The holidays are always so full of adventure. We started off with my niece Clare's baptism. She was so cute!
Lily is always busy. This girl, who is sandwiched between 2 older and 2 younger brothers plays with cars more than dolls.
I found this beautiful half size violin for Eden for Christmas and couldn't hardly wait to give it to her. I plan to teach her all I know, which isn't too much, but a start.
The kids stepped right up to help me get the Christmas cards stuffed and stamped and labeled. It was a pretty cute work party.
We picked out our tree.
Just want to say, I don't usually wear pink and red together! It just kinda happened that day when I grabbed my coat. I didn't think about it being eternalized with a picture!
Peter was proud of his electric skills as he set up the lights. Looks safe to me!
Eden taught Lily her old trick with the stuffed animals on the stairs. She has done this since she was a tiny one.
For family night, we rode the Maxx train to the Zoo Lights.
Peter and Logan waited in the zoo train line that was forever long so that the other kids and I could walk around and see the lights. We saw a lot, and spent a lot of time getting separated and trying to find each other.
And finally, we got to right the zoo train.
It was crazy busy the night we went because it was great weather. I think next time we will go when it rains!
I smelled smoke one day and ran into the kitchen filled with smoke. It took a minute to find the source, but when I opened the microwave to a huge cloud of smoke, this is what I found! Not sure how long they were in there, but there was pretty much only charcoal left.
Our Elf was a bit lazy this year, but he did to a few funny things, like play chess with Woody.
I pulled this quilt out and announced to the kids my plans for turning it into stockings. A couple of them had a huge fit about it. It would surprise you who it was! It took several days to talk them into reluctantly letting me go for it.
Eden's dance recital was adorable, as usual.
Peter helped host our school's chess tournament. It went well. Lily is playing Cara here.
Eden had a really intense game with this guy but pulled through for the win.
Tanner and Eden had the amazing opportunity to perform with the Portland Ensign Choir(kinda like a mini MoTab). They did 2 shows and it was quite a production. They did a great job. This was the program and their names in it.
(Dallin didn't actually perform, but his name got printed by mistake)
I looked out the window one gray foggy morning and thought how beautiful Oregon is. I love the gray winters here.
We surprised Peter's mom with dinner after church one day for her birthday. It was fun being sneaky. For dessert we made sugar cookies. They were very creative that's for sure!
We didn't see any santa this year, but this friend of Larry and Lori stopped by after dinner. He usually does the Santa gig, but didn't this year because of health issues. He was more than happy to have a nice long visit with each kid and let them tug on his beard to make sure it was real. It was so cute.
Dominion is a big game in this family. Even Lori is way into it. Dallin and Peter can never get enough.
Grandpa read to Lily.
Dallin, Eden and Tanner had their Christmas piano recital. This was their first one and they all did great and memorized their songs.
Elfie hid in the advent one day.
I loved how Eden decorated her room for Christmas.
I felt like I had way to many things going on in my head so I decided to get organized again. I sat down with my Mind Organization for Moms program training from the Power of Moms and got things in order and did a "brain dump". I felt so much better once it was all out!
Dallin and Eden really helped with the tree this year.
We had some fun with this gold stuff.
We started a new tradition this year that I am so excited about. My sisters and I have this thing where we get together and make a nice quiet dinner together and exchange home made or heart felt gifts each year. There are 6 little girl cousins (the oldest one lives in Idaho) on my side so we decided to start the same tradition for them. They were all so cute and made the sweetest things for each other. Scarfs, jewelry, lip gloss, monograms, it was just perfect for them. They were all so excited to give their little hand made things. This was a big hit so I think it will be happening from now on. Eden is already at work for next year.
After the little girls were done exchanging gifts, we sent them upstairs to play so that we could exchange our gifts. It is truly more exciting to give what you put so much thought into than to receive.
I stayed up late one night making these with that quilt. I love them so much! I always wanted quilted stockings and I love color! This really made my Christmas. Plus itt is always fun to have a reason to sew.
Another favorite part for me is the Christmas cards. I love seeing everyone and their families. It is like a present every time I go to the mailbox.
We found this Art for Kids Hub channel on YouTube and figured out how to stream though the T.V. so the kids could do all of the Christmas ones. They spent hours drawing and coloring these amazing pictures. Free art lessons, yes please!
Eden and I decided that our Advent calendar was past due for a tune up. It had lost so many of its decorations to curious fingers. We went to the craft store and found some great holiday sales to help us out. We spent a long time arranging and glueing together one afternoon. We decided it was better than new!
I am having some trouble getting Peter's pictures off of his phone so I will add those and Christmas in the next post...
