Christmas season 2017 was a warm and wonderful one. Our month filled up with ways to celebrate, concerts to attend and time to share. The weekend the lights were turned on downtown was a perfect time for us to stroll. We got a little tour of the conference center and moseyed about enjoying the twinkling lights.
Grant had a Christmas concert at school with his mixed choir that was really fun. His choir teacher, extended the invitation to be in Concert Choir for the rest of the year.
Having discovered his new found love of singing, Grant dropped Spanish and is now in choir all year. Adios amigos!
Speaking of singing, we did our annual caroling at a care center with some neighbor friends. This is our 5th year running and we had a great time. The kids really look forward to it. It's an all around highlight of our December. We all feel like we can feel the true spirit of Christmas.
Brenna had a busy month with a special holiday program by her grade. She was all smiles as she performed that night. She was disappointed because the class had to draw straws for their parts. I guess we'd say she drew the short stick because she was one of the last to choose, so while she did not get to do the hula for 'Mele Kaliki Maka,' she got a stellar spot and had some great art displayed.
Miss B was nervous all month about whether or not she would get coal. She was sure she didn't deserve gifts.
I think some confession time on the St Nicholas' knee put her at ease. It all turned out well for her in the end!
She had her ballet performance of Snow White where she worked her little pick axe as dainty as a little ginger ballerina can.
Number 2 had a pleasant holiday season as well. Katelee practiced long and hard for our piano recital.
She played an awesome version of the Hallelujah Chorus while Brenna tickled the ivories with a little Up On the Housetop action.
Brenna is a new addition to the piano crew, as well as Addie and Collin. We lost Grant, that little rascal would no more be coaxed into playing. It has been so fun to teach piano. I never planned on it, but it is rewarding to see my little students growing.
Harrison visited with Santa a couple of times. When we had the photos taken with the kids and the Mrs, we had made an appointment at Scheel's. It was pretty much the best set up. Santa was in a little room hidden away, so no one even knew. You could tell him your secret Christmas wishes
and then head out to ride the Ferris Wheel! Win for sure!
This Santa was at the library one day and was just so excited to see Harrison. It really took us off guard.
Harry and I were there to pick out books and Kris Kringle was calling him over and ready to present a present bag for Harry. It was a fun surprise. We didn't mind seeing the Grinch either!
(Harry is still working on that natural smile...apparently it eludes him)
We had a couple more downtown outings-one with just Dave and me. We went to the phenomenal Christmas concert the Motab puts on. We also took the kids down again to drop off things for the Candy Cane Corner store and learn about how it benefits the Road Home. While down there, we had to get treats and walk through the Grand America. Who did we see again? The Grinch!
One fun weekend, we went to a church that was displaying hundreds of Nativity scenes. We invited our friends, the Smith's to join us. The church had a seek and find challenge for the nativities, a video in a different room about Jesus' birth, cider and cookies, and a manger photo op scene. Katelee played a fetching Joseph.
We loved it so much, I quickly shot out a text to my family to run over. We caught them just as they were leaving. It is amazing to see other cultures and countries worship the Savior and their art. Loved it. He is the one to emulate. Harrison has that down. We were discussing the story of Nephi and we were saying who would be Nephi, Laman/Lemuel. We determined Harry would be a brother and he just shook his head and said, "Nope. I am Jesus."
He has an identity crisis apparently, though, because at the nativity scene he wanted to be Mary. He did tell me I am the best mother in all the land, and in his words, "you know who is number 2? Mary, Jesus' mom." Maybe that night, he let the doll be Jesus and he would go for number 2?!??
The much anticipated evening FINALLY arrived and we were able to have Mark and Amy drop by. We headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for Christmas Eve dinner/party.
We sang, we ate, we opened presents. It was glorious.
IT was time to watch and wait for Santa. We went back home and the kids had their annual "sleepover" which means little to no sleeping.
Christmas morning was happy and fun as we exchanged gifts and love. We surprised the kids with tickets to Disneyland and took no pictures, but we did video their reaction. It was joyful! We love spending the day in jammies, having Shannon, Grandma and Grandpa stop by. We played games and Brenna put on a most mysterious and entertaining magic show with her magic set she received from Santa. The whole day was magical!
And so, another year wrapped up. We stayed up late on New Years, reveled in the memories 2017 brought us and anticipated the experiences ahead in 2018. While years pass by in the blink of an eye and we constantly find our selves wondering, how did we get here already? We find contentment and fulfillment in the now. We do miss the years gone by, but we know they are with us because they've made us who we are and we wouldn't trade where we are for the world. On to a new year!
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