Pre-school

For December, we took our pre-school kids to the food bank and taught them about giving to the poor.  They each brought in 3 cans of food and go to organize it.  It was really fun. 

 

 

We then left the food bank and noticed that that Livestock Auction was open.  So we extended our field-trip and headed over to the action.  We then go to watch a live cow auction.  IT was totally awesome.  My kids now truly understand were their meat comes from.

 

Then we had a Christmas party for pre-school.  We played games, read books, made ornaments and decorated cookies.  I really enjoy this mom's pre-school we have become part of.

Christmas Colors

 

My red and green kids.  We dressed up to see Santa at the ward party but then left early!!!!

 

Dressed up to visit the nursing home but ended up watching a movie and staying home with sick Eli

Dressed up to see Santa and Ms. Clase... and it worked.    Love Christmas shirts.

nativity

 

We drove up to Moscow to Christmas shop and attend the Fesital of Nativities.  It was beautiful...

 

These are now my favorite pictures....

Mamma's Parties

 

I hosted a girls-night gift exchange party. And it was a total success.  I did these in Florida as well and girls looked forward to them each year.  So it's safe to say this was the 1st annual.  I was happy to get lots of girls from my ward to come. 

 

Me and Dianna

 

 

Leif and I got invited to a couples Christmas-dinner party.  It was super fun.  We had a nice dinner then plays some Christmas games.  My favorite was decorate the Christmas tree. 

 

The boys (leif was on call)

 

The girls

friends

When I think of Christmas I think.... cookies.  The twins love decorating and I love hosting.  So we have had many friends over to help decorate.  It has been fun. 

Eli now loves sugar cookies.

 

 

 

 

One day we even did a "Polar Express" Night where we took a trip to the North Pole.

Lights

There is an awesome park here that has the best lights.  They have music playing throughout the park and a music tree that dances to the music.  OK, it might not be as good as Largo Central Park, but it's good for a small town.  We had a lot of fun going for Family Night.  And then the very next night the kids asked to go again.

 

 

Projects.

The day after Thanksgiving we put up the Christmas tree, and all our decorations.  Then on December 1st the tradition starts with Buddy the Elf and our Advent calendars.  Each day during December the kids pick an activity from the advent calendar.  That means every-day there is a project to make or and activity to do.  And the twins love it.  We have made LOTS of Christmas tree ornaments this year and lots of crafts.  Here are just a few. 

 

 

 

daddy picture.

Savannah always wants to take pictures with her Daddy. She is always telling him how much she loves him.  It is the cutest thing. 

Thanks-giving

Thanksgiving 2014 was a quite and peaceful weekend.  Leif only had Thanksgiving off so we stayed in Clarkston and had a small celebration.  For dinner we art with another family our ward (The Simpson's).  It was an awesome dinner.  We played at their home and watched football.  That evening Leif and I go to watch a movie while the kids slept. 

 

I didn't get any pictures of Thanksgiving day.... but I got lots of pictures of our Thanksgiving crafts.  We made a thankful-tree this year.  Each morning we added leaves to the tree.  We also made turkey shirts and turkey paintings.  We got lots of book on turkeys and read all about them.  Gobble gobble!!!

 

Spokane SNOW

 We took a short trip to Spokane.  We got to go to the temple.  We went out to eat.  We visited with cousins and friends.  We went rock-climbing at Wild Walls.  AND WE GOT TO PLAY IN THE SNOW.  This was a first for my children.  Thy were so so excited about the snow.  And lucky for us, my mother had enough snow-gear for all of us.  Plus the kids received their Christmas Presents a month early.  Grandma and Grandpa gave them both sleds, and they loved them.   It was a successful snow day.