Ack, I Need To Blog

We were just getting ready to eat dinner and I realized I haven't blogged yet today.

Last night we went to our ward Christmas party. We ate good food and enjoyed a lovely program. The Primary president went around and brought coloring/activity books (and crayons) to the kids. That was fun.

 

They showed clips from "The Christ Child" nativity video, while one of the ward members narrated from the related scriptures. Between clips, other ward members did musical numbers that went along with the clips we watched.

Guess what the Countdown to Christmas scripture was for that night. Luke 2:1-7 and watching "The Christ Child." It fit right in. 

 

Hey, now I can eat dinner and tell you tomorrow about it.

We Are Balloon Artists

Jeremy's not the only balloon twister in the family. He wasn't able to do an installation at the beginning of December so Jr., Lucky, and I used Jeremy's design to create a star for our friends' ward Christmas party. Lucky and I were up late the night before inflating balloons (and counting them) so we would be all set the next morning. 

I think it turned out pretty well. We even put lights on it. Funny thing is: Jr. missed out on setting up for our ward Christmas party because of setting up for this other one.

Our friend, Jennifer Eichelberger, took these pictures so we could see it after they hung it up:

 

We did go to our own ward Christmas party that evening. Jeremy was able to join us at the end then he, Lucky, and I went down to pop the balloon star and bring back the framing and lights.

 This is our family. We're balloon artists, jugglers, writers, and just all around awesome.

Love Mom and Dad

Some years for LightTheWorld I'm really on top of doing something nice when it suggests recognizing your parents. Sometimes I think ahead and send them a letter to be opened on that particular day. Sometimes I don't do as well and call them last minute. Some years I might not do anything because I'm too sick to do anything at all.

This year I was on top of things. "Love Mom and Dad." I wanted to show love for both my parents and my in-laws. I drove to a park one day and had some quiet time to express my gratitude to both sets of parents through letters. Jeremy and I express often to one another how glad we both are to have such good relationships with our spouse's parents. Later the kids contributed drawings and notes to the back of the letters I wrote. Then I mailed them with instructions written on the envelope for them to read the letters on December 15.

Today I also called to chat with my parents. I love my parents. They are terrific. I'm so glad they raised all of us, my siblings and me. I'm glad they've had such a strong marriage for so many years. I'm glad they've set a good example in many ways.

Photo credit goes to my awesome photographer sister, Kimber Hodson. Check out her website- kimberhodson.com

I'm glad I thought to send letters to both sets of parents. Last night for #LightTheWorld there was a virtual concert called "Social Sing and Serve." Some well known online artists shared sing-along Christmas songs and suggestions for giving service. One of the suggested pieces of service was to write a letter to parents and mail it off. Ha Ha. I had already mailed mine. My parents did open it the next day and enjoyed the pictures and notes from their grandkids (and from me).

I was in the middle of making dinner when I had to deal with something so Jr., without being asked, took over and finished making dinner which we ate while watching the concert. Thank you so much for setting the tone with service, Jr. It was pleasant to hear Lucky singing along with some of the songs. That got Jet humming as well. I love music and good quality family time.

The "Social Sing and Serve" was one of the nightly virtual concerts that have been on since the beginning of the month. After it was over, our ward had its own virtual Christmas party. A few people spoke and we watched some videos including some submitted by ward members about favorite Christmas traditions. We submitted a video about our advent calendar tradition- countdown to Christmas scripture study.

It's been a good couple of days.

Other Things That Happened in December

Jeremy took the kids to our friends' Christmas village again. This time they had a large dancing Santa. The kids took the time to dance along.

Lucky's Christmas party at school was a Polar Express party. Jeremy built his class a balloon train engine like he did for Nichole's kindergarten class back in 2010.

We also had our annual family Polar Express party. Nichole and Jr. provided background music and sound effects as Jeremy read to us.

We tried some new hot chocolate flavors (cookies and cream, malt) and I fell asleep while watching the movie again.

We put Jet in a cute Christmas outfit and he also fell asleep during the party.

Star Wars episode IX The Rise of Skywalker came out in December. For obvious reasons, I didn't go to the showing with friends this time like I did for episodes VII and VIII and Rogue One. This time Jeremy took Nichole. She'd watched all the other movies at school and at home so she was ready. Good bonding time for the two of them. I'll just wait until the movie comes on DVD.
Speaking of bonding time, Jeremy and Jr. got some bonding time in when they went to get an oil change for the van. It's become their thing.
Nichole and Jr. got together with other youth and went caroling to homes in our ward. It was pleasant to hear our neighbors being caroled to then hearing a knock on our door and opening it to see a group of young men singing to us. Way to LightTheWorld, youth.

The kids and Jeremy took some time to demolish the balloon Christmas tree. They had fun with it.

Ward Christmas Party 2016

Another long day.
After staying up so late again last night, we got the kids up early for scripture study.  They did well with sitting at the table for scripture study, especially when there were Mint M&Ms to be had.

I put together my YouTube video of visiting our friends to get the ornaments.  We did some shopping and library visiting.
LIGHTtheWORLD for December 2 is, "Jesus honored his parents and so can you."  I worked ahead of time on this one.  I wrote a letter to my parents and mailed it a few days ago with instructions on the outside to "Open on December 2."  I'm hoping my parents got it by today.  Did you get it in time, parents?

We told our children that they could do this one by being well behaved at our ward Christmas party this evening.  They actually had it set up so the kids could eat a sack dinner in the back while watching a movie and then do other activities.  The adults could eat different food and socialize in the front.  The theme was a Country Christmas and we were encouraged to dress up.

Nichole said her dragon ate her costume.

 
It was a fun activity.  Santa made an appearance toward the end, reading to the children and singing a Christmas song with them, and several of our kids sat on his lap and talked with him.

 
Jeremy and Santa even compared beards.

I, of course, talked with friends a lot after it was over so we got home kind of late.  Sigh.  At least the kids can sleep in tomorrow morning.