Christmas 2014

We had a lovely Christmas. It all seems so long ago now (sigh)...but here are some of the highlights.

Our COUNTDOWN to CHRISTMAS is an advent that has us doing something "Christmasy" every day of December. It ranges from the scheduled things we would do anyway like Holiday Band Concert or Church Party to the more creative activities like Gingerbread Houses or a Grinch Party to the more mundane like Mom/Dad at Work Party -- Kids Watch Christmas Movie. Some days we miss and some days we double up, but it keeps the month of December memorable and fun for the kids.

We have little stockings hung up down the hall and each morning you can pull out the card inside and see what that day's Christmas Event is. It was a lot of work the first year, but really it is a matter of just rearranging it each year after.

On Christmas Adam (the day before Christmas Eve) tee!hee! the kids all sleep out by the Christmas Tree.

Christmas Eve morning we let the kids each open their sibling gifts (the gifts they were giving to each other). It was nice way to spread out the fun of gift giving.

This was funny. Mason wrapped his gift for Colby by putting a false bottom in the box. So it was "empty" when he opened it. It took some effort to get the false bottom out and see his gift inside. Tricky older brother!!!!

Christmas Eve we had Debbie's family over for our annual Nativity and Mexican Food dinner. I find it hard to believe that I didn't take any pictures...but I can't find any, so I guess that is the case. Sad. We had a lovely time and the Nativity was as wild as ever. Then we had a short music concert where the piano kids played their Christmas pieces.

 Christmas Eve it began to snow. And snow. And snow!!

We got about 8-10 inches in that storm. Fun!

The Christmas morning mayhem. 

It destroys the house...but man are they happy and entertained for a good long while.

We spent a few hours on Christmas Day shoveling the driveways of our neighbors and friends. The kids grumbled a bit (I'm not gonna lie) but it was good for them and all of us to spend part of the day in service. Our Christmas should be more about service...I'll have to remember that for next year's advent calendar...see how I can work that in.

December (Pre-Christmas)

The whole month of December is magical. It is full of traditions that help us get in the Spirit of the Season. Some are about the "true meaning of Christmas" and others are simply wonderful ways to spend time with family, eat yummy treats, and show our friends and neighbors that we love them. Either way, December is always a busy but memorable time of year.

 Decorating the tree is one of our first family Christmas Traditions each year. 

They have a door decorating contest at the middle school where I work. I am NOT creative like that, but one of my wonderful Aides asked if she could take it on. This is what she came up with. Isn't it amazing??? I wish you could see it in real life. It is 3-D and seems to be coming right off the door. She even put in a tap light that you could turn on. Unbelievable. Colby got his picture taken with it because he goes to my school and comes and helps me out in my classroom every morning for a half hour before school.

 Another tradition that we began when we moved to Idaho was a family 

Gingerbread Decorating Party (although we really use graham crackers instead). 

It has evolved and changed over the past 6 Christmases. 

This year we got really smart and the adults built all the houses first then let the kids decorate them. 

I just loved this picture of the adults during the Construction Phase.

Then we let the kids jump in and go candy crazy. 

Sadie told me, "I just try to get as much candy as I can. I even fill the inside full of candy." 

Lovely.

My kids and their masterpieces

Another Family Tradition we have is making Goody Plates for all of our neighbors and good friends. It is not an easy task, but we have so many helpers now that we really got it done pretty quickly. The finished plates were a visual and culinary masterpiece (ha!ha!) but they represented a lot of hard work and love. Of course having a large variety of treats to enjoy ourselves isn't a bad thing either :)

Sadie gave a presentation on Christmas in Argentina at school. It was very well done.

 Colby played a piano piece in his class Talent Show. He played Joy to the World. 

 Then a girl in his class asked him if he would accompany her while she sang Joy to the World. 

They hadn't practiced together at all and playing while someone is singing is a bit harder. 

But he did a great job and they pulled it off.

One last Pre-Christmas moment...each year we set up a train track around the Christmas tree. 

This year we expanded it to cover the whole front part of our living room. 

The kids and cousins had a great time playing with it all month. 

The little boys especially got a kick out of it.

Thanksgiving with the Galvez Family

This past Thanksgiving we had my sister Rachael's family up for the holiday weekend. As always we had a great time together. The kids get along so well and my sister is such a great help. Every time I turned my back she was sweeping or doing dishes (Thanks sis!). I wish I was as good of a house guest as she is!


The main event: The THANKSGIVING FEAST. Everything tasted divine!!!!

Eric smoked our turkey for us in his Kamado smoker. It was so moist and delicious. And the best part...I didn't have to do any of it :)

My sister has this adorable turkey kit that you poke into a pumpkin and use as a centerpiece each year. I love it!!! I need to make myself one.

We have this tradition of making name cards for Thanksgiving dinner. Renae used to be the Queen of the Name Cards (and her reign was often a Reign of Terror -- don't mess with her Name Cards) but Sadie has now taken over the throne. She and her cousin Tessia set to work and made these adorable creations. It was an idea that I got off Pinterest. They were harder than they look, so they only ended up making them for the kids, but that was okay. They were so cute and it kept them busy for a good long while!!

We had some amazing pies (thanks to Chef Eric) -- but I didn't get a picture. They were delish.


Later in the weekend we had a Crafting Party. This was part of Renae's Personal Progress Program for church. She had to make something for someone else or for her future home. She made a set of these adorable blocks for my younger sister for Christmas and helped me make my set too. Crafting is something that I enjoy doing as long as I have someone else there with me to hold my hand. Thanks ladies for a fun crafting project. I must admit that Renae has more natural crafting talent than her mother...just sayin'.

One more craft project...the kids made these yummy and adorable Oreo and candy turkeys. Aren't they fabulous?

ABOVE: What a "proper" candy turkey looks like (courtesy of Renae)
BELOW: What a "special" candy turkey looks like (courtesy of one of my 5th grade students)

Either way they had a great time and they taste delicious!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is all about my favorite things: FAMILY, FUN, and FOOD. 

November Tidbits

A few little things that aren't big enough for their own blog but still worth mentioning/showing:

 First snowfall...didn't come until November. Renae enjoying a cup of cocoa on the deck

 Colby and I at the Middle School Mother-Son Night. 

It was mostly a lot of Minute to Win-It Games that we competed in against each other.

 A fun night out with me and my son.

We had a Webelos Scout hike in mid November. It was freezing. Bone-chillingly cold. I think the temperature topped out at about 12 degrees that day. Not the kind of weather you want to spend hours outdoors hiking in...but we did it anyway. Surprisingly, we didn't die or get frost bite and the boys had a really fun time.

 As a wrap up to the Marching Band season they have a Parent's Night where they perform their show indoors for the parents and families to watch. It was a a great night. 

Colby (and Renae) competed in the BYU-Idaho Piano Festival.
Colby played two memorized pieces for a judge. 

It was a little scary (since it was his first time) but he did exceptionally well.

Renae is a bit anti-piano these days. Sigh. 

She went to the Festival and performed well, but refused to have her picture taken.