Random Christmas Fun

 Making a Gingerbread village with the Roura's. Super fun. 

Lucy put up the start this year. Also, helping decorate the tree. 

Cade and I were on the Ward Christmas Party committee. It turned out so beautiful and wonderful. Our specific assignment was putting the music program/narration together. We had SO much talent in our ward it made our job pretty easy. I got to sing "Come, Lord Jesus" with the 2 Erin Bailey's again and I love singing with them. It's the most beautiful song too. 

Painting nutcrackers, decorating sugar cookies, and Reese with her YW group. 

Emma and her Junior High friends having a party at Ollie's house. 

Fishbowl Christmas party. Crazy how big and different the company is than when we first started doing these parties. 

Jane's preschool Christmas program. She's been going to the PEAC right up the street from us. She has loved it this year. Hasn't complained once about going which is very different from last year. 

Going to see the Musical "Elf" at Hale Theater. My friend David Smith played the part of Elf. It's always good to see him perform. 

Bleak Family Christmas Party

 Kristen and Andrew hosted this years Christmas party. This year we did the usual dinner, games, cousin gift exchange but we also had a family talent show which was super fun. Every family shared a couple songs each. The adult game was SUPER fun this year. My parents gave us all a certain amount of $ to buy gifts for ourselves and sent them anonymously to Mom and Dad's house. Them they wrapped all the gifts and we had to guess which gift belonged to who. It was MUCH harder than I anticipated but so fun!

Newest Family Member…Bear

We got a puppy cause we’re crazy. But also felt very strongly after holding and visiting puppies for weeks and weeks that indeed someone in our family (or multiple members) needed this little guy in our home. We named him Bear and he is a tiny cavapoo. He has been so sweet and so much fun…even I and saying that!! What??! 

Of course like always it just starts with holding puppies for fun. The Swan's across the street asked if Lucy could go with them to their dog's breeder to visit some puppies the mom just had. So Nora and I invited ourselves to go (more like Cade nudging me to go for "FUN"). I thought we were safe because the only 2 girls sold within less than 24 hrs and I knew Cade had always said, "we don't do male dogs". 

But we kept going back and after a while I felt like little Ralphie needed to come to our home. I felt it over and over and kept saying no and kept telling Lori (the breeder) that we just couldn't do it. But eventually I made the decision all on my own to add him to the family. The girls couln'dt have been more excited when we told them on Reese's birthday. 

We have been enjoying him so much. The first week was pretty rough with the whining and crying. I had two melt downs that first week but ever since then it’s been going great. He is fully potty trained and doesn’t cry and whine hardly at all now. Night time is going much better and last night we didn't wake up to take him potty and he did great until 8:00 am. Hallelujah. The girls woke up and took him out a few times to potty the first couple weeks but for the most part it’s been Dad who’s been the hero and letting me sleep. 

Denver had a really hard time with the transition the first week. You could tell she was very stressed because she did not eat for 3 whole days. I was starting to get worried but she finally staying eating. Bear wanted SO badly to snuggle with Denver and play with Denver but she wanted nothing to do it him. It wasn’t until about two weeks after bringing Bear home that Denver started showing signs of being a real dog and playing with Bear some. We’ve had him here at home now for over a month and things are going great. Denver and him are so cute together now and Denver has been a lifesaver! 

We love him and even I am glad we brought him home.