Holiday Fun!

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are filled with so much fun!

Puzzles
We always work on a puzzle between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year we did one of the Grand Canyon, since we took a family vacation there over spring break. Bailey did most of this one herself. Once she gets going, it's like a major addiction for her. She gets mad when we send her to bed :)!

The Grand Canyon puzzle was only 500 pieces, instead of the 1000 pieces we usually do. The kids didn't like that, so we had to do another one.

We LOVE our puzzle tradition!

Elk Creek Apartment Performance
Bailey got to perform with a few other guitar players at the Elk Creek Apartments. She played for people in their 'golden' years. It was a really cool experience for her. She loves old people. There was a sweet little lady sitting right across from us. She would clap and sing along with the upbeat songs, and then get emotional and cry during some of them. I'm grateful that Bailey is willing to use her talent to bless people's lives.

Decorating the Tree
After we decorated the tree, I wanted a cute picture of the kids in front of it. They were full of it that night, and refused to be even a little normal in the pictures. So, I decided to post these anyways, so everybody can see how nerdy they are :)!

Another one of our traditions, is that the kids get a new ornament to go on the tree each year. Something that represents them. I ordered them both 'running' ornaments this year. Bailey's said, "I know I run like a girl. Try to keep up." Sawyer's said, "My sport is your sports punishment." I LOVED them!

Eastview Ward Christmas Party
Mark was in charge of our ward Christmas party this year. It was a VERY stressful time for him. He had just been called into the bishopric, plus he still had his other calling until Stake Conference. Things were really busy for him at work, and there was just the usual "stuff" that Christmas brings. Although it stressed him out, he still did a great job. We had a party centered around service. We had a canned food drive for the food bank, which ended up being a huge success. We had a humanitarian drive for the Haven, and ended up with over 300 items to donate. We also had an Angel Tree. Our ward is so awesome. The members adopted over 50 names, and provided Christmas for them.

After the brunch, we had a short program. Mark recruited Bailey to play and sing at the last minute. She's getting a lot more comfortable on stage, and is actually enjoying performing now. We weren't sure that would ever happen! She played a couple songs, and did a great job.

The kids got to write letters to Santa. On the bottom was a place for them to write a Christmas wish for someone else. We wanted them to feel the spirit of service too. Santa came to collect their letters, and he read the kids a Christmas story about service. I love our ward!

Falls Valley Christmas Program
This was Bailey's last year to preform in the Falls Valley Christmas Program. It seems crazy that our whole elementary school experience is almost over. Falls Valley has been a huge part of our lives for the past 11 years! I'm glad Bailey's making the most of her last year there.

Hannah, Bailey, and Annie

Bailey and Annie

Favorite Things Party
Each year I do a Christmas party with my friends in the Sandcreek Ward. I always look forward to it, because now that I'm not in the same ward as them, I don't see them as much as I used to. This year we changed it up a little, and did a 'Favorite Things' party. It was so much fun! Each lady brought a small gift for everyone, that represented their favorite things. Everyones gifts were so fun and creative.

Here is all of our favorite things.

Amy read us a poem as part of her favorite thing. We laughed so hard! I had to put it on here. It's long, but totally worth the read.

See Mother, Funny Funny Mother
See Mother. See Mother laugh. Mother is happy.
Mother is happy about Christmas.
Mother has many plans. Mother has many plans for Christmas.
Mother is organized. Mother smiles all the time.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother smile. Mother is happy.
The shopping is all done. See the children watch TV.
Watch, children watch.
See the children change their minds.
See them ask for different toys.
Look, look, Mother is not smiling.
Funny, funny Mother.

See Mother. See Mother sew.
Mother will make dresses.
Mother will make robes.
Mother will make shirts.

See Mother put the zipper in wrong.
See Mother sew the dress on the wrong side.
See Mother cut the skirt too short.
See Mother put the material away until January.
Look. Look. See Mother take a tranquilizer.
Funny, funny Mother.

See Mother. See Mother buy raisins and nuts.
See Mother buy candied pineapple and powdered sugar.
See Mother buy flour, and dates, and pecans, and brown sugar, and bananas, and spices, and vanilla.
Look. Look. Mother is mixing everything together.
See the children press out cookies.
See the flour on their elbows.
See the cookies burn. See the cake fall.
See the children pull taffy. See mother pull her hair.
See mother clean the kitchen with the garden hose.
Funny, funny Mother.

See Mother. See Mother wrap presents. See Mother look for the end on the scotch tape roll. See Mother bite her finger nails. See Mother go.
See Mother go to the store 12 times in one hour.
Go Mother go. See Mother go faster. Run Mother run.
See Mother trim the tree.
See Mother have a party.
See Mother make popcorn.
See Mother wash the walls.
See Mother scrub the rug.
See Mother tear up the organized plan.
See Mother forget gift for Uncle Harold.
See Mother get hives.
Go Mother go. See the far away look in Mother's eyes.
Mother has become disorganized. Mother has become disoriented.
Funny, funny Mother.

It is finally Christmas morning. See the happy family.
See Father smile. Father is happy.
Smile Father smile.
Father loves fruit cake.
Father loves Christmas pudding.
Father loves all the new neckties.
Look, look. See the happy children. See the children's toys.
Santa was very good to the children.
The children will remember this Christmas.

See Mother. Mother is slumped in a chair.
Mother is crying uncontrollably.
Mother does not look well.
Mother has ugly dark circles under her blood shot eyes.
Everyone helps mother to her bed.
See Mother sleep quietly under heavy sedation.
See Mother smile.
Funny, funny Mother.


Christmas Guitar Recital
Bailey had her Christmas Guitar Recital. She played Sweet Mary Cries. She did a great job. I filmed all of her performances, but I didn't post them, because she did all the same songs as the Festival of Trees, and I posted all of those recordings.

Bailey and Seth