December

I'm so far behind on blogging, I blame it on December. It is non stop! I kind of miss having track break this month, because adding homework and projects to the already busy month is one more thing! BUT the month at school is so fun also. Parties, caroling, food drives, random acts of kindness and the LOVE that the Christmas season brings is apparent in our lives. Here's a lot of what we've been up to this month!

December 1.

Happy birthday Brody! This one decided she wanted to look, smell and be beautiful. In addition to cute!

December 2.

December 3. Ornament Party

One of my favorite traditions. Thanks Amanda for inviting me way back when we lived in Idaho. Everyone brings a wrapped ornament and a treat to share. We do a exchange and sometimes the ornaments get stolen, sometimes we wonder who brought that one (cute or ugly or anything in between) but always we have a great time. It is a Naylor Farm outing. Camille and I started it when we first moved here, 5 years ago and wanted to get to know our Naylor Farm neighbors. We had a couple newbies come this year and it's always a great time!

 December 4. Ornament Party for Lexi and Maddy.

 Christmas Party in Lehi. Santa & Mrs. Claus came and the kids were able to ask for their Christmas wishes. Lilly: play doh hair cuts Lexi: box of oranges Jack: too many to list Maddy: head phones (Grandma thought she said iPhone but Santa heard her right!) NO phones yet!!

I didn't make the Christmas party instead I went with Steve and Tif to Aunt Beve's Viewing (my Grama's sister).

Earlier in the day:
While making beds after washing sheets, I noticed a little pus coming from my eye.

 And then it came back and more.

 And by the time Mike got home from work it was more and starting to turn my eye pink. BUT we had places to be, so I plugged along. I did text my neighbor, home teacher and friend updates on my eye. He told me to wash it with baby soap every hour in addition to washing my hands.

 By the end of the night, it was starting to turn pink and I could fill swelling down my cheeks like I had a sinus infection. I had been in Cancun 5 days previous but didn't feel sick at all even when my eye was oozing. When my neighbor saw me, he said "oh wow" and went to his food storage room and got another antibiotic. I guess it was that bad! He keeps eye drops in his food system. Said when things get tough he'll barter for ammo or maybe food for eye drops and contacts! I'll be there! Anything to not have an eye like this!

 December 5. I woke up to a glued shut eye but had to get moving. LOTS and LOTS going on and no time for a sick day!

First up was the Festival of Tree's for this beautiful ballerina! She was so excited and I was also. We had never been to the Festival. I've always wanted to just never have. IT IS HUMONGOUS! I can't believe all that is donated. Amazing. The spirit of Christmas was felt there. Doesn't she look beautiful.

 Lots of photos of my eye per the Dr's request. It look a lot better. Still a little pink and the swelling is going down!

Here's the dance. Not the best video.

 Lexi's BF also danced in the Festival.

 After the performances we walked around and admired the gingerbread houses, the balloon creations, the trees.

 Mike and Jack took off early from the festival to head to Jr Jazz. Madison also had a game but it was the same time as her piano recital so we didn't go.

Madison has been practicing since August for this Christmas recital. Everyone did duets. Including Maddy and Alli. It was so fun listening to them practice together, work together and laugh together. These girls are two peas in a pod! 

 They did 2 songs. Here's the 2nd.

Here are 4 of the group of 5th graders that live in the Hood that all take piano lessons from Claudia. The girls (and others) did so fun. It was magical to listen to Christmas music. Everyone's talents were beautiful. I asked Jack and Lexi if they wanted to take lessons. Jack said yes, until I told him he'd have to practice, then he said never mind. Lexi can when she is 8.

Alexis lost her first tooth December 5th also. It had been hanging on a thread and she let Dad give a little tug and it was out. Darn tooth fairy forgot to leave her something over night but made a quick trip in the morning and left her a little note that she was sorry she forgot and hope 2 gold dollars would make up for it. 

 December 6:
We went to church and then decorated Gingerbread Houses with cousins. Thanks Grandma for buying so many treats and decorations.

 The weeks activities included piano lessons, tumbling, basketball practice x 2, ballet, Activity Days and homework and life in between. Friday Dec 11 Mike and I snuck away for his company dinner party. It was at Rodizio Grill. Everyone got prizes including Mike for being the "point guard" and the one who is always willing to scratch someone else back.

Earlier in the day we (my dad and brothers and I) snuck up to my Grandma's house to retrieve this beauty along with bookshelves and one last visit to the house. Thursday it is officially sold. It was a long drawn out process including going into probate but it is now no longer Grams. Love my memories on Wander lane!  Long story but we finally got all the pieces after the leaves and chairs disappeared because Uncle Dick wanted them to stay in the house. Grandma offered it to me but I didn't want it because it was the same size as my current table, but when everything got moved out of the house, someone put 2 extra leaves in the table. So of course I wanted it. Another reminder of my sweet Grandmothers. I think of her all the time. Miss her. Infact, I use to sing the song Grandma got ran over by a reindeer, she would beg me to stop! Miss her so much. Grateful to have so many memories of her.

 Jack finally did make a Christmas wish list for St Nick. He's shooting for the moon!