December

December snuck up on me this year, probably because I keep thinking we need to celebrate Thanksgiving alas on to December.

December 1st we celebrated Brody's birthday dinner. He wanted white cake with raspberry filling. It was yummy!

 We celebrated Jake's birthday also with the same cake, sorry Jake you didn't get asked what cake you wanted good thing your birthday is next week!

 I finished our calendars and needed a December page. Looking back I wish I had the kids in their holiday pj's from last year. But that's ok. The tree gives it a Christmasy feel even with brightly colored pj's!

 Last year, Grandma Julie bought a gingerbread house and let the kids decorate it. The month was passing quick and we didn't know when we'd get to do it with Grandma so we bought one and did it for FHE. Mike was the construction manager, Maddy was the decorator and Lexi was the boss. Jack really could care less about decorating it, he ate the gingerbread cookies we made the night before!

 Lilly loved them too. Look close and you can see one sharp tooth!

One of our Christmas traditions is to add an ornament to the tree. We went to Hobby Lobby and found our keepers. Lilly's is obvious~baby's first Christmas!

 I put all the kids first Christmas ornaments by each other. These are some of my favs to pull out  each year.

We encourage the kids to find an ornament they like or one that describes something they have learned or like to do.

 Maddy is taking tumbling and piano but we didn't find either.
However, this snowman is so cute! (and the pic is blurry:)

 Jack

Basketball season has started. He even made a basket at last weeks game.

Here's the video

Lexi loves gingerbread cookies so this one was her favorite.

 Makinzee& Mike's ornament. We picked this up on our cruise. It's Santa riding a mule!

 My pick from the ornament exchange.

 And my wall or door of cards. How do you display your Christmas cards? I started this a couple years ago and it's so fun! I love receiving cards and displaying them goes well in to the beginning of next year!

Mike & I ventured to the ugly sweater party. Mike apparently didn't get that it was a Christmas sweater party...he's wearing a Halloween sweater. I'm sporting Tifani's cute Grandma button sweater. Nope, its not ugly just celebrating the season!

 Today we woke up to snow. I helped Mike shovel the driveway. He did most of it. We had probably 7-8 inches of snow! I am not even sure Mark Eubank had on his white coat last night. Dad took the kids to sled but this one came home early to get warmed up with some hot chocolate. We love our new snowman mugs! Thanks Jill.

My heart hurts from the violence in Connecticut. This morning I gave each of my kids an extra LONG hug and told them that I love them. In the morning, we are in such a rush to get out the door I rarely give my kids a hug and tell them I love them, instead I rush and say hurry to catch the bus. I pray for the families who are hurting, my heart aches for those beds that were empty last night and for the parents. I pray that the spirit would have told me not to send my kids to school that day so they would not have been in danger. I pray every day and need to listen more to that soft still spirit guiding and directing me with his precious children.