It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Everyday Stuff - Dec. 2013 Edition)

Making paper snowflakes.

Painting and computer time.

"A Jack in Luke's Clothing," starring Baby Jack

Our Elf Sitter, Elvin, found some surprising spots to hang out.

  

Cat did a great job at her piano recital.

Eliza has been doing a lot of sorting lately.

Brotherly love.

She's been in Utah too long if she's comfortable hanging out
in the snow with her snow boots and princess nightie.

Jack was doing his part to keep Luke away from the
Christmas lights when we were decorating the tree.

The girls LOVED these fans they received from Uncle John & Aunt Sarah
and played with them ALL THE TIME.

We arrived a little early to see the lights at Temple Square so we spent some time
at the Church History Museum.  Just outside the museum, this gentleman was
hanging out with a handcart, just waiting for a co-puller and some cargo.

Precious Cargo.

Our driveway has a slight incline, so one night the kids decided it would be their own
personal sledding hill.  They slid down the snowy driveway over and over again,
eventually holding on to a jump rope to form a train on their way down.

Jack brought this home from school one day, but had no idea what it was called.  :-)

We tried something new this year: decorating our salt dough ornaments with
permanent markers instead of paint.  This was much faster and less messy,
but I think the final product wasn't as good.

I took this picture while looking out of the kitchen window into our little back yard.
The kids tried to pile the snow up around the 3 steps that lead down to a paved patio
and turn that into a sledding hill.  They received full marks for creativity this winter.

We had fun watching a variety of Christmas movies in December, but this one
topped the list.  Have you ever heard of "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" ??
When I saw it on the list of movies in the DVD collection my Dad sent, I knew we had
to watch it, and it did not disappoint.  Apparently, it is frequently listed in the top
worst movies ever made, and I would have to agree.  It was truly awful.  The kids loved it.
They watched it a few times before Christmas, and I'm sure it will be a favorite again next year.

We made a birthday cake to celebrate Joseph Smith's birthday on Dec. 23rd.

We went caroling twice and the kids LOVED it.  We've done this for the last
several years, and it's so fun that the kids are old enough to enjoy it and
to help us choose songs and everything.

For our scripture reading during the month of December, leading up to Christmas
I made a chain with a different scripture passage about the life of Christ on each link.  Most days
we also had a picture to go along with what we read, and we taped them up on the wall of
our family room.  It helped us to remember that Christmas should be centered on Christ.

The kids helped me make bags for fresh potpourri to give to some friends and family.

Jack LOVED playing with the Planes toys he got for Christmas.

Cat loved doing the science activities she received for Christmas.
Here she is with her tin can robot.  

The tin can robot is walking to Jack.

We celebrated New Year's with the kids by playing some of their new

games they received for Christmas, then having a countdown at about 10pm

and toasting with some sparkling cider.  Happy New Year!