The Christmas season blew by in a whirlwind. It's been so festive and fun... and I have also loved the #LighttheWorld campaign from the church that has helped us focus on Jesus Christ. Every day we would try to put into action one of his attributes, such as compassion, or humility, or honoring our parents. It has really brought me closer to Him, trying to do what he would do. It was good for the kids to be able to think of small acts of goodness they could go daily. I also taught the Relief Society lesson on "Following the Example of Jesus Christ," and it was wonderful to study his life and works in preparation.
We always like to start the season at the Night in Bethlehem nativity.
I taught preschool about the letter K... K is for kittens who lost their mittens.
Then later in the week we did the letter L for llamas.
We did our Christmas advent throughout the month, and one days was buying a sibling a gift, and another day was wrapping it. They love being little elves for each other.
Maddie was in the school choir for 4th through 6th grades conducted by the principal, Mrs. Johnson. They had their Christmas concert with all the songs they had been working on all year. They did a beautiful job and Maddie loved singing. It was also fun to be with lots of kids this age from the neighborhood.
December 17th we continued our yearly tradition of swimming at the Legacy Center. The kids always have a blast and it is a great way to get our some energy!
OOooo those chubby knees are so yummy.
That night was our ward Christmas party, complete with children's nativity. Ella and Maddie were angels, and Ty was a sheep, just like last year.
There was also a fun photo booth and the kids and their friends had a blast with it.
The next day, Sunday, we had a family party at Rebecca's for Christmas music night, including the girls' piano pieces (Angels We Have Heard On High for Ella, and .... for Maddie), and then chimes!
The week before Christmas was crazy with neighbor gifts. We live in such a great neighborhood... and the love just kept coming! We had probably 3-5 knocks a night with goodies and gifts. The kids helped me make gifts for our neighbors too, and we delivered them a few evenings.
We had a special experience making meals for a few elderly people in our ward. My dad had a special request for Christmas--instead of buying him a gift, we asked for us to donate our time or money to a charity and let him know what we did. We knew of a brother in our ward who lost his wife recently, and a sister who lived alone, so we decided to make the Andrews Meals on Wheels. We made homemade chicken noodle soup and bread and delivered it to them as a family. We made some friends and some sweet memories.
After our deliveries we went to Uncle John's American Fork Symphony. The kids were so excited to see Santa afterwards, especially Ty!
Speaking of Ty, he has had so much fun in Kindergarten. He is the Star Student this week.
I was able to help in his class service party for Christmas.
They made ornaments for parents, place mats for Meals on Wheels, flags for our Lehi policemen and firemen, cards for sick people in the hospital, and tied a quilt.
He is such a cute little elf, and looooooves Mrs. Gasser!
The kids had "Christmas in the Meadow" sing at school the week before break. Ty and Ella had to dress up nice, and Maddie had to wear red and reindeer antlers.
4th grade sang a reindeer rap, and The 12 Days of Utah Christmas.
Kindergarten sang Jingle Bells and I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.
Second grade sang Santa Got Stuck up the Chimney and Christmas is a Feeling.
I was also able to help in Ella's class party, the first time I've ever helped in her class because Mrs. Laudie doesn't need me. Our table did reindeer antlers on a candy cane, and Grinch bingo with marshmallows.
The room mom was really brave and did personal gingerbread houses.
And now all that school stuff is out of the way, here's the really important part that happened this month! The Sherwood's welcomed baby Nolan Jensen on Dec. 18th!! We were able to go see him in the hospital and he is so tiny!!! Dana delivered well and is bouncing back quickly.
The kids loved holding him when they came home, and it has been so fun to celebrate Christmas with them and my parents who are in town to help. There's nothing like the birth of a new baby boy to make the birth of Christ more real.
