Christmas, Packing and New Year's Eve

Christmas Morning was fun!  The kids were great even though Christmas was a bit smaller than usual this year since Grandpa and Grandma Cox didn't come this year and kept their presents until we get there next week.  The kids opened up their stockings and had fun - then we paused to eat breakfast before going back to presents.  It is always so fun to see what they get for each other.  They can be so sweet and thoughtful.  James knew that I would have a bath tub in our new house, so he got me a rubber duckie.  :)  Evie was sweet and got me a pretty birdie decoration.  Their presents for each other were just as sweet!  After opening presents, we cleaned up and played and got our house ready for Christmas dinner with the family.  In the evening, everyone came over and we had a nice dinner together.

Most of the rest of the week was spent packing.  The kids were so good and helpful!  We worked hard and got most of it done and ready.

Friday afternoon, we needed a break, so we all headed over to Utah pool for some fun and swimming.  We all had a great time playing together and getting out of the house together.

Sunday was wonderful - I only got teary a couple times.  :)  We did one last musical number with the choir and had fun chatting with friends after church.  In the evening, Kay and Reggie came over to celebrate New Year's Eve.  We had a fun night playing games and chatting together.  I am so glad that we have gotten to know them!!

Almost Christmas!

We've been keeping busy this week - getting ready for Christmas.  I started out the week by going with my friend to get my hair cut.  I've been thinking about this for a long time - and finally just went for it.  She cut off 18 inches of hair.  So far, I'm really enjoying having it short!  It's also been fun to watch peoples shocked faces when they notice - though James didn't even notice it when I picked him up from school - Anna was the first one to say anything about it after school.  In the evening, Anna had her volleyball banquet and then we all had our Family Home Evening.

Tuesday,  in the evening, we had the Christmas Carol Sing along at Grandpa's.  I did a couple solos and we all had fun singing and being together.  

Wednesday evening, Aaron had an orthodontist appointment where he got his retainer and then Cub Scouts after. Dan and I mostly spent our evenings making cookies or with me working on the stockings or the doll clothes for my friend's daughter.  I spent a little time finishing up the Christmas shopping and we watched some fun movies with Eileen.  Dan tried to get her to watch Lord of the Rings - but despite seeming to enjoy it - she seemed determined to not be interested in it...  Any time I came back from running an errand, it was to this smiley face!  

Thursday, we took cookies to friends and neighbors and were mostly successful.  We got all the plates out - but some were left on doorsteps.  Dan and I realized that we were given some of the chattiest people in the ward to visit and home teach!  :)  But they are truly some of the sweetest most amazing people!  Thursday was also the kids last day of school - and a half day.  The kids had a ton of fun at their discovery class and James loved his fun short day.  After school, Eileen's friends Maddy and Melanie came over to play and crochet.  

Friday, Anna had a dentist appointment in the morning that took nearly two hours - for just a basic cleaning...  I need to remember to not schedule appointments around the holidays again....  In the afternoon, we let the kids each invite a few friends over to play again before we move.  The kids all seemed to have a good time.  We let them decorate cookies and then Dan pulled out the balloons and made balloon animals and swords and such.  

Saturday was a wonderful day!  We left Eileen in charge of most of the kids - dropped David off with Newell and Becky and headed up to the Fort Collins Temple for Kay and Reggie's sealing!  She was so cute and so excited and so beautiful!  It was so sweet to see them so excited about this beautiful ordinance!  So wonderful to know what it means to her and her family!  I got to help her out in the Brides room and it was just wonderful!!!  After, we picked up the kids and met up at Maggiano's for a luncheon - all the food was wonderful and the kids fairly well behaved.  It was a fun afternoon!  After, none of us was really hungry for dinner since lunch was late and filling, so we played at home and then put the kids to bed and watched Fantastic Beasts with Eileen.  

This morning was our Ward Christmas program.  It went a bit long - so the last number was cut off - but I figure we will use it for the musical number next week.  :)  The program was wonderful - all the talks and music was wonderful!  After, we went home since there was no full 3 hour block today.  We had an easy rest of the morning and afternoon, playing games and reading books and such.  Then we packed up and headed to Frank and Tina's for Bagna Cauda and singing and fun with family.  It was a wonderful evening.  After, we got home and read in Luke 2 for scripture time and said prayers before letting the kids open their Christmas Eve presents, then sending them to bed.

Now, it's the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature is stirring - not even daddy.  The stockings are stuffed to their brims, the gifts beneath the tree.  Now to bed to await the arrival of Christmas Morning! 

Cookies!!!!

