December Fun
Monday, November 30th – We got back from Utah on Sunday night, the 29th. Chris and Ryan got all the Christmas bins down and during the next day I started decorating. That night the kids helped with both of the trees. It’s so much faster than it used to be—they are good helpers! I still can’t believe it’s Christmas time.
Nutcrackers out for another season.
Tuesday, December 1st
Buddy the Elf starts hiding around the house to check on the kids.
Wednesday, December 2nd
Snowman Drawing. After reading one of our favorite Snowmen books we pulled them all to the table and had fun drawing snowmen while eating cookies.
Thursday, December 3rd
Luke had a Family Culture project due on Friday so he and I worked on it for an evening and got it all done. We chose to research Samuel Wittwer who was born in Bern, Switzerland. Since we have been to Bern as a family, it was fun to include some pictures of Luke being there. Luke practiced reading his essay and showing the pictures and did a great job on his assignment. That’s my kind of homework.
Friday, December 4th
Tacky Christmas sweater Day for Emily’s School. I think she makes it look pretty good!
Saturday, December 5th
Family Saturday pancake breakfast. Snowmen for Matt and Luke -- it’s nice to have a lazy Saturday morning to sleep in and have breakfast together. It doesn’t happen very often with soccer games and busy schedules.
Sunday, December 6th
The kids put their shoes out on the front porch for St. Nicholas Day. German chocolates, Happy Hippos, and a few dollars.
Monday, December 7th
We decorated ginger bread houses for FHE. It’s been quite a few years since we’ve done that so the kids didn’t have any memories of it. We split up into two groups – Dad and the girls, and Mom and the boys – and watched ELF while we decorated. Really fun.
Tuesday, December 8
Luke’s Second Grade Christmas performance. I went to the Matinnee performance. He was Elf #4 and was so excited about his lines and was definitely the most bouncy enthusiastic singer/dancer. This boy feels the beat with his whole body. Luke had another performance at 6:30 and I picked him up after going to Katie’s choir concert at the High School.
Katie’s has loved being in Women’s Ensemble this year. It was really fun. I went by myself and loved it!!
Wednesday, December 9th
Matt David Johnson – 6 and a haf years old – Reindeer Application
Thursday, December 10th
Thursday was another busy day. Matthew participated in his First Grade ‘Elves Meet Elfis’ Christmas Play… the exact one Luke did. Matthew was Chinese Boy #1 They elves invited many children from different countries to come and help out at the North Pole. Luke got to say his lines and then help decorate the North Pole Christmas tree. He was so excited to do it. I went to the Matinee in the afternoon and then Dad went to his 6:30 performance.
Also that night the kids had their Christmas Piano Recital at Granger Music with Sister Cook. It was a really fun recital and the kids did great.
- Ryan played and a duet with Chris Kinnard – The Grinch
- Katie played ‘Popular’ from Wicked and a duet with Ally Cook – ‘Jingle Bells’
- Emily played ‘For the First Time in Forever’ from Frozen and a duet with Faith – ‘The First Noel’
- Megan played ‘Sunburst Waltz’ and a duet with Hannah ‘Little Drummer Boy’
- Luke played ‘Good King Wenceslas’ and Jingle Bells’ as duets with Sister Cook
Chris and Matthew got there in time to see most of the kids perform.
Sister Cook with all of her piano students…
Friday, December 11th
Chris and I went to Chris’ Work Party at Dr. Reed’s house.
Ryan and Tate asked Jordan and Lauren on a Christmas ELF double date… They went ice skating and ate spaghetti covered in candy and syrup.
Saturday, December 12th
Luke and Matt spent six weeks on a YMCA basketball team with Spencer Gillespie. Luke had a great experience, but Matt found it hard to compete as it was an all Second Grade team and he is a First Grader. Poor guy felt pretty discouraged at the beginning but pushed through it and was a great defender.
That night we headed to the Russells house to play games with them and the Cooks. : )
Sunday, December 13th
We went to the Stake Christmas Concert at the Stake Center. It was fantastic. We also picked up the car from the shop after Ryan slipped on the ice and slid right into the
Monday, December 14th
For Family Home Evening we went out and delivered goodies to our neighbors and friends. This year… Squamish Bars.
Tuesday, December 15th
Tuesday we woke up to a ton of snow. SNOW DAY! If the amount of snow was lined up evenly on the ground, then it might not have been too impressive, but the wind was blowing like crazy and the drifts of snow in the backyard and right by our front door were pretty substantial. Most of us were happy to spend the day inside by the fire but Katie and Megan wanted to go out and play in it. They lasted about 10 minutes. The wind was pretty fierce.
Chris and I wrapped presents and watched a cheezy but cute Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel. Finally getting some stuff wrapped!!
Wednesday, December 16th
A few pics of the house. I just love it all decorated. New ‘Merry’ pillows from Adam and Marilee. : ) I love my new hot chocolate mug from Brian.
