December

December was a crazy, intense month at our house. Jared was working long, long hours to get some big projects done. He would come home for a couple hours in the evenings for dinner, and then have to head back to work until the wee hours of the mornings many nights. He was pretty much exhausted for weeks. With Jared so busy, I didn't have much time to get all my Christmas things done, or get the shopping done as early as I usually like to. I'm always so determined not to let December be a stressful month, but rather a wonderful time with lots of family activities and traditions that we all look forward too! That was definitely harder to do this year, but we just let a lot of things go and tried our best to fit in as many fun activities as we could in the limited hours we had with Jared. He finished presenting his last project Friday afternoon,the 21st, and we left Saturday morning for Arizona.

Mackayla had a Christmas Sing program at school. The kids and I all got to go enjoy that. This is the best picture we ended up with. She is on the top row, fourth from the left, in a green hat. 

 Frosting Sugar cookies

Caitlin enjoying the cookie excitement too!

 Best part of the night- getting to eat them.

The last day of school before Christmas break was pajama day at all three of their schools. They were so excited the night before as they got their pajamas on, to say they were all ready for school the next day.

Taking a nap with Mommy

The kids all bundled up to go deliver some lemon cakes we made to the neighbors. It was a VERY cold night! 

Santa waffles

Rudolph corn dogs

We've been finding Caitlin enjoying the nice warm air from the vents lately. 

This is a picture at our ward Christmas party brunch. Both boys were dressed as shepherds for the primary nativity.

Our babysitter plans didn't work out, so last minute Jared had to find another date to take to his work Christmas party. He found a beautiful one!

Jared sent me this picture from the party. She was the only kid there, but didn't mind and had a fabulous time. I wish I would have been able to go to this party with Jared, but I am glad he was able to find such a great replacement for me.

Christmas girls!

We had a nice Sunday Christmas dinner with some of Jared's family. Ashley's family, Chelsea and Kirk, and, Jaimie and Sean. I wish I would have gotten a picture of everyone, but I did get a picture of Chelsea's new puppy that she brought along. The kids loved him.

Here is a picture of the kids' table.

The Sunday before we left, after the dinner from above, we had an early Christmas with our family and opened the presents from Grandma and Grandpa Hatfield.

Matching sisters! Mackayla loves it when they match!

We had a full Turkey dinner one Sunday afternoon with just our family. We had a turkey in the freezer for a long time, and figured we better finally eat it.  Bradley had just been outside eating snow which is why his cheeks are so red.

This is Jared making the dough for pepper nuts one evening. These are a family tradition of his. His Great Grandmother, Mutti, always use to make them at Christmas time.

Making a gingerbread house. I hadn't been to the store, so we just had to use whatever candy I could find in the pantry. It actually turned out to be a pretty cute...considering.

We decorated the kids a bit too.

Finished product - a cute little house and lots of big smiles!

When the package came from G & G Hatfield with our Christmas presents, Jacob was so delighted as he helped me pull them all out of the box.

A little holiday nap

Caitlin's first piece of licorice. She looks so pretty like this, we might let her start wearing lip stick.

And she even got her own candy cane from the elves. Christmas time is great for everyone!

Decorating the Christmas tree. I thought for sure Caitlin would pull the tree down before the month was over, but she actually did pretty good with it. We just had to put all the breakable ornaments up higher, but one of the kids moved a glass one down low and it did get broken by her. Luckily, no one got cut though. :)

The boys were trying to play a game but their little sister kept interrupting. It's a good thing they love her so much, they didn't even get mad when she messed up their game.

Caitlin has had a very busy month also. She's been crawling all over the place, and climbing up on everything. She learned to wave bye-bye and to clap. She's even starting to stand up on her own now. It won't be too long before she is walking.

On December 4th, Jacob ran into the corner of the kitchen counter and got a good cut on his forehead. Jared took him into the after-hours care at our doctor, and he ended up with two stitches. Jared said he didn't say a single word the whole time he was there with the nurse or doctor that stitched him, until the nurse gave him some little toys for being so good. At that point, he would not stop talking, about the toys of course. He did great and didn't flinch at all.

Mackayla reading us a bed time story. She is becoming such a great reader, and we are always amazed at how well she does.