Pre Christmas activities

Our Holidays started out on the Heber Creeper with a trip to the North Pole with the Bagley's.  The only time we could get tickets was on Emily's last day of her musical.  Bart was there with his parents so it was just me and the three.  

I was more anxious than usual to set up the decorations.  As soon as the new couches arrived it was time to get the tree up!  Bad quality pictures brought to you by Emily's mini camera which she adores.  

Spencer took the little tree to his bedroom like always and the rest of the kids wanted one as well.  Hobby lobby had a small one for Aaron  and I was lucky to spot a frosted pink one for Jane who wanted one to match her room and the tiny antique hand painted ornaments from Barts Nana.   

Emily fell in love with this Grinch tree from Trader Joes so they all had Christmas in their rooms.    

Bart had the deacons over for decorating sugar cookies and delivering them to some widows in the ward.  They are quite a bunch of wild boys.  

 

Emily the brave signed up for her school talent show to rap and dance to Justin Bieber's rendition of "The drummer boy".    She did it in front of the whole school and didn't lose a bit of confidence.   

We celebrated our Pizza and PJ parties and Nona and Papa's a little early so John and Pauline could celebrate Christmas at the cabin.   

The "O.G's"

The "wolfpack" together again 

The little's 

Spencer just had to dress up as Santa for our Ward Christmas party.    He was happy to get a surprise visit from the big guy himself. 

We took the kids to the symphony "Here comes Santa Claus".  It was fun but a bit of a bummer that they don't have Santa greet the kids like in days of old.

Emily wanted her bedroom painted but knew her dad wouldn't do it.  So with the skills she Jane and Aaron learned painting the Teasdale house and a run from mom to Home Depot she did it herself.  It was a fun  Christmas Break project.    Emily's friends wanted to hang out so soon she had the whole gang helping.  

I loved the idea of a winter solstice party.   We had Bart's family over and ate by candlelight and had everyone write down a wish they had for the upcoming year and wrapped them around pine cones and then went out and burned them in a tin can.   

My neighborhood white elephant party was as fun as always.   Through a turn of events we ended up with this horrible rose lotion that I brought and the dreaded blue poinsettia.   I didn't know the Ashton's convinced Bart to wrap the poinsettia back up and put it under there tree. I was too busy disposing of the lotion in their master bath.    Soon after we got home this texting thread came through to the group. 

I gave out Christmas Potpourri's for my work and neighborhood gifts.   I love burning this on the stove and hope others did to.  

With John and Pauline down at the cabin our Christmas Eve was different this year.   We made plans with Raquel to meet up for Ice skating and dinner.    I hung out with Maddix on the bleachers while Bart had fun with the kids and their cousins on the ice.  

Afterwards we attempted a few buffets to go to for lunch but most were closed.  We did find this Chinese Buffet that everyone enjoyed.   It reminded me of the Christmas Story where they burn the turkey so go out to Chinese for Christmas dinner.  Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra......