December 8

The kids each have a special Christmas book given to them by Ryan's parents.  Each year we take time to read them with their accompanying letters.

December 7

We had fun decorating our lovely tree.  Here it is all finished.  And re-arranged 20 times by Becky:

Please take a moment to notice my reciently finished sheer curtains that go behind the drapes in the living room:

(Close-up for easy viewing)

December 6

I have pictures for this one!

Ok, one picture.  I made the gingerbread this year.  Fancy.  Then I got Sciatica for a week.  I blame it on the gingerbread.  (really it's from laying 264 fourteen pound bricks in my front yard...that's another story).  Ryan, his dad, and the kids made the houses while I was gone teaching violin lessons.  I'm not fond of making them so it was perfect for that day.

December 5

We got a lovely tree from the "Trees for Charity" lot.  The man who runs it is so nice and easy going about people who might change their minds.  Multiple times.  He also runs a wedding and party business so he sets up his giant blow-up bounce houses and slide and lets kids play on them as much as they want to.  Our kids jumped in the bounce house for at least 10 minutes while we sat in the warm, running car after we got the tree.  It was 4 degrees out.  They didn't notice.

December 4

We really enjoyed the Christmas Devotional.  Sometimes it's hard to get the kids into this so we made Ginger cookies and drank hot cocoa or apple cider.  The kids had fun and really listened too!

December 3

We went to the Ward Christmas Party.  The End.

December 2

We brought out the Christmas music CD's.  Christmas music is a pretty big deal in our family.  Ryan's dad has an extensive collection (that is a major understatement) and so we listen to LOTS of Christmas music.

Some of the kids' favorites this year are:
I want a hippopotumus for Christmas-becky
R2D2 We wish you a Merry Christmas-b&z
I'm A Christmas Tree-b&z

Some of my favorites:
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (by Hilary Weeks)
Ave Maria (by Celine)
O, Holy Night (Celine, of course)
Christmastime (Hilary Weeks)