Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning JJ took Lucy and Nolan over to the church.  They had a fun time together playing basketball and running around.  I know Lucy appreciated the special time with JJ.  JJ loved it and was happy to see that he can still make a dunk.  JJ came home just in time to come with me to a holiday Tabata class at the gym.  He did great and it was fun to go workout together.  We did some last minute grocery shopping and then headed home.  It was a beautiful day!  The kids played in the yard and outside almost all day.  JJ took the kids on a bike ride. I was able to do some cleaning and Christmas preparation.  I opened a few windows in the house and let some fresh air in.  Lucy was really worn out from playing basketball.  She wasn't feeling like herself so it was nice to be able to let her rest.  We went on a walk at Brommelsiek and then came home and got ready.  We headed over to my parents house for a nice Christmas dinner.  We then did our cousin gift exchange, family gift exchange and our white elephant game.  I had my Mom's name and I got her a vegetable spiralizer.  She had asked for one and was so happy to get it.  Braden had my name and he got me a new piano book and a sweatshirt.  JJ had Braden and got him some new socks and a Kansas City print for his office at work.  Courtney had JJ and she got him some new tie sets with cuff links and handkerchiefs.  We got my parents a gift card to a restaurant.  Their anniversary is just around the corner in January and we thought they would like to go out to eat.  We read the story of Christ's birth from the bible and sang a few songs.  It was a really enjoyable evening an it was nice to be able to spend it with family       

 

 

 

 

Main Street

We have been wanting to go to main street St. Charles all month.  We have had several Saturdays with great weather but have all been to busy to make it down there.  Same with visiting Santa, we still hadn't sat on his lap and gotten the kids picture.  Saturday was our last chance to go do both.  JJ worked that morning and then we headed down to main street.  For the first time we decided to see Santa there.  We got there just in time to see the parade of all the characters.  It was fun to be able to see them all, we have usually gone at night so we haven't seen the parade before.  After the parade they gather by the gazebo by the river for a short performance.  JJ hung out there and they visited with as many characters as they could while I got a spot in line to see Santa.  They got lots of cards and we didn't have to wait in line long to see Santa.  They sat on his lap and told him what they wanted.  Nolan asked for the adventure force gun, Garrett asked for Legos and Lucy asked for new shoes.  After visiting with Santa we walked around main street for a short while.  The kids tried to get as many characters cards as they could.  We went to see the gingerbread houses and then headed home.  It ended up being the perfect day to go.  We really enjoyed seeing Santa there, we might do that over bass pro shop next year too.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character Suitcase

For Lucy's language arts class she had to make a character suitcase.  Her teachers sent home and email with the guidelines and I was reading over them.  She stressed that she really wanted to see kids be creative with the project.  When Lucy got home from school I talked with her about it.  She said she had a good start on it.  We came up with some ideas of how to really make her project stand out and some ways to be creative.  She had chosen Harry Potter, she has started reading the books too.  We talked about the objects she would put in her suitcase.  I sent her down to the neighborhood trail with Garrett to pick up some sticks to make a wand.  She also made a broomstick and painted a ball gold for the ball they use in the game.  We had JJ bring home a box to make a suitcase out of.  She had to have some tangible and some written things.  She worked hard on all the components each night after school.  She did a great job and her teacher complimented her on her suitcase.  I'm glad I encouraged her to work hard on it and think out of the box.  

 

Preschool Party

Nolan's preschool class had a winter party.  It was called "Happy birthday baby Jesus".  He has been looking forward to it and tells me all the time how Christmas is Jesus birthday and we should sing to him.  We were so glad to have JJ be able to sneak over for the party.  It made Nolan so happy to see him there.  Nolan has been learning songs to sing to the parents at the party.  He was so cute singing, he did the actions and smiles at us while he sang.  They played some cute games and then did a book exchange.  Thankfully our lesson of being happy with gifts paid off and he was happy with the book he unwrapped. It was a cute party and we had fun going with Nolan.     

