Now to hit the highlights of December other than the kids birthdays...
The month started with the ward Christmas party. Unfortunately Joe and Eve were sick and the girls were at their state competition so it was just me and the boys. Eli was my only one visiting Santa this year:
He also got the part of the donkey in the Nativity play:
It was really cute watching them.
I loved showing Eve Christmas movies. One day we made popcorn and watched The Nutcracker together:
The girls had their choir Christmas concert. They sang "Pat-a-pan" with the Merritts and did so well. It was beautiful!
They also did a sing-a-long through the halls of Horizon and Regina got these pictures for me:
Lizzie and I got to go see The Nutcracker at CSI together. Well, I tagged along with her and her friends since they were supporting one of their friends who was in it. Natalie popped in for part of it too but then left to see a different play. It took me back to taking them when they were tiny. I'm just glad they love it too.
Joe and I drove to CA alone for my parents' 50th anniversary celebration. The drive there was actually really nice. I love roadtripping with him.
It was a pretty low-key celebration. We got dinner with Matt, Melissa, and Andrew (who came with them) at Bud's that night and then stayed at a hotel. The next morning we gathered at my parents' and had a nice talk together. My parents talked about how they got together and I even learned things I didn't know. Then we got Dave Wong's takeout. Then we all sat in my parents' room and watched a slideshow I had put together (with pictures from everyone) and talked about things we've learned from them. I loved that time together so much. I love these people:
Here are some pictures I want to have of them from their younger years:
I loved driving down Meadow Dr. again to see the lights, which we used to do every year when I was younger.
We ended up staying one night in Greenwood and loved all the snow there:
Our kids were well taken care of while we were gone by Marsha and Regina too:
Joe, Eve and I were doing some shopping, including for a mattress, soon before Christmas and Eve hurt her arm. We could tell right away that it was nursemaid's elbow again. It was the second time for this girl, sadly. We went to an urgent care place and she was so sad while we waited. Then, as we were heading back to the room and getting settled, somehow it fixed itself and by the time the doctor came in she was completely fine. I think it must have snapped back into place.
We made Christmas cookies to deliver again:
Some little girl snuck bites while I wasn't looking:
Eve loves riding the skateboard down the driveway (laying on it), even in the snow:
We had our fancy dinner a couple days before Christmas again, with Marsha joining us:
We played some games and I thought this picture Eve took was pretty artsy:
We delivered some secret gifts and I loved this picture Natalie posted on Instagram:
We went to the family graves again on Christmas Eve, and then to Uncle John and Aunt Mary Lynn's and to Chris and Regina's for finger food. We were late getting home so we actually took our Christmas PJs pictures in the morning after stockings and before we opened presents:
Seeing stockings:
Opening presents:
The boys got one of their Christmas wishes: to be owners of a square foot of land in Scotland so they can be Scottish Lords :).
Eve loved this tent Eli got her:
Christmas was on a Sunday so we had to get ready for sacrament meeting. Especially because Eli had a musical number. He played "What Child is This" on his cello all by himself and did a fantastic job:
Lizzie and I also sang in the choir. It was a really powerful meeting.
We got invited to the Doughty's for some musical/acting fun that night:
Greta came out in a Grinch costume and completely freaked out Eve. It was pretty funny.
It was a great Christmas!
Unfortunately, soon after Christmas a nasty stomach bug went around our family. It hit Eve really hard and fast and she had a horrible night. She was throwing up/heaving every 15 min for hours. I took this the next morning when she finally got some good sleep. I didn't want to move for hours:
The kids were super nice and decorated our door for our anniversary:
Joe and I got to sneak out that night for our anniversary, even though Eli got sick that day too. Natalie ended up catching the bug, too.
We went to a restaurant in Hailey. I'm so grateful for him and that I've had him by my side all of these years.
