{Fun @ Soldier Hollow}

We went sledding to Soldier Hollow this week. We had a blast! It was a beautiful day! I highly recomend going. It was fun for ages 3 and up. You could go down the hill by yourself or in a big group of taggled tubes. It is $18 a person, but you get your money's worth! We really enjoyed it & are planning to go back next year!

{ChRiStMaS EvE & DaY}

We spent Christmas Eve at the Frischknecht's this year. This was our fourth Christmas together...but our first Christmas as Mr. & Mrs.! Here we are posing infront of Jon's mom's tree. I love this tree she puts it up every year!

Each year, the grandkids (A.K.A "the cousins") perform the Christmas Story for us. It is always narrated beautifully, complete with audience song participation, programs & costumes!

Above: (LEFT)The program, (MIDDLE)The narrators & the angels, (RIGHT)Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus

The wise men

Left:This is just half the group that was over at the Frischknecht's on Christmas Eve! There are about 14 people who are not in the picture! The whole family was home for Christmas! It was so fun to have the Hunt's here from California! Right:Here are some of the kids on Christmas Morning. We got up at 7:00. It has been a while since I've been up before 10:00 on Christmas morning! It was so fun to see all the kids open their presents from Santa.

Then we went over to my sister's house. We spent the rest of the day there with my side of the family. We ate lots of good food, played games & opened more presents.

Left: Jon with a new sign for his office. Right: Dyl & Jon playing with Dylan's new Batman Lego x-box 360 game.

Dylan & Gavyn wanted to get their dad a new nerf dart gun! This thing is taller than Dylan & is super fun!

Here is Goober with the only thing he wanted from Santa; The Flash!

And his present from Aunt Mandy; George! He kept hugging it and saying "I love dis monkey."

My mom (cort & myself) made Brandon a Quilt out of his old Army uniforms. It turned out really cool!

We all put together a ton of pictures & gave my mom a digital frame. (great idea Brand!) She loved it!

{C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Sing}

Christmas is getting so close! It's hard to believe! However, if you surround yourself with elementary aged kids you will feel it!!! My students are crazy, hyper & can't wait for the big day!

Each year we have a "sing around" assembly. Every grade gets to sing one or two songs for the school. The first graders always sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" & "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Jingle Bells." (It's a cute song a former teacher made up to the tune of Jingle Bells! I love it because it teaches them how to spell Christmas. The chorus goes like this: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is here. That's how we spell Christmas it's the best time of the year. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is here. Oh the fun that we will have with all our friends so dear).

We make these cute Rudolph hats & sing for the school, then for the parents later in the day. They were cute & we had a fun day! They all spoiled me with "Teacher, your the best in the whole world" notes & gifts, etc. I honestly am so lucky to teach where I do!

We also had a very special guest apperance by the big man himself! The kids got to sing for Santa & then ask him questions. They were adorable! My favorite questions for Santa were:

How do you deliver presents all over the world?, What's your favorite color? (this is a first graders greatest inquiry of anyone they meet!), Where do elves come from?, How do you get in the house if it doesn't have a chimney?, & How did you get here today?

I was rather impressed with their Q&A session this year! Our Santa that comes is darling & he had great answers to each of their questions. Then we let the kids line up & get a candy cane from Santa as they left. Most of them gave him a hug, or tried to sneak in one more quesiton...it was precious. I love my job!

{Family Tradition with the Frischknecht's}

Every year the Frischknecht's go up to Salt Lake City to Temple Square. We eat dinner, walk around, look at the lights, enjoy each others company and then we sleep over at the Marriot Hotel. The grandkids all love to play with grandpa & especially enjoy swimming in December! We had so much fun as usual!

{& the award goes to...}

On Wednesday night the Frischknecht family attended a program/dinner at Thanksgiving Point to see Jon's dad receive an award. He was nominated by many fellow doctors in Utah County to receive the "Doctor of the Year"award. Three men spoke about John & shared their thoughts of why they nominated him & why he was so deserving of this award! I honestly can say that a day hardly ever goes by that I don't meet someone who hears my last name & has a connection to someone close to them that John has either prolonged, saved &/or changed their life! He is truly an amazing man, father, & doctor! Congratulations!

We are all so proud of all your years of service, dedication, & hardwork!

{Flour Face}

I've been waiting for an excuse to try this delicious sugar cookie recipie that I got from one of my "room mom's" last year. I volunteered to make it & bring it on Thanksgiving so we could make & decorate Christmas cookies after we ate. Dylan & Goober (a.k.a Gayvn) we so excited to make them!

It all started out normally, we were rolling out the dough, cutting out the fun shapes, putting them on the pan...

By the second or third time we spread the flour out on the counter our hands were covered. Goober itched his face & got flour all over his cheek. I started laughing & gave him a little more flour on his other cheek. He laughed as he realized what I had done...

But I wasn't ready for this! In a matter of seconds he dipped his hands back into the flour & came at me with both hands! Dyl quickly joined in! Those boys are so dang cute!

After we cleaned up, & our cookies cooled off, we decorated them. They turned out so cute!