Christmas Fun

The weeks leading up to Christmas are so busy, but so fun!  The YW had a fancy progressive dinner.  They started at our house for appetizers and then moved on.  It was fun to have them in our home and Emma had a great night.  (The next night the RS had a progressive dinner and our house was also one of the stops. It was the perfect way to get my house totally decorated and clean!)

The nativities got lots of use.  Is there anything better than sitting by the lit Christmas tree?

We had the missionaries over for out traditional Christmas tree breakfast for dinner.  It’s so fun!

We put together a few puzzles during the Christmas season.

Lee and I went our monthly temple date.  I love the nativity in the reflecting pool.  Beautiful!

When school was out we did lots of Christmas crafting.  

Keeping Grace busy with crafts and projects is almost a full-time job!  

I loved how our nativity scenes turned out.  Even better, Grace was able to share with us some of the skills she learned in a watercolor class she had just finished.

We tried a few youtube drawing videos. 

And there was a lot of cutting and gluing. 

It was very apporpriate that Grace’s drawing was featured in the local newspaper.  All the 1st and 2nd graders get to write and draw about what they like best about Christmas.  The paper reprints what all the kids write, but only a few drawings are printed.  Grace was thrilled to see hers! 

My favorite project was one that Isaac and Grace worked on together. 

A Lego nativity.  It was on display until Christmas.  I loved it.

We sent letters to Santa to Santa Claus, Indiana and Isaac and Grace got letters back!

Oh they were excited!

I made lots of peppermint popcorn again this year.  That stuff is so darn good!

Yes, the days before Christmas ARE fun!

Lights at Aspen Meadows

December 21, 2015

A friend told me about a light display that we might like at a church in Molalla, so we decided to check it out for Family Home Evening.  She was right, it was great!

There were several areas that you could walk through.  They had an awesome Christmas village, there were religous areas as well as non-religious areas. 

The Stars Wars room was a hit with the kids.

There were several warming spots, which was good because it was cold!

There was even free hot chocolate and cookies.

Best of all we were reminded of the light of the world, our Savior Jesus Christ. 

How wonderful to celebrate that light as a family.

The Nutcracker with Grace

December 19, 2015

I surprised Grace the weekend before Christmas by taking her to see The Nutcracker.  It was just a local ballet school production, and it was a shortened version, but it was perfect for her.  She was so excited and loved it all.

Of course she had to take her own nutcracker. 

She talked to me and asked me questions through the whole thing.  Her excitement was contagious.  I love my Gracie Lu and I’m glad we had that night together.

Nativities and Food & Toy Drive

December 14, 2015

Our December schedule was packed, and we were sad that there was no way we were going to be able to fit in going to the nativity display at Milwaukie Stake Center that we usually go to.  Isaac and Grace hadn’t been in on that decision though, and one night they asked me when we were going to go.  I decided it was too important to miss, so I found a time when I could at least take them.  We went right after school one day, just the three of us. 

There were only a few other people there at that time so we were able to take our time and look at what we wanted to look at. 

It was beautiful as usual and the Christmas spirit was strong.

Isaac and Grace love to pick out their favorite nativities, and I like to look at all the different sets from around the world. 

The childrens room was cute and fun.

Grace even made her own darling nativity.

It was a huge bonus that the Sunderland’s showed up right then so the kids got to play together.

On the way out we stopped at the rest of the photo booths. 

What a great time with my twinners!  I love them and that they know the important part of Christmas.  We rushed home after that to meet Lee and Emma at the fairgrounds so we could volunteer at the Kiwanis Food & Toy Drive for Family Home Evening.  Another favorite Christmas activity.  The first job they gave us was to move all these empty boxes to where they were loading the food.

The kids liked pulling those carts!

Once that job was done we headed up to the toy area, which was where all three kids really wanted to be.  They love to choose toys to go together for kids who need them.

Cute little elves!

Emma had come straight from school, swim team and piano lessons.  Whew.  She’s a trooper.  She also wanted to take this toy home with her…

What a good Monday it was!