Christmas Is Coming

 Scarlet was an awesome little giver this Christmas. She wrapped all the ornaments for Ezra's Joy School tree and made sure he had one on his tray each morning. She also made these seashell hair pins for her favorite peeps.

 Sunday morning family history homework from Aunty Linda.

 I wood burned spoons to go with homemade chocolate sauce for our neighbors and home and visiting teaching friends. It was a fun project.

 A family in our neighborhood turns their yard into a Christmas lights wonderland, complete with blasting Christmas carols. They even leave a poster on the mailbox inviting the neighborhood to drive in and enjoy. So awesome.

Scarlet got to go with Grammy and Belly to their ward Christmas party. Grammy is so pretty!

 Jane is loving her Christmas booties from her friend Ava.

Scarlet took time to really teach Hazel and Ezra the Christmas story. She did such a lovely job. They prepared a FHE to share too. However, I did overhear Ezra saying something about an angel flying down and teaching a camel the gospel?? Also, we may need to clarify that it's Santa rather than Jesus who comes down the chimney and eats the cookies and milk. Other than that, Scarlet really did do a lovely job.

 Found this beauty at the Value Village- Merry Christmas to me.

 What will I do without a little to make a sensory bin for someday.

 Christmas pomanders. They smell delightful.

 We had a beautiful Christmas at Grammy and Baba's. We arrived on Saturday and had our annual Christmas concert. Jacob was in charge this year and did a terrific job organizing it. Then we slept over and went to church together. The next day the rest of the fam showed up and we had fun playing games and eating lots and lots and lots of gooooood food. We acted out the Nativity which is always interesting... no beaver costume this year but baba joined in as a wise man so that was a treat. We slept over for another night and had Christmas morning. Then we hung around and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon before shrimp and steak dinner!! So 

 The big surprise this year was a new pug puppy for Baba. He was so surprised!

 Grammy and Baba brought these real china dolls all the way home from their trip to Europe. All the little girls loved their special new doll.

 I love reading books by the tree.

 This was our Christmas back at our house. The kids opened their new extra warm socks before they went skating on Christmas eve.

The kids all gave the gifts they had for each other on Christmas eve too. It was exciting to finally give them since it's pretty tough waiting that long for these littles. They all worked really hard to have something for each one of their siblings. Lots of creative ideas I never would have thought of!

Christmas Klootcheh cookies and milk before bed. They all slept together in Charlie's room. I thought they'd never go to sleep...

Winter Wonderland

The boys have been loving their B-ball games this year. It's their first year but they caught on so fast. Tim and I are super fans- we get such a kick out of watching them. I never knew how thrilling an Elementary ball game could be.

 Timmy and the kids sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives in Sacrament meeting.

 I've been enjoying putting out winter and Christmas books on display around the house this year.

 As a family, we've decided to make the Sabbath day more distinct from the rest of the days of the week. It definitely takes some planning. We try and prepare for it on Saturday by cleaning and getting meals organized. We made a family list of good Sunday activities like playing boardgames, writing in journals, bring treats to neighbors, family history, etc. I have one of the younger kids put out this church display on the kitchen table before they go to bed on Saturday. When they see it in the morning, it reminds them it's Sunday. We also lay out everyone's journals for the morning too.

 Charlie did an awesome job at his first piano festival. He was even invited back for the Gala concert the following week.

 We were able to visit with the Walter's for Brady's birthday this year. It was really fun to share his birthday with him. Charlie and I came up with this mini foosball table for his gift. I love getting to know each of their kids a little better each time. We all look up to them.

 We got to go see the lights at the Leg this year for Jane's cello concert. She had one of three solos this time which was neat. The best part was all the support she had- my parents and Eli's family and her horse riding teacher all came!

 Afterwards we got to have Belly stay at our house. She was as adorable as always. We had a cute scripture story and tuck in time together.

I LOVE her so. 

Grammy and baba are always good sports about our longish musical recitals. We love living close now and having them come to everything. 

Little besties. 

 This little is obsessed with dresses and pretty things. She loves painting her nails and wearing sparky things. Finally and a little Persian princess daughter. 

She plays this game with Jacob they call Find the Eggies. Jacob hides these wooden penguin eggs and she finds them. 

I love how she calls herself "Azel" and I also love how Jane calls her "child" or "the child"

She memorized the planet song with the big kids so now she knows all the planets in order. 

 We were having a family history lesson and I was handing out each child's birth certificate so they could look at what kind of information is written on one and the next thing I knew, Ezra had written his name all over the back of his. YIKES.