Garrett has been reading the "Harry Potter" books and he loves them.  Any free time he has he is reading.  He brings a book with him wherever we go.  He will come home from school and go cuddle up in bed to read.  We love it and are glad he has enjoyed reading so much.  He finished the entire series in just a few weeks.  We found the movies on Amazon and he used some birthday money to buy them.  After he reads a book he watches the movie. 

We made a gingerbread house together as a family one evening.  Next year maybe we should do a village so we can all make our own.  Nolan kept eating the candy as we were putting the candy on.

They had a party for the kids in the gym childcare room.  They do a coloring book and crayon gift exchange and have some crafts for the kids to do.  Nolan had a fun time and saved some of his crafts to do other days that week.  It has been a learning experience this year to be grateful for the gifts other people give you.  He wasn't super happy with the coloring book he unwrapped, its a hard lesson to learn for a four year old.  I am thankful for the great ladies who work in the childcare room, Nolan always has a fun time with them.  

JJ and headed out for a date night.  The Bishop and his wife were so nice and took the bishopric out to dinner for Christmas.  It has been a year since they have been serving together.  JJ has really enjoyed being in the bishopric.  We went to cheesecake factory, it was a nice evening out with everyone. 

We have been lucky to have some mild winter weather here and there.  One nice afternoon JJ took the kids on a bike ride around the neighborhood to deliver some Christmas goodies to friends in the ward. 

Rising Generation Concert

Saturday evening we went to the Rising Generation Choir concert.  We have never been but have heard good things about it.  Rising Generations is a church youth choir that you audition for.  It was a fun holiday concert, half was silly and fun music and half was traditional Christmas music.  The kids enjoyed going and it was fun to see several youth from our ward singing in the choir.  The choir was really good and I am glad we were able to go see them and support them.  They spend a lot of time learning and practicing the songs.  After the concert we went to fro-yo with the Munson's for a treat.      

 

 

Lucy's First Temple Trip

Right before Lucy turned 12 the St. Louis temple closed for some renovations.  Lucy was disappointed since she was looking forward to going.  We thought about making a trip to Nauvoo but we never did and then the Nauvoo temple closed for cleaning.  The St. Louis temple re-opened in October but life has been so busy we haven't been able to take her.  Finally while talking to JJ on Friday we decided we needed to make it happen.  We felt bad that it took us so long to schedule a trip and take her.  We should have made it more of a priority. We made a reservation and invited my parents to come with us.  We were glad they were able to come and be with us.  We brought the boys and had them play together in the ancillary building next door.  Everything went smooth with the whole morning and we were able to have a nice time.  Lucy had a really neat experience and enjoyed going.  I know she was so happy we were able to go.  She worked with JJ on family search to have family names to take which made it even more special.  After the temple we went to brunch with my parents.  It was a nice morning together! 

Journey to Bethlehem

One of our favorite things to do to remember the meaning of Christmas is to attend the Journey to Bethlehem.  They don't do it every year so we always try to make it the years they do it.  They also now only do it one weekend.  We planned on going with the Taylor family.  When we got there we were amazed by how busy it was.  The Taylors got there before us and saved us a spot in line.  The line thankfully moved fast and we were inside before long.  They have a program you watch first before heading out on your journey.  We didn't like the program as much this year and they made our groups bigger then they have in the past.  It still turned out to be a really neat experience.  Nolan is getting old enough to start really figuring things out.  He asked a lot of questions about the things on our journey.  He thought the live animals and the soldiers were really neat.  I love how it brings the story to life for us, it helps the kids realize what happened.  We also like the cookies and hot chocolate when you finish your journey.  It was freezing cold on our journey, which is outside, so hot chocolate and cookie hit the spot.

Saturday evening we went to watch Lucy's basketball game.  It was a long game for the boys.  I had to laugh when I looked over and saw both of them more interested in playing games on JJ's phone and reading Harry Potter.  Lucy played well and their team won.  She had some great plays and it is fun to see her team play well together.  That night the kids decided to have a sleepover. They had been planning it all day.  We had stake conference the next day so we could all sleep in.  They all slept in Garrett's bed.  I don't think they all slept that well and they may rethink doing it again.  I am glad to see them having fun and wanting to spend time together.   

