One of our favorite things of this December was practicing and preparing for a musical program to take to a couple nursing homes. Lucy sang a couple songs with us and the three other girls and Cade brought their musical instruments. It took a lot of preparing, but made the Christmas season so special this year! The first assisted-living home we went to. We were able to talk a lot with the residents who live there, and that was really special. We hope to make it a tradition every year!
Because grandma lives by us, I was able to take Reese and her friends on a field trip to the nutcracker. I’ve never been able to be one of the drivers, but it was really fun to be able to be there with her!
Lucy had a first grade Christmas program that grandma Close and I were able to go and support her in. Back in kindergarten the kids scream the songs but now in first grade they actually sang them 😆. It was super cute.
Jane and Lucy have been taking a tumbling class at a place called TORQ. They just started in November and have both been loving it so much and show us all their tricks at home!
Emma invited 10 school friends over for a Christmas party for fun. They played some games, ate tons of treats and snacks and spent about 2 1/2 hours of it just screaming (hahaha). They played a white elephant game where Emma's tortilla blanket was a definite hit! They also had a movie on but instead just played and screamed some more :). It was originally supposed to go until 11:00 pm but because I didn't realize that they wouldn't be watching the movie until late and keeping all of my other children up I cut it shorter at 10:30 pm. Emma had a great time and I'm glad they were all able to come (minus one girl). They seem like a great group of teens!
A couple not so Christmasy things were Nora got braces! Also, Jane had to be put under for a bunch of dental work :(. It was so sad to see her go under. I've never had to do that with any of my children. Poor 5th child. (Benson has no hope!)
I took the kids to Blickenstaffs and the carousel at Provo Beach Resort. We also got a pass to the Draper Aquarium! WE haven't done that in years so it will be fun to make use of that this next year. Benson LOVED all the fish and animals.
Meeting Santa at our ward, Christmas party. The ward party committee did such an amazing job with this Christmas party, and the decorations there were absolutely beautiful!
Cade and grandpa took the three older girls to a place called 512 in Utah County. They provide meals for children who don’t have food on the weekends and Cade said it was such an awesome thing to do with the girls! Grandma and I went to the Relief Society party that night, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to be there.
Jane got to put the star up this year!
Just doing our annual hot chocolate bar!
One of my favorite things to do with the girls this year was ice-skating! We had such a blast and I was so grateful I was able to get a babysitter for Benson and Jane so I could enjoy skating with my older girls. It was Lucy‘s first time skating and I think the second time for all the other girls.
Close to the beginning of the Christmas break and Marrisa Nora went sledding/tubing with the Waite’s (Madi and Kenzie’s family) up at Tibble Fork. They had a blast!
The day after Christmas we took the kids and a coupe friends to Soldier Hollow to tube. It is always so much fun but this time was definitely the fastest we have ever gone! Jane went down 3 times and decided that was enough speed for one day :). But we had a fabulous time.
We got one day of skiing at Sundance in! Only 1 :(. But it was actually a lot of fun. I was very nervous and the first couple runs were rough but I am actually excited to do some more skiing with my family this winter!
This Christmas break has been one of my absolute favorites and the whole month of December! I am sad for them to go back to school tomorrow. I sure love spending time with my husband and children!
