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.

The New Year

Before the new year we finally made it to the Christmas Village with the family.  I had gone earlier in the month with friends, but wanted the rest of my family to see it.  We finally did and it was fun.

And look, we finally got an outside night shot.

We started our New Testament scripture study on December 31 with Family Home Midday.  Later while Jeremy was at work, I gave the kids 15 minutes quiet time so they could do some personal scripture study.  I intended to read from the illustrated New Testament Stories book to Lucky but when I came into the living room I saw someone had already beaten me to it.  YES!  That's what I like to see in my home.

Then to start the new year off right, Nichole and I went out on January 1 on a birding fieldtrip.  It was sooooooo cold (single digit temperatures) but it was sooooooo worth it.  We went to several different spots.  I finally got to see that Anna's hummingbird in the Winter in Utah.

It's always fun being out with other birders and of course we saw a lot of birds for the first time this year.

 
When we got home we needed to thaw so we put on a movie, Nichole used her rice warmer and I soaked my feet, and we enjoyed some hot chocolate (thanks, Jr., for making hot chocolate for me) to warm us up.

Then I took a nap and couldn't believe how easy it was to fall asleep again that night.

We also finally toasted the new year with sparkling cider. Lucky did NOT like the taste of it.  He apparently tasted it before the rest of us clinked our paper cups together so he didn't bother with that part.  He also didn't like the taste of the Apple Shasta.  Oh well.

Today it was Jr. and Daddy's turn to go out birding.  They also got an early start in the cold and got to see a bunch of new birds for the year.  They went to some of the same places we went and saw some of the same birds but saw some different as well.  They did have some good bonding time just like Nichole and I did.

This is what I found while Jeremy and Jr. were out.  Yay again!

Now we're doing this.  Fun while cleaning up the Christmas tree.

And since January 2 is Science Fiction Day, we'll probably watch a science fiction movie or two.

A Day Off

I told you it was crazy busy.  We've been celebrating and I've been taking care of sick kids.  Now I'm blogging.  Here are some more things we've done:
December 11 was International Mountain Day.  We made a mountain of grilled cheese sandwiches and went to see Nichole's orchestra concert.  Nichole took a challenge and practiced her violin every day for 100 days straight and was recognized along with several others during the concert.  She was also awarded a candy bar for her efforts.

Some of her Young Women leaders came to watch the concert to support her, too.  That was very nice of them.

December 13 was Cocoa Day.  We celebrated Cocoa Day (Observed) the next night by having our annual Polar Express Party.  Jeremy was very entertaining with his reading (it wasn't exactly as written), we had cocoa with peppermint ice cream in it and whipped cream on top, and I couldn't stay awake through the whole movie.

If you give Nichole a medium...

December 17 was National Maple Syrup Day.  We ate pancakes with maple syrup.

Other things we've done:
We also celebrated Lucky's birthday.

"Boo hoo.  There's a KAT licking my birthday cake."  

Points to you if you get the reference.

I went with some friends to see a local Christmas village put together by people in our ward.  Wow.  And wow.  They have a whole room the size of a garage with villages on tables along the edges.  Lots of lights.  Different themes.  And a lot of movement.  It's not just a bunch of houses and things that just sit there.  There are amusement park rides that move.  Ice skaters glide over ponds.  It is awesome.

Their outside is just as festive.  I only have a daytime picture.  It's all lit up at night.

I also went to a Relief Society cookie exchange.  I got to sit around eating cookies and chatting with other women.  So nice.  My family was happy when I brought home cookies from it as well.

Then yesterday, I took a day off.  After being up and down all night with a sick child, Jeremy let me sleep in while he got the other kids off to school.  Then he sent me off to go birding for the day while he took care of the sick child.  I needed it.  It was very relaxing.  After doing so much and taking care of so many people, sick or otherwise, it was nice to get out in nature and have some me time. 

After that rejuvenating day, now I can face what needs to be done again.  Thanks again, Jeremy.  You're the best.