were asking for Ninjago Lego sets but I wasn't sure if we were going to get them or not, so I put it on my idea list & went on with life. A few weeks before, after hearing nonstop about how much they wanted them, I started looking & found them at a few stores for under $20 a set. Then when I decided to go ahead & get them, they were nowhere to be found! Even Lego.com was sold out & they were going on ebay for about $50. I couldn't justify spending $30+ what they were originally & I was kicking myself for not getting them when I should have.
Then, one day, after I had given up hope & gently explained to Ethan that the desired Jay's Storm Fighter was unavailable, I ran to WalMart for a few things & thought I would just look.
It was a Christmas miracle, I tell you.
There, on the shelf before me were each of the 3 different sets that each boy had requested...all at their regular price of around $20!
It took every ounce of self restraint not to buy them out & sell the extra sets on ebay for a pretty penny.
But Ethan's face when he made that first tear in the wrapping paper & realized what it was, that would've been worth the nail-biting bidding wars on ebay if it had come to that.
Here they are with their mouths full of candy, their new Christmas jammies, & the much anticipated Lego sets that took myself, Jeff, & my brother a good 45 minutes + to build...which are now in pieces strung throughout the house...
We had a wonderful Christmas dinner that afternoon & also had Ethan's Birthday cake for dessert later that evening. He decided that since everyone was already here, we might as well have it then instead of making everyone come back 2 days later...he may have had some persuading from his mother on that decision, but we are going to have a fun-filled day tomorrow celebrating.
I can NOT believe that my little Ethan is 8 years old!
He wanted a Harry Potter cake & this is what I came up with, though I had a different vision in my head...I bought a box of fondant that said it had 4 different colors but when I got it home & opened it up there were 2 packages of brown & 2 of black. I wasn't about to make another trip to the store, so we made it work.
He wanted a Harry Potter cake & this is what I came up with, though I had a different vision in my head...I bought a box of fondant that said it had 4 different colors but when I got it home & opened it up there were 2 packages of brown & 2 of black. I wasn't about to make another trip to the store, so we made it work.
December has been jam packed full of family gatherings & celebrations & we are looking forward to the New Year.
Amongst all of the previously listed goings-on, I somehow managed to turn 30 though I might not admit it if you ask me. My parents were kind enough to have the boys for the weekend while Jeff & I went to dinner & a movie, then he surprised me with his omlett making skills before we set out to finish our Christmas shopping & go to lunch. He took me to each and every store my heart desired, browsing & meandering through the aisles & sometimes he even carried my purse & didn't complain once! I've been waiting & waiting to see Les Mis & since it didn't come out until Christmas Day, he even arranged for Wade (THANKS!) to watch the boys while we went today.
And that's our December, so far.
