Christmas 2021

On Christmas Eve, we met up with a good chunk of Matt's family for dinner and a movie.  We saw the movie, Sing 2, and it was really cute.  This is a fun tradition that Matt's family does.  Our kids look forward to it each year, and hardly anyone is at the theatre on Christmas eve so it makes for a fun way for a larger family to gather.

On Christmas morning, the kids were super excited.  The knew to come into our room and wait until we could brush our hair and get ready.

Waiting to go into the living room.

Seeing what Santa left us...

The kids went straight to their stockings first.

Gavin opened his Santa gift - a hoverboard.

Laynie has been wanting to learn how to decorate cakes so Santa brought her a cake decorating set.

Mom and Dad gave Laynie clogging shoes.

Mom and Dad gave Gavin a game...

...and Takis!

Mom and Dad surprised Laynie with her own Barbie spa - complete with a marker that puts zits on Barbie's face. LOL!

We did a family gift exchange and Gavin received a remote control jeep from Laynie.

Mom gave Laynie perlor beads.

Mom and Dad gave Gavin his Webelos Handbook.

Laynie also received a few art supplies.

Gavin trying out his hoverboard.

Matt and I gave the kids rollerblades as well.  We were at a yard sale in November and stumbled upon 2 pair that would fit our kids.  To our surprise, they were only $1 each, so we snagged them and gave them to the kids.  And wouldn't you know it???  Those skates were the hit of the day!  Both kids skated around the house for hours.  Occasionally, we'd hear a crash with an "I'm okay!" followed closely behind.

Our family received a Pickle ball set - we are hoping we can find a time the courts are empty enough for us to practice on this spring/summer.

We also received LOTS of games from family and friends.  It's been nice because we've been playing them over this break and having fun as a family.

Santa also brought the kids polymer clay!  Laynie (and I) have been having SO much fun with it.  There are too many tutorials online and we love watching them then creating our own!

I made German pancakes for breakfast then we played with our toys and watched the movie, Encanto on Disney+.

At 3pm, we went to dinner at Grandma/pa's house.  The traditional crab legs, shrimp and steak was served.  It's always nice to get together with Matt's family.

The day after Christmas, we attended church.  The meeting was centered around Christmas songs.  This may seem weird, but I felt mom sitting next to me and singing.  I think it was her way of being with me on Christmas.  I wonder what Christmas is like in Heaven.  Do they celebrate there?  I'm sure they do.  There's probably an angel choir... maybe a nice devotional with speakers like Mary, Joseph, Jesus and Heavenly Father... and eggnog.  There's got to be eggnog.  

During sacrament meeting, I gained a new appreciation for the song, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.  No matter what is going on in the world around us, we can have peace through our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know he was sent to earth as a babe in Bethlehem.  He then, over the course of 32 years, showed the world how to live, love and serve.  Finally, he accomplished His part of our Heavenly Father's plan - bursting the bands of sin/death.  It was the best gift ever given to mankind, and I feel so humbled to receive it.

Merry Christmas!

Snow Day Fun

On Wednesday, Dec. 15th, there was a really big storm through the night.  The schools called a Snow Day (online work at home) and playing in the snow was a must.  Our across the street neighbors, the Parks, built a really cool ramp.  Laynie spent most of the day sliding down it.

The activity boys made candy nativities.  This was our LAST activity together.  9/10 of them will move on to the "older boys" group.  I'll miss being with Gavin...

 

Little Red Wagon

Laynie signed up for a 2nd year of clogging and it's been so fun to see her build upon last year's skills and her confidence skyrocket.  On December 6th, Laynie performed for a crowd at an assisted living center in Springville.  She danced to the song, Little Red Wagon.  Parents weren't allowed to go in this time because of COVID, but word got around that Laynie's group did such a good job!

This is one of Laynie's moves where she wags her finger when the music sings, "You can't ride in a little red wagon!"

