Christmas Festivities

December, as usual, has been filled with fun events and activities. We've had a great time and are looking forward to our trip home to Washington in a couple of days.

Sunday we had our nice Christmas dinner

Santa waffles for breakfast

Gingerbread men

Red and white swirls cookies

Green and white checker board cookies:

The kids are cheering for Jared because, although they had their doubts, when he cut the dough it was indeed a checker board pattern.

I was in charge of an activity at Mackayla's class Christmas party. We made snowmen out of marshmallows.

Santa showed up at kindergarten that day! Mackayla was pretty nervous to have to talk to him. She told me afterwards, "that is why I just like to write him a letter!"

The boys wanted to make some snowmen too when I got home.

The boys have been taking turns being Santa, riding a reindeer and pulling his sleigh.

Cute boy!

Last week, Bradley, Jacob and I got to go to Mackayla's class for a short little Christmas program. They sang 5 songs for us. Mackayla was a great performer and kept her big smile on throughout every song. Jacob LOVED the show. He was dancing in his chair the whole time and clapped like crazy after every song.

Working late into the night on Christmas projects. These days that means it was probably getting close to 10:00 and I went to bed very shortly after that.

We made wreath treats one night for FHE.

The kids loved buttering up their hands and getting all sticky.

The Sunday after Mackayla's dance recital, she wanted us to set the table nice so her flowers could be the center piece. They did look very lovely.

Decorating the Christmas tree.

Jacob put all the balls on one limb of the tree.

Jacob filled a laundry basket with blankets and pillows and made himself a comfy seat right in front of the TV.

Bradley's favorite outfit is wearing just his underwear. I found him standing on the air vent one day with the heater going, trying to get warm. I had to take a picture!

We had a couple of parties and events this month also. At Jared's work party this year they had a big raffle and we won the grand prize of a new TV! It was pretty exciting. We're all so excited that Christmas is finally here and can't wait to join more family to celebrate! I shouldn't have to go to any more stores or do any big projects or any more wrapping for Christmas so now we can just enjoy the season!

Mackayla's Dance Recital

Mackayla loved every second of dance class this fall. As it was getting closer to her recital she asked me if she gets to take dance again in January. I told her I would have to talk to Dad about it and she replied, "well since I'm going to a ballerina when I grow up, I think I need to take one more dance class." I couldn't argue with that. One more dance class is probably needed before she can become a professional dancer. :)

She had her first ever dance recital on December 1st. She was so excited and never got nervous about it at all. She looked beautiful and I couldn't pick just a couple of pictures so here is a bunch.

Here are all her male fans that came to see the show!

I was so proud of her! Daddy gave her these flowers after the recital.

Jacob loved the entire recital as long as we let him watch from the floor. He loves to lay on the floor everywhere which is a bit of a problem sometimes.

On stage before the show

A few action shots during the dress rehearsal the night before!

It will be so fun to look back at these pictures of her first dance recital when she grows up and is a ballerina!!!

Thanksgiving Week

My computer suddenly won't read my camera card anymore so it's taken me awhile to get all these pictures together but I'm hoping to finally catch up.

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday with the Jones family. Jared's parents and grandmother all flew up to spend Thanksgiving with us here in Utah.

We took family pictures on Saturday. I don't have any of the pictures yet but this is just a snapshot of just our family afterwards.

Jacob eating his Thanksgiving dinner.

Mackayla

Bradley

We were very blessed to also have the LeSueurs join us for Thanksgiving dinner

The other table

Our table made it onto facebook thanks to Chelsea! I thought I'd add it to our post also.

Bradley and Mackayla were ready to eat

I added this picture just because its the only picture I could find of me on Thanksgiving day. Unfortunately it's by back side...

The kids had a great time helping Dad and Papa burn the fire in the pit and preparing the turkey Wednesday night. Unfortunately, things with the turkey didn't work out so we had some chicken and ham at the last minute with our meal. It was still delicious.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving we went up to Ashley's and joined them at a fun place for the kids.

Bumper cars

Before Thanksgiving, the boys made turkey hats at school.

For one of our Family Home Evenings in November we made a Thankful tree. Everyone wrote something they were thankful for on 10 different leaves the first night. Then they kept adding leaves throughout the month as they thought of more things to be thankful for. (This is all Bradley usually has on by the time evening comes.)

The weekend before Thanksgiving the Holts came to visit on their way to Preston. We were so excited to get to see them for two days. We went to the Lehi swimming pool one night and had a great time. The kids always love to get to see their cousins.

Eating Breakfast

Cousins

Jacob and Cannon

I may come back and add more details to my writing when I'm not so tired... or I may not.