We've been keeping busy this week.  Even when there isn't any thing scheduled on the calendar, it always seems like there are errands to run and stuff to do.  This week was a busy one for Anna especially.  She had the State competition for her Robotics team on Saturday, so the week before was full of preparations for that.  Plus on Monday, she had the volleyball finals.  Her team didn't win their match, so they didn't get to go to the championship - but it was probably just as well since she probably couldn't have made it anyway.  

Tuesday was Band for Eileen and Robotics for Anna.  Otherwise it was a fairly normal day.  Wednesday morning, Dan went in to have a procedure to check out his esophagus after his choking ordeal - bright and early - so after dropping the kids off at school, I went to pick him up, then I watched a friends daughter for a bit - I also took David to the doctors - he had been fussy and not wanting to sleep, so I took him in and he had an ear infection.  So we grabbed his medicine and headed home for some lunch before dropping my friends daughter off and picking up the kids from school.  Wednesday evening was full of the usual church activities, but since I didn't have Choir, James and David and I just hung out at home while everyone else partied at the church!  

Thursday I went to Becca's - they had been out of town for our normal Tuesday day, so we moved to Thursday.  After getting the kids from school, Aaron had drum lessons and then in the evening, Evie had her music night at the school - she did great and had a blast - then we met up with the rest of the family at Dan's work for a little family party that they put on.  The kids had a blast playing with all the other kids and they had a bouncy house.  

Friday was busy - I went to visit my friend in the morning to chat and hang out and drop off some presents for her kids.  After school, Anna and Dan had robotics and then Dan came home to grab me and take me to the Company Christmas Party - we had a great time eating yummy food and chatting with great people.  Then we headed out to pick up Anna from Robotics and head home.  Then she had an early morning the next day. 

Saturday, Dan and Anna headed out bright and early for the State Robotics Competition.  Their team did well and got First in Robot Design - Strategy and Innovation.  Anna had fun - but she and Dan both came home tired.  Partly because they didn't get to go home - they left the competition and met up with the rest of us at the ward Christmas party.  The kids and I spent our morning doing their last flute and piano lessons here in Colorado - the kids will really miss their teachers - they have been great teachers and the kids just love them. 

In the evening, we all met up at the ward Christmas party - the kids got a picture with Santa and we got to enjoy a yummy dinner with a wonderful music and narration program.  

Church today was wonderful.  There were some wonderful talks and a beautiful musical number.  The Sunday School and Relief Society lessons were wonderful too.  After church, we had lunch then got started on making the cookies.  Then we went to choir and had a great practice - I feel like we are ready for the Christmas program next week!  After, we headed home and began the cookie decorating!!  Kay and Reggie came, Newell and Becky and family came and Becca and Jeremiah came with baby Laura.  It was such a fun evening!  We had a great time decorating and chatting and making yummy cookies!  

We finally got the kids to bed and then had a nice time chatting with Dan's parents - it's so neat to hear the amazing experiences that they have as they serve in the temple presidency.  We are officially in the countdown - one week until Christmas!!!! 

Holiday Crazies

This week has been kinda nuts.  Monday was laundry day, plus I went over to my friends house to help finish up sewing some dresses.  Then after school, Eileen had a dentist appointment.  Anna had volleyball practice after school and we had a little FHE in the evening.  Then in the evening, we did the grocery shopping and folding laundry before heading to bed.  

Tuesday morning, I headed over to Becca's house and we had fun making doll chairs to go with our desks.  They came out so cute!  After school, Eileen had band practice and Anna had a volleyball game.  We all needed to be out of the house for a bit for a final walk through before closing, so we went to the library for a bit then headed home for a quick dinner while Dan went to Anna's volleyball game - then we all met up at Skate City for some fun.  

Wednesday morning, I picked Aaron up from school to take him to an orthodontist appointment - he got his braces off and got a temporary retainer until his permanent one comes in in a couple weeks.  He's making a kinda funny face to show off his teeth, but here he is!  

We closed on our house Wednesday and hopefully we will be closing on our house in Texas next week!  It's kinda crazy that it's really happening!  After school, Anna had volleyball practice as usual and then in the evening, was mutual, cub scouts and choir - my last rehearsal with the Colorado Mormon Chorale.  

Thursday I was supposed to go to my friends house again, but she had to cancel, so I ran a couple errands.  After school, Eileen had band and Anna had volleyball, then Aaron had drum lessons and I had my Chorale Concert, and Anna had a school band concert.  Eileen came with me to my concert and Grandpa came too, so after we went to his place to chat and have some hot cocoa.  