Cute Matthew and his First Grade Christmas Essay… “Christmas is asum. First, we get presents. They are asum presints. Next, there is a Christmas tree. We put a star on. Lastly, we hav christmas brecfist. It is yellow and mushey. In conclusion, this is the best holluday!
Thursday, December 17th
Silly Matt all ready for school. He was looking through Chatbooks before school started. Megan frowning about her bruise – she fell off her scooter and scrapped up her face the day before.
Friday, December 18th
Last day of school!! We checked the kids out of school a little early and headed to the movie theater to see STAR WARS. Everyone was so excited! It was really really good. Then we headed over to see Santa in the mall and then ate dinner at Chick-fil-A in the food court. While we were there an older gentlemen came up to tell us that he was so impressed with our family and could easily see that our family had a great deal of love for eachother. What a sweet man to give us such a compliment. It was a great night.
Saturday, December 19th
We had the Hales, Harveys, Russells and Richins over to watch the BYU Bowl Game. It was a really depressing beginning but we caught up and ALMOST won. We had a great time with our friends, though.
Ryan, Katie, and Emily danced with the Hansens and friends at the Hansens Reception. They had so much fun rehearsing this month and performing at the Reception. They love it!
Sunday, December 20th
Ryan, Katie, Emily, Megan and I sang in the Ward Christmas Choir for the Christmas program. It was a great program. Joe Hale did a great job. So fun to be a part of. That night we did a ‘Christ Centered Christmas’ family home evening and focused on Mary and the Shepard. We read scriptures and talked about Mary and then for our Shephard activity we went into the dark piano room, lit the candles on our German pyramids, and took turns bearing our testimonies to each other. It was one of my favorite nights of December for sure. I just love feeling the spirit with my kids and hearing them testify.
Monday, December 21st
The Pattersons had us over for their annual Christmas Sing Along. Tons of people there! So fun to eat, talk, sing and play a huge round of White Elephant Exchange. Fun night.
Tuesday, December 22nd
The Ward Party was simple and great. We all brought treats, and ate them sitting on our blankets while we watched Mr. Krueger’s Christmas and then sang some carols. It doesn’t have to be elaborate to be great! I love Christmas time!
Wednesday, December 23rd – Christmas Adam
Chris got off early from work and we made a quick decision to head up to the German Market in Denver. It was the last hour of the last night so there wasn’t much food left – we’ll have to plan better next year. We ate pretzels and wandered around. At this point, the kids knew nothing of our secret upcoming trip to Germany but Chris and I winked at each other several times throughout the evening. It was lightly snowing as we walked through the stalls – so fun to see the German nutcrackers and German decorations. After a half hour or so we walked across the street and ate dinner at a Salad and Soup cafe and then wandered up the street which was all decorated for Christmas. What a fun night!
Thursday, December 24th
We invited the Cooks, Russells, Jacksons and Richins over for Christmas Eve and had a great pot luck turkey/ham Christmas Eve dinner, watched the kids act out the Nativity, played some chimes, ate Christmas treats and visited. The kids were pretty excited and it was so fun to share the evening with friends. Go straight to the Christmas Eve post to see all of the fun.
Friday, December 25th
Christmas was just wonderful. Go straight to the Christmas Day post to see all of the fun.
Saturday, December 26th
We relaxed, watched movies, played games, ate leftovers and cleaned up. Chris’ parents flew in that night.
Sunday, December 27th
Katie and Emily performed a duet “How Gentle God’s Command’ during Sacrament meeting. I took a picture while they practiced. After church and a pot roast dinner, we had another Christmas and opened up Grandma and Grandpa’s presents. Go straight to the Christmas with G&G post to see all the pics.
Monday, December 28th
Emily’s 13th Birthday!! We opened presents at 11:00 and then headed to Barnes and Noble for the kids to use their stocking gift cards. We all love looking around in Barnes and Noble! Then we headed to Pei Wei for lunch. Go to the Emily’s 13 post to see all the pics. When we got home, I took off with Tiffany to go to the Denver Bronco’s Game. It was a FREEZING COLD night but we were lucky to be watching the game from a suite complete with Prime Rib dinner. So fun!!
Tuesday, December 29th
Bowling, laser tag, and pizza at The Summit. Check out the post for all the pics.
Wednesday, December 30th
Our 20th Anniversary!! Grandma, Grandpa and I met Chris at the German Edelweiss Restaurant for lunch to celebrate.
So fun to have Grandma and Grandpa here for a few days!
Thursday, December 31st – New Years Eve
Chris had to work but the rest of us went over to the Russell’s house for Belgium Waffles with carmel syrup and ice cream and a night of games. Ryan came over after work and then he and Katie and Ally and Chase went to the New Year’s Eve Dance at about 8:30. The little kids all made it till midnight and we watched the countdown on the TV and then shouted and danced. Fun night with friends.
