This is the third or fourth year I’ve journaled almost the whole December in one big post… and I love it – but it sure does take awhile to put together. A great month…
Monday, December 1st – We arrived home from our fun St. George Thanksgiving Trip just hours before December began. At the same time I was flying home from my Grandpa’s funeral, Amy and Chris had just missed their connection in Denver due to weather and were stuck in Denver for the next 24 hours. They rented a car and came to stay with us. Still sick, they tried to get some sleep and do some laundry while I took five of my kids to the dentist and managed a cavity-free visit. Now that’s worth celebrating. Amy, Chris and I headed to Costa Vida for lunch before they made their way back to the airport. So fun to see them – but miserable circumstances for them.
For FHE that night we started our CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTMAS packets. It’s been three years since I’d done that with the kids and thought it would be fun to redo. Our first lesson was on THE LAMB.
Tuesday, December 2nd - Unfortunately Matt stood on the end of the bathroom stool, which flipped back causing him to smack his chin hard on the bathroom granite, splitting his chin open. I was right there when it happened and knew it was bad. Who knew brushing your teeth could be so dangerous. Off we went, Matt and I, to Memorial North. We called Chris, who was working at Memorial South to come up and meet us. He was a brave boy and did great while they gave him a couple stiches. Poor guy even walked away with a transformer toy from the nurse.
Friday, December 5th – We kicked off the Holiday Season with an Adult Friend Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange. It was so much fun. We ate, visited, played ‘Telephone Charades’ which was really funny and then exchanged White Elephant Gifts – which was even funnier. Lots and lots of laughing. We have so many great friends here – and plenty more we’d love to get to know better.
Saturday, December 6th –ST. NICHOLAS DAY The kids made sure to put their shoes out the night before and woke up to find them filled with candy.
Unfortunately Luke wasn’t feeling great. He spent the next couple days lying on the couch, or the floor or sleeping right outside our bedroom door. So he got his boot brought in and placed next to him.
Saturday night I took the kids (minus Luke) to the Stake Crèche and Live Nativity. This is our second year going and it’s really well done. Fun to look at all the different kinds of crèches and see where they are from. The live Nativity afterwards was well done. A great Christmas tradition.
Sunday, December 7th – A great Sunday. After church we did another Christ Centered Christmas Lesson and then watched the First Presidency Devotional while we did a puzzle.
Tuesday, December 9th – Buddy the Elf came back to us this year. He doesn’t do crazy or naughty stuff. He just hangs out – sometimes in the same place for awhile. He’s pretty laid back but we like him.
Thursday, December 11th – The First Grade classes in Luke’s school put on a cute Christmas Musical called ‘The Reindeers Won’t Fly’. Luke’s part was – Present #2 He said his line beautifully and even had a little solo in one of the songs which he was pretty excited about. Cutest little present around.
Earlier in the week Luke received his glasses. He had been opening his eyes wide and scrunching his forehead in an unusual way that made me think that he was straining his eyes to see. When I took him in for an eye exam the Ophthalmologist said that he can see great, but his eyes need a longer adjustment period when he changes to focus on something new. Wearing glasses when he’s at school and changing focus between his work and the white board is especially important. So really it’s just for school and reading but he’s so darn excited about them he wants to wear them all the time… even to the Christmas Musical.
Chris and I were able to go see the performance during the day when they performed for the other younger grades – which was great because we got really great seats. He did such a cute job and definitely gives lots of expression and exudes happiness. Cute boy. After he was done he said, “ I want to do it everyday! It was so fun! I want to be a rock star by doing it!” So funny.
Ryan took him to the evening performance. We weren’t able to make it since Chris was working his Tele-radiology Night Job and I had just received a new calling and was going to be set apart at the Stake Center. I was just recently called as the 2nd Counselor in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. Brenda Lyman is the President. Connie Lutz, the 1st counselor, and Teresa Erickson as the Secretary. Great women. Excited to start a new calling but sad to leave the YW. Emily was in tears several times about it since she’ll be heading into Beehives in two weeks. But she’ll do great and love Sis. Budge!
Friday, December 12th – Emily went to the Beehive Christmas Party at Maggie’s house
Saturday, December 13th – We went to see Santa but the line was crazy long so the kids decided to tell their wish list to the Reindeer instead. Costa Vida for lunch and then a family Christmas shopping excursion – the kind where you split up and hide things from each other. The kids had been so anxious for that kind of magical shopping.
That night we went to the Ward Christmas Party which was really really well done. It was called Sounds of the Season and it was hours of back to back Christmasy musical numbers, guitar and piano pieces and soloists. It was really great. We ate dinner while listening to music. Great atmosphere. Santa came at the end and Luke and Matt were pretty excited.