Polar Express

JJ worked Saturday morning so I took the kids to a polar express activity.  The early childhood center where Nolan does his speech at put the activity on. JJ took the kids last year and they had a lot of fun.  Nolan was excited to go again this year.  It was a cute activity, they had a room with different crafts for the kids to do.  They had hot chocolate and cookies, a train exhibit, a reading of the polar express book and Santa to visit.  The boys really liked the train, Garrett even got to drive the train.  They had a search and find activity for the train display.  There was a TV and different pictures would come up and then you would look and find the thing.  It was fun to try to find all the different things in the display.  We did everything and even went back to do some things twice.  It was a fun activity to do with the kids.  I think its fun that they all still wanted to come with us.  Even Lucy did one of the crafts in the room.  I think no matter how old you get Christmas activities are still fun. 

 

 

Concert Night

 Ever since the beginning of the semester and school year we knew that Lucy and I both had concerts on the same night.  I was really bummed about this.  One of the main joys of playing and working so hard on learning the music is being able to share it with my family.  Lucy and I both worked so hard to learn our music.  It is the main reason I played the Florissant Valley concert, so my family could hear me play.  I was able to attend Lucy's dress rehearsal so I could hear her play.  She has been working so hard to learn to play the flute.  The school offers free lessons and she has been staying after school to take lessons.  I know she was looking forward to playing in her concert.  I wish I could have been there.  JJ went with the boys and video taped the whole thing.  They said she did a really good job.         

I was excited to play my concert, I knew it would be a better concert then our other one.  We had a fantastic dress rehearsal.  I was sad to have my stand partner leave early from dress rehearsal because her shoulder hurt.  I know she wanted to play so bad.  I texted her that evening and asked her if she ws going to try to play any of the concert.  She said that she couldn't play and I was sad for her.  I was also wondering who I would be sitting next too.  When I got there I learned that the stand in front of us was also going to be missing a player.  I usually sit the second stand back.  I was going to have to sit front stand, which made me super nervous.  I have gotten very use to playing semester long watching the stand in front of me.  I had a little time to freak out about sitting right up front but ultimately there wasn't much to do, it is custom to move up and fill in the seats when people are missing.  I was thankful for the Taylor family who came to hear me play.  It made me happy to know someone came to hear me.  It made all the many many hours of practice worth it to have someone listen.  I was pleased with how I played and really enjoyed playing Beethoven.  After the concert it was strange to not have my family there to mingle at the reception with.  I drank some punch and headed home.  I am glad that both Lucy and I were able to have successful concerts!  I hope that we don't have conflicts again in the spring and we can attend each others concerts.     

Craft Fair

Lucy has continued to sell wooden boxes to earn money for basketball.  I posted them on Facebook and we have continued to make and sell them as the orders come in.  The elementary school has a breakfast for Santa every year.  They have tables with crafts and things to buy, we decided to do a table this year.  We worked really hard getting boxes made to sell at the breakfast.  We wanted to have 10 boxes in each stain color, so 30 boxes total.  We worked together several evenings and on the weekends cutting, sanding and staining the wood.  JJ got them all put together and put the handles on each end.  I made some Christmas card holder boards to sell there too.  I spent lots of time stenciling and hand painting the boards.  Lucy and I set up our table the night before and then brought the rest of the boxes over Saturday morning.  We were hoping to sell a lot, but things were slow.  Not very many people were buying things.  The tables around us weren't selling much either.  It was disappointing, we had worked so hard to have things ready to sell.  Lucy sold 4 boxes and I sold 2 boards.  Overall I don't think it was worth the money to reserve a table and the stress of having everything ready.  Thankfully we are still selling things on Facebook.  I think Lucy had a fun time sitting there with me selling things.