December 11-23, 2016
Emma woke up with what she calls evil eyes, again. For the millionth time since November. At first we thought she was getting pink eye. She went to the doctor, got eye drops, and it went away. Only to come back, again and again. We got stronger eye drops, we threw away make-up and cleaned goggles really well. But it kept coming back. We went to the opthamologist, he was stumped and just gave her stronger eye drops. Sigh. Poor thing. She missed a day of school at first, but then as it kept coming back she couldn’t miss more school. People at school would ask if she was on drugs. We have to figure this out!
The Light the World challenge that Sunday was to minister to children. Isaac asked me to watch him dunk his basketball, so I spent extra time with him watching and filming many a dunk.
Love that boy!
We also played a lot of games with the kids that day. I tried to focus on what they wanted to do more than usual.
It made for a fun day!
President Leptich and Ashley came over that night for cookies. The funniest evening ensued. Emma and Ashley were talking about how Zoo Lights would be a fun date. Pres. Leptich challenged them to make it happen by each of them asking a guy from the stake. He told them he would pay for the date if they would go out of their comfort zone and asked somebody they ddin’t know very well. There was so much giggling and screaming as the boys accepted the dates and as texts were flying back and forth. Hilarious and so much fun to watch. It resulted in a fun double date the next weekend at the zoo.
We were elves again this year at the Food & Toy Drive. We love this tradition. It’s fun to put together toy packages for kids. Isaac and Grace love to help, Emma was bummed to miss it this year. She was at the Grotto with the Leptich’s.
I got to help at Santa’s Workshop in Isaac and Grace’s class. They made all sorts of cute ornaments and projects. They have the best teacher!
We walked home after school in snow!!!
Everything was cancelled that night. There was no Cub Scouts, basketball practice or mutual. Isaac and Grace played outside until it was dark and then we watched a Christmas movie and drank hot chocolate. It was great.
The next two days were snow days from school so Christmas break started early! (Which was good and bad. I needed those last two days!) Emma took pictures in the snow and Isaac and Grace played with neighbor kids and built snowmen.
The next morning we found Eddie taking his own pictures.
On Friday night we ventured out of the house and made it to Vancouver for Adison’s birthday. Thankfully the main roads were fine by then, the side and neighborhood roads were pretty icy though. The kids were so happy to see each other. We had a good night with the Jensen’s!
Saturday was business as usual. Grace got to see her besties at the last basketball game of the season. We went to a pizza party with the team afterwards.
There was still enough ice left to play with.
Eddie was found roasting his own marshmallows on Sunday morning.
Lee and Emma went to the homecoming and farewell talks of the Parker boys in Molalla.
I spent time that Sunday trying to finish up the ice skate ornaments that MyLiege and I started several days before. I love doing hand work like that!
Grace and Isaac drew their versions of the Nativity. I loved them.
Grace was dying to have a Christmas playdate with Seoul and Emma. So we made it happen while Isaac was playing at the Crum’s house. They made chocolate peppermint cookies.
Then they made a Christmas ornament that Grace designed all by herself.
They turned out so cute. The Light the World challenge that day was to see the potential in others. I decided to really sit back and let Grace lead out in the creativity and execution of these ornaments. Sometimes I like to take over too much, but Grace and her friends have so much potential and it is fun to see them explore and learn. I love these girls, they are such good friends for Grace.
That same day I finally finished my own ornaments. I wasn’t sure I liked them when we first started making them, but I grew to like them.
I also made the jingle bell ornament this year. Our other new ones were the beautiful paper cut nativity ornament that I bought, and the shepherd spoon that Karan Price painted to go with the baby Jesus spoon from last year. I love new ornaments!
Isaac and Grace got to spend a day at the Hawkins’. They were living in an apartment while they were between houses so it was a new and exciting place. Isaac learned how to make chain mail with Djeryd.
While the girls read stories and crafted.
Then they stayed to watch a movie. We are so sad that the Hawkins have moved out of our ward, but at least they are still in Canby.
Eddie helped himself to some ice cream the next morning.
And Isaac and Grace wrote letters to Santa.
We had the missionaries over the next night for our traditional Christmas tree French toast. Lee’s schedule changed at the last minute and he couldn’t be there. So Djeryd came over and stepped in as our Priesthood holder. It was a fun night!
Lots of games were played and books read under the Christmas tree. I love this time of year and I love Christmas break!
Lee had the day before Christmas Eve off from work. We had a great day relaxing and putting together a puzzle.
We made a visit to Hope Village and ended up putting together a puzzle with the cutest residents. They were hilarious and so fun to talk to.
Isaac was especially brave and would strike up conversation with residents all by himself. We ended up visiting with Carolyn Schuetz at the end which is always a treat!
Isaac and Grace got a date with La La that night.
They made cookies to deliver and watched a Christmas movie.
The excitement for Christmas Eve the next day was thick! We were ready!
.JPG)