December 27. Saturday morning we packed up and headed home with all our Christmas loot, but not before Abby and Stan tried out their new scooters.
I spent my Birthday running errands and in the kitchen, which was just fine by me. Bryce and I got new sheets for Christmas and the kids tried to take over our bed.
December 28. On Sunday we headed back up to Grandma and Grandpa's to hear them speak in Church and celebrate my birthday officially. Stan wanted to wear his old Vadar costume. He wanted to wear it to Church, but we do have some boundaries.
December 29. On Monday, for Family Home Evening we went to see the lights in Draper Park. People have said that large tree looks like the Tree of Life. We talked about Lehi's dream on the way there and had frozen yogurt afterwards. It was VERY cold.
December 30-31. We ended the year the way we began it--with dinner at our friends the Kopaigora's. Then we spent one more night at Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's. Good thing they like us because we have spent lots of time together this holiday season.
December 20. On Saturday we had a bit of a lazy day at home. I got my errands done before 9am and I have to say: I LOVE Christmas hours at the store. Seriously, so awesome to be able to shop so early.
In the afternoon I decided to try my hand a rosettes. They turned out to be fairly easy to make. The batter is a lot like a crepe and is simply fried on the iron. I don't know why I hadn't tried it sooner. I might have to do it again next Christmas.
December 21-22. On Monday, Bryce had surgery on his eyes. He had begun experiencing some cloudiness which can happen after cataract surgery (which he had in April 2013). It was a simple procedure that uses a laser to break up the cloudiness. All went well and it really improved his vision.
December 23. On Tuesday we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's. But not before making a mess in our own house. The kids made sugar cookies to leave for Santa. The boys also got to sleep over while Mom when home to get ready for Christmas.
December 24. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. We spent the afternoon at Boondocks playing video games and laser tag. We even earned enough tickets for each kid to get a stuffed snake.
After the fun and games we had take-out Chinese food for dinner. The kids got to open new pajamas to sleep in and then we read the Christmas story.
December 25. On Christmas morning we discovered that Santa came!
December 26. Saturday was a nice relaxing day at Grandma and Grandpa Hansesn's. We got to play with our toys, eat leftover Chinese food and generally enjoy being with family.
December 13. Kimball's piano teacher offered us some free tickets to the symphony for the Here Comes Santa Clause performance. It was really fun for the boys to see Abravanel Hall and hear the symphony. Although it was only an hour, they were bored about half way through.
Our elf, Pippen, was hugging Baby Jesus today.
December 14. Sunday was our cousin gift exchange. John and Jill made a delicious pork roast with rosemary. We also attempted a nativity, which was just a little chaotic.
December 15. Monday was Stanford's preschool Christmas program.
December 16-17. We have developed some fun routines for the Christmas holiday. First thing in the morning the kids get to eat a chocolate from calendars they got from Pippen the elf on December 1st. Next they like to see what is new in the computer advent calendar from Nana and Papa. In the evening we open one of the Christmas books I have wrapped. We are loving these small moments of celebrating Christmas together. I love to see the pictures that the kids draw. Below is one of Kimball's.
December 18. On Thursday we spent the morning running errands. Stanford refused to go to Preschool like he does nearly every morning and I was too tired to fight him. I also let him wear his old tiger costume which is size 24 months. The triumph of the day was fixing the vacuum with a new belt.
December 19. Kimball used the blocks to recreate the 12 days of Christmas. It's hard to tell, but in there are 12 lords a leaping, 11 ladies dancing, 10 drummers drumming, 9 pipers piping, 8 maids a milking, 7 swans a swimming, 6 geese a laying, 5 gold rings, 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. (He would refer to the partridge as a "tar pidgeon" until he could remember it correctly).
December 6. Saturday morning was our Ward Christmas Breakfast. After we ate they took all the kids out into the hall and did an impromptu Nativity. Kimball was Joseph. Stan refused to participate.
In the afternoon Kimball had a piano recital at a retirement home. He was so excited to play.
December 7. Sunday was our Stake Conference. The last few times we have listened in the Nursery Room.
Kimball took LOTS of pictures of animals he built with the LEGOs. I'll spare you and only post one.
We went to Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's for dinner. Kimball then took pictures of something else he built.
December 8. Monday morning Abby tried to seek into Kimball's school by lining up with the kindergartners. She thinks she is so big.
After school we made Christmas chocolates with our neighbors.
Then we met Ed and Cyndy at a gingerbread house festival up at This Is The Place Park. It was super fun. We saw lots of fun houses, played with play dough, ate cookies, and the kids got their faces painted, which I later regretted because they had school the next day.
December 9-11. Tuesday through Thursday were busy days with Mom trying to squeeze work in.
One day Stan was playing with a puzzle. He asked me which piece I wanted. When I told him I wanted the whale he said I couldn't because it wasn't on sale. Ha!
December 12. Friday night we made caramel popcorn, got out the blow up bed, and had cousins over for a Christmas movie.