Friday I my friends car had a flat, so I gave her a ride to run an errand in the morning, then Bonnie came over so we could practice a song that I was going to be singing in Relief Society on Sunday.  then after school, Anna had volleyball and robotics and I had my last concert with the Chorale - I hardly managed to sing the last couple songs because I was crying....  sigh...  Uncle Frank came and Eileen came too, she got to see her friend who's mom is in the chorale too and had a great time.  

Saturday ended up being a rather long day - a little cutie wasn't feeling so good, so he was up half the night.  Dan took Anna to Robotics early, then went to help some one move, then went back to help with the Robotics team.  I took all the kids and dropped Eileen off at Flute lessons, then came back for Piano lessons.  Dan and Anna got home in time for dinner and bed time.  

Sunday morning came very early since David still wasn't sleeping well, but church was wonderful.  Some wonderful talks were given in Sacrament meeting along with a gorgeous musical number!  Gospel Doctrine lesson was about finding and creating Zion and was great!  I helped play piano in primary during 3rd hour (which I love to do) and then went back at the end to sing a musical number for the closing song.  After, we headed home for lunch and then back to church for ward choir, then home for dinner, and after, we went out caroling with some people in the ward.  It was a fun night, but David is still not feeling great.  :(  hopefully he gets feeling better soon.  Our friend Heather stopped by for a bit - it's so strange to think of all the changes that are going to happen with this move and all the people here that we will miss. 

Texas

Monday morning, I headed over to my friends house to help her with some sewing - I had a great time sewing and chatting with her!  Then I went to pick kids up from school.  Anna had volleyball after school, then in the evening, she and Dan had Robotics - they had it every night this week to get ready for the competition.  We did a quick FHE before they left and decorated our Christmas Tree! 

On Tuesday, Evie had a field trip, she was very excited about it and had a great time!  I went over to Becca's house and we had fun making peg boards and little push pins for the boards.  Then after school, Anna had volleyball and Eileen had band and then in the evening, Anna had robotics again.  Then in the evening, I had Institute class!

Wednesday was rather busy.  I went over to my friends house in the morning again to finish up the doll dresses we had started on Monday.  I got all but one doll dress done.  Then after getting the kids from school, we headed home.  Then I went to Anna's volleyball game (with Evie) and Dan picked up Tina from the light rail station.  Then after Anna's team won their game, I took her home and stopped in long enough to say hi, then head out to choir practice.  Dan and the kids had their usual busyness, so it was really nice that Tina could get there a bit early.  

Really early on Thursday, Eileen, David, Dan and I headed to the airport to fly to Texas.  We got in and my mom picked us up from the air port.  We had enough time to drop off our stuff, feed David and eat some lunch at In N Out burger before heading out to Anna to check out our house!  We got to spend some time looking around, then had the official walk through with the builder to check for any little fixes that needed to be made.  We love the house and are so excited!!  Then we headed back to my parents house for a yummy dinner of brisket sandwiches!   Here's David on his first air plane flight!  

The next day Dan went to meet with Jon and get some stuff done and plan.  Eileen and David and I mostly took it easy that morning.  Then at lunch, we met up with Sandi and Kai and Jon and Dan.  We had a nice lunch together, then headed home.  Dan finished up with Jon then joined us back at mom and dad's house.  We had some yummy Thai food for dinner, then headed to a nativity display in Allen where Sandi was singing with her ladies barbershop group.  It was a lot of fun - the nativity display was beautiful and it was a lot of fun getting to listen to Sandi sing!  We also got to see Taz and Kai and Some of Jon's family too!  Then we headed back to my parents house and Dan went to go pick up my Dad from the airport.  Eileen and I took a walk around my parents neighborhood to look at all the pretty Christmas lights.  

Saturday morning (really early again) we got on a plane to head back to Colorado.  We got back to the house in time to drop off Dan and then Eileen and I headed to the Relief Society activity - we had lots of fun eating breakfast and making hot coca ornaments and doing a cookie exchange.  Then we went home and rested and napped a bit, then watched Captain America before Tina came back with the kids.  Except Anna who was down at her Robotics competition in Grand Junction.  Her team did awesome - taking the championship trophy and getting to go to state in a couple weeks!  David has started rolling over from back to front now too.  Then in the evening, I had my first Christmas Concert of the season.  I took Eileen and it went really well!  After, we got dessert at Chili's and then headed home. 

Sunday was church - testimony meeting was wonderful - we truly are blessed to be in this ward!  After church was ward choir - we are getting ready for Christmas and it's been a lot of fun - I love Christmas music and our ward has so much talent!