Sunday, December 14th – The kids have a great time playing with each other. Today almost everyone was making a little town in the hallway. Then I was banished to my room with hot chocolate since Chris and the kids were wrapping presents.
That night we went to the Colorado Springs North Stake Music Program. ‘Come Let Me Adore Him’. Tiffany Hale led the choir and to support her I joined in and had fun singing with Leah. We sang some great songs and the whole production was amazing. This stake has some real talent. I brought the kids early with me (Chris came right in time for the production and then left as soon as it was over since he was on nights) and told Megan, Luke and Matt to rate each musical number and tell me which ones they liked the best to try to help them stay focused. When Brother Hale (our neighbor and soloist extraordinaire) sang O Holy Night, the kids gave him 1,00,000 out of 10. And I’d have to agree with them. Beautiful. I love this Stake.
Monday, December 15th – Beautiful Colorado Snow
We headed over to the Cooks house for FHE to play chimes. (Chris came late for an hour since he was working nights) We brought our chimes and everyone was able to have one or two. Fun to be together. (This is where we realized Matt’s amazing hula hoop skills that had us laughing SO hard. Love that kid!)
Tuesday, December 16th – Activity Days Christmas Party for Emily and Megan. Then off to the Christmas Piano Recital with Sister Cook. We had it at a Recital Hall so the kids were all able to play on a Grand Piano. (Chris came late for an hour since he was working nights) It was really great. Ryan, Katie, Emily and Megan each played a solo piece and a duet. Three quarters through the program Matt gets off his seat and wanders down the isle to ask me… “Mom, when is it my turn?” He really thought that he got to have a turn. When I told him he wasn’t going to get a turn, he was crushed. He thought he totally deserved a turn since Megan had taught him how to play Jingle Bells.
All of Sister Cook’s piano students.
Thursday, December 18th
We went to see Santa at the mall on Thursday night. Ryan and Katie were busy studying for finals so we just took the youngest four. After Santa (no iPhone pictures allowed) we took Emily to go get her ears pierced. It was totally spontaneous – she knew she was getting them done for her 12th birthday and was excited but that was still two weeks away. She was nervous but did great and was excited to come home and show Katie.
Friday, December 19th Friday morning I headed to the Commissary to get the bulk of the Walton Christmas Grocery Shopping done. Then I texted the picture of my grocery cart to my brothers and sisters. We’re not going to starve! Back at home we’d been accumulating quite a pile of packages that had been sent to the house. I wish I would have taken one right before Christmas because the deliveries kept on coming. This pile doesn’t include Chris and mine which got stored upstairs. This was really just G&G’s, Dan’s and Amy’s.
All the Kids had Christmas Parties but Friday afternoon I went and helped with Megan’s. Heather had them drawing Christmas pictures on a paper plate on their head and Tiffany and I helped with light bulb reindeer necklaces. And lots of treats. Katie came with me since her Finals had finished earlier that morning. After Megan’s, we popped in to see Matthew during his party. Boy, are we anxious to have a break from School. The excitement level is HIGH.
Friday night Ryan and Katie got some Cordera ward friends together (and Tate) to go Caroling. They did some of the ward members in the neighborhood and then ended at our house.
Saturday, December 20th Brian arrived at about 5:00 and then we were off. We started the Walton Christmas Party Week with a trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Electric Safari. The whole zoo is lit up with lights and we wandered all around seeing animals and taking in the lights. We went prepared for cold and therefore were warm enough. So fun to have Brian here.
Monday, December 22nd – Mom and Dad flew into Denver and Brian and I braved the snowstorm to go pick them up. I think it was 5 hour round trip because of the weather. Crazy – but so fun to have them here!!!
Tuesday, December 23rd – Christmas Adam! We decided to open our presents from Ashlyn on Christmas Adam. She always does such a cute job putting together things for us!. Chris and I got a beautiful picture of Santa kneeling by the baby Jesus. Ryan got a Target gift card with a ‘Scavenger Hunt’ List of things to do and take pictures of for a group date. So cute!! (He did it with two other couples and they all had a great time!!) Katie got a beautiful map of Paris that we need to get framed! Emily and Megan got lotions and chap sticks and an Anna doll costume (from Frozen). Matt and Luke got superhero Lego in cute little bags. Thanks ASH!!
Grandpa volunteered to go get Dan and family from the Denver Airport which was so nice of him. Amy, Chris, Jane and Peter arrived driving from Indianapolis just minutes before Mike and Carly arrived driving from Phoenix. And then Dan, Sarah, Annie, Leah, James and Kate! A full house – everyone here except Scott and Elisha who will come after Christmas.
Wednesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve merits it’s own post…
Thursday, December 25th – Christmas Day does too…
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