This is her dance company.  She has a wonderful teacher and a great bunch of girls to dance with.

 

The first week of December...

On Tuesday, Nov. 30th, Gavin and I went down to Gunnison for a few hours to support Grandpa in putting an ornament on the "Memory Tree" with Mom's name on it.  Afterward, we went to her grave and decorated it for Christmas then home to help Grandpa decorate his Christmas tree.

On Dec. 2nd, my little preschool performed a circus!  I had Laynie stay home from school so she could be our clown.  I snapped this photo of her reading a circus book without her knowing.

Then she took this picture of me - the ring mistress!

Laynie helped me make a candy nativity.  I wanted to do a test run before having the activity day boys make their own.  I think they boys will enjoy this activity and it was simple enough.

 

Family Photos 2021

For our photos this year, we went to a little place west of Matt's old high school to get these photos taken.  We used a tripod and clicker again.  It's a bit challenging to do so with a little 6 year old and an uncooperative 9 year old, but somehow, they turned out okay.

I sure love my family!

 

Decking the Halls - 2021

Gavin and Laynie always have fun putting up Christmas.  This year, I got another (2nd hand) Christmas tree.  I needed a SLIM one to put in our smaller family room that I decorated, and we put the regular tree in the front window for the kids to decorate.

The kids are getting quite the collection of their own ornaments.  We try to have them make 1-2 each year and when they have their own families, their ornaments can go with them.

kid tree

My 'slim' tree!  I'm not a very good tree decorator, but I watched a youtube tutorial, and picked up some pointers from it.  I didn't want to spend much money so I used what we already had and only ended up spending $5-6 on ribbon.  I love our stockings on our mantel this year and we finally have some shelves to put Christmas decor.  So it was fun to set all that up.

Matt worked on the lights outside.  Since this picture was taken, he's added a tree and a snowflake projector.  

 

Cake Decorating, Pie Baking and Gratitude

Laynie somehow (watching decorating videos on youtube) developed an interest in cake decorating.  So Matt asked his mom to give Alayna some private lessons.  Laynie was so excited.  She decorated 2 cakes (and I decorated one).  Then we gave two of them away to her friends.

The day before Thanksgiving is PIE DAY at Grandma Anderson's house.  The moms make the pies and the kids make their own little one.  It's a fun tradition - one I think I'll carry on when I'm a grandma.  ;)

We spent Thanksgiving with the Andersons this year.  We had a nice meal then chit-chatted.  The kids made advent calendars by putting 25 pieces of candy in Saran Wrap then tied ribbon between each candy.  They have diligently been counting down the days until Christmas with the fun (and tasty) calendars.

For our family scripture study this month, we focused on PRAYER.  Once again, we told the children scriptural, personal, and family history stories relating to our monthly theme.  We also taught them how to pray, what language to use, and then during the last week of November, we focused on being GRATEFUL in our prayers.  I'm so GRATEFUL for this new and fun way of teaching my children the gospel.  I love it!  It helps me get excited about studying on my own because I'm constantly thinking about what can go along with our monthly theme.  I'm GRATEFUL for my dad - he's going through a really hard and lonely time right now.  Yet he knows he will see Mom again and that this life is just temporary.  I try to pray for him daily.  I'm GRATEFUL for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  The greatest prayer ever given was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus atoned for the sins of all mankind during that prayer.  I'm grateful He fulfilled God's plan in doing so.  I'm GRATEFUL for a sincere prayer a young boy offered in a sacred grove just over 200 years ago.  Through Joseph Smith's first prayer and many others that followed, Heavenly Father was able to restore His gospel to the earth once again.  I'm GRATEFUL for a prophet that leads our church and is God's mouthpiece on the earth today - President Nelson.  The truths he speaks, brings peace to my soul.  I'm GRATEFUL for scripture, particularly the Book of Mormon.  We can learn more about God and His ways through it.  And Matt and I can teach our children the precious truths of the gospel by telling the stories inside of them.