'Twas the month before Christmas

December is such a busy month, but I have managed to not stress out too much this year and for the most part enjoy.  We started the month off with some sledding on a Christmas tree cutting outing.  It was crazy warm in the valley but cold and deep snow up Strawberry.  We post holed around in knee deep snow all day wishing we had brought our snow shoes!  Jer also forgot a hat and there was a cold wind blowing, so I took one for the team with my headband thing and he wore an old floral number I had along!  It was a very Granny look.

 

  

We were given four tickets to a Jazz game at the last minute so Jer and the boys headed down and had a fun night out in the 12th row!

We went and toured the 5th grade Christmas house projects.  Luke built this with his dad and grandpa down at grandpa's shop.  It is equipped with battery powered lights -- which was kind of the whole point of the project -- wiring a complete circuit.

We also headed to SLC for our annual Christmas weekend.  We started off Friday night with food and ice skating at Farmington Station then headed on to SLC.  Saturday we shopped, swam (grandpa and boys!), ate and toured at City Creek, and went to Temple Square.  Sunday we had brunch with Santa and went to sacrament meeting in Pleasant View.  A fun tradition that gets easier and more fun as the kids get older!

 

 

We also made "gingerbread" houses the easy way--with graham crackers!  They had some serious structural flaws and candy cave ins, but the kids had fun and ate themselves silly.  They are so photogenic.

The kids went to school all the way until December 23rd this year.  Last night it finally snowed after the warmest, driest December I can remember.  Last night we went to a bonfire at the Carlsens, and the kids had such a blast finally playing in some snow! I helped out with Ian's Christmas party and Leah came along as my little helper.  At the end they did a pinata and a treat bag came out for every kid.  One girl was absent so there was an extra there for her.  Ian burst into tears because he wanted that one for Leah.  I was telling him no and trying to make him happy when his teacher asked about it and gave it to Leah.  He was all smiles after that.  He really does love his little sister!  Ian's sending out kind of a homeless vibe in the boots, PJs, Santa hat combo!  Ready or not, Christmas is here!