Chirstmas Events

Along with family holiday traditions, come holiday concerts and events too!  The kids had their Christmas concert the middle of the month.

Clark


Cal


Shanna


Haley


Cal walked right up and played his first song memorized.  So cool!  Haley messed up, which surprised me as she plays the song great at home.  Though I know there are recital gitters. In 2018 Elden will be joining the ranks in piano!




Some other service pictures...more letter writing expressing thanks.


And another Secret Santa run.


Elden had a 2nd grade Christmas program.  That night the kids held open the doors for people attending the program.












Elden had a speaking part and did a nice job. It was fun seeing him up there. I was quite surprised too that he even wanted to volunteer for a speaking part.  He flat out refused to participate in some dancing that the 2nd graders learned/performed for an American Indian program.










Also the middle schoolers, Clark and Cal, had a Winter Band Concert. 


Can you spot Clark?  He was a good sport and played in the 6th grade band too.  I don't think they have any baritone players in that grade. By the way, Clark tried out for district band, and was selected!  I guess it's a somewhat hard audition.


There is Cal!  I am sure you can tell, but he chose to play the trumpet in band.




The middle schoolers!  Hmm...just noticed Cal has brown shoes on.....


Another service activity we donated some toys and clothes.


Lee has been having problems with his thermostat at work.  He switched it out for a new one, but turns out that wasn't the problem.  Lee likes his new thermostat though.


I make copies every week at school and I love it.  The teachers were so sweet and gave me these fun Christmas goodies!


Another night the kids helped Lee with a plaque to recognize the young women in our ward who completed their Young Women in Excellence. 










Another holiday event I look forward to is Lee's work party.  We don't do anything big, but we treat the team members to dinner and gave them a card and a gift. I finally bought a new, somewhat dressy outfit! 


Shanna had mismatch day at school.  So did the other kids too, ha ha.  Shanna did more of a half & half day.


One other service the kids did was helping out their siblings. Mainly it was putting away their stuff that should have been put away anyway....




This year for the ward Christmas event, we had a breakfast, which was so fun!  We were invited to wear pjs too so we got out our Christmas pjs early.  While we ate some of the kids went up and played their Christmas recital songs. 


We won the award for best matching pjs.  I also sang in a sextet, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".  It was a challenging a capella piece, but it turned out great and I think we did a nice job. My friend Brittany hunted down the music and got us all together for practices.  It was fun joining it!


My mom sent the kids these cute "mini" scarves for Christmas, that my niece Ila made for her.  Lee's parents also sent the kids some cute ornaments.  I never got a picture with them and their ornaments though.  I am going to have to remember to do this next year.


The same afternoon (after the ward breakfast) we went to the stake center to get some holiday food for some members in our congregation. We did some shopping too, beforehand.






That night Lee and I enjoyed being at my friend Tara's holiday party.  It was adults only and we had a fun night visiting and eating goodies.  Tara has so many fun holiday decorations too, which is always a treat to see.


Not very Christmas-y, but the boys had a year-end court of honor.  Clark was able to plan out the court of honor for a merit badge.  Clark received some merit badges and is almost Life scout (one merit badge left!).  Cal received his Tenderfoot and a merit badge. He is so close to being done with 2nd class, but the whole camping bit is holding him up.


Shanna's selfie.


The second to last day of school the kids do a sing-a-long at school which I think is so fun.  I've never really gone to one, and missed the whole first half.  But I stayed and sat with Elden.  At the very end I was able to listen to Shanna and Haley sing in the combined choir.






Later that day the 4th graders had a multiplication award ice cream party.  If you passed multiplication up to 12, you got all of toppings.  Haley made it to her 12s and Shanna her 11s.




I texted Lee and told him to come down if he had a moment and get some ice cream. He had a moment!


This is a new tradition I want to do: caroling at the nursing home.  We've actually done it two other times I believe while living here, but we need to make it consistent.  It was so fun, and even better going with other people.  Banita and her kids joined us for the evening.












Whew, are you tired yet?  I can't believe everything we did.  And Christmas is still to come!  What great season!