The ward Christmas party had the same plans as last year, but this year was one to be remembered. Toward the end of the program, someone tripped on the show shovels by one of the entrance’s double doors. When the shovels fell they knocked the fire alarm box off the wall, causing the alarm to go off. Good thing it wasn’t a really fire because no one reacted the way you do in school fire drills. lol. Even though Brother R, a local firefighter, was at the party, he couldn’t get the alarm to turn off. The fire trucks left the city parade to come rescue us. The kids got to have a good look at the truck’s lights and hear the sirens, and then we left for home. After all my years of going to church every week and attending decades of ward activities, this was still a new experience for me and might have been my favorite part.
Hubby and I got to go on a date to eat sushi and watch Mockingjay Part 1 together. We couldn’t remember going on a date since our anniversary in July. I loved it and am obsessed with the movie — almost enough to read the book. (: And not only did the babysitter have everyone asleep when we got home, but she also cleaned up from dinner and did the dishes. If I had noticed that before I paid her, I would have given her more. Plus, I’ll be less scared to plan another date after nothing terrible happening while I was gone this time.
Michelle got to participate in an advent spiral at her school. Since Mommy got to take her to her lantern walk last month, Daddy got to take her to this special event. Daddy says it was neat to see how grown up she is, lighting her own candle and carrying it. Awwww. She was back in time for all of us to eat dinner and watch the annual Christmas Devotional, which I loved! I thought the talks and music were magnificent and truly touched my heart. It set the perfect tone for the month.
All 6 of us got to attend our city’s light festival together this year. After drinking free hot cocoa and eating a free cookie the children got to visit Santa. D was super excited and M wanted to make sure she got some Legos for Christmas and K and N were unsure. K doesn’t believe in Santa, so she didn’t know if she should even be seeing him. N tensed up and clung to me when I got near him, so I just stood next to his big chair and let her watch. Maybe next year. D really wanted to see him because he knows I’m not buying him Skylanders Swap Team for Christmas. I informed him that Santa would know his best friend 2 houses down already owns it and might give him a different video game to play with his friend at his own house.
The last week of school before break was a “spirit week.” I’ve decided pajama day is my favorite because it is the only day that didn’t make work for me. lol. I was super impressed with K’s student/teacher switch day. She used her Disney lanyard and made herself an id tag just like what the teachers wear. And last crazy hair day I had promised we would buy the hair color stuff and they had a blast with it. Amazing what spending too much money at Sally’s can do for kids.
Our favorite boy had a half birthday and grandma did not disappoint with his special cake. He is so excited to be 5.5 instead of 5. Most of his friends in kindergarten are already 6 and being 5.5 means there is only one more birthday until he will be too.
One thing we love about living here and having great friends is play dates at the park in the middle of all the cold. Just makes life better to be outside in the sunshine once in a while!
It can't be December without a little illness. Here's a picture of D & M lending N some emotional support while she had croup. Lot's of Mickey Mouse & Curious George helped her out too.
K lost another tooth!
Christmas isn't complete without some gingerbread men and a gingerbread house. Of course N just shoved candy in her mouth as fast as she could but we can laugh about it because it's Christmas time.
I thought D's idea to turn his gingerbread man into a Santa was pretty neat!
M and N and I went to Jordan’s wedding reception, which was almost like a reunion of all sorts of people we knew and loved from our old ward. My friend Valerie caught this one of M while we were in the receiving line that I really liked. K and D opted to stay away from the party and did crafts with Grandma at home instead while my honey was skiing with friends from the new ward. The next day we were all together again to go to our former neighbor’s church and watch him perform in their Christmas Cantata and eat treats. We always feel so welcome there, mostly because the small congregation is happy to see 4 small children join their little group.
And I don't have a picture of it, but I had a lot more luck with the LP cookie exchange this year. No spending all day long making 2 different kinds of cookies, just to have everything burned in the oven after it was all ready to give to the neighbors. And I had such a blast just hanging out with fun women.
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