December Part III

 When Tyler's birthday ends we prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! We have been so incredibly busy, that when the kids were out for break we were ready to rest up and relax! Tyler's favorite thing to do after his birthday is have Christmas Eve celebrations. This year, his beard is the gift that keeps on giving! The ornaments were a hit everywhere he decided to wear them. Daisie was so excited for Uncle Ty Ty's birthday she put together a gift, all by her self! 

I don't know if we can truly celebrate Christmas without decorating Graham cracker Nativities. It is enjoyed by all. Every. Year. 

Christmas morning was simple and we simply tried to enjoy each other. There were plenty of things to build, explore and play. Lyla got a bracelet kit and it wasn't too long before each of us had a personalized gift from her! There was lots of excitement over a pocket watch and baseball sunglasses. Side note, nothing makes a parent question their intelligence quite like learning how to teach a kid how to rainbow loom. Not my most favorite educational endeavor.   

 

Santa has a treats problem when it comes to our house!

We also enjoy New Year's Eve with just the 5 of us. We made a favorite for everyone. I took an Beth's glow party idea from July and bought a bunch of glow stuff for the evening. The kids puts it all together and had a glow party while they enjoyed the fireworks in the back yard. It was warm enough to play in the dark, and played in the dark they did. PS: The glow stick hat is SUPER hard to put together. 

Until next time...

December 2024 Part II

 Two friends invited my to do a musical number with them for our stake Christmas devotional. I'm so thankful they asked! I had to work VERY hard to get the piece passable, but I know we shared the Spirit of Jesus' birth and I haven't quite lost all my skills on the violin. Word got out though, and now we are playing at Stake Conference leadership training and I'm doing a different piece for our ward Christmas Sunday. I also felt that it was time the kids performed some type of music for others. I decided on "If I Were There". The three kids and I sang it on Christmas Sunday for our ward. I REALLY love when the Sunday before Christmas is as much Christmas music as possible. I decided if I want that I need to be willing to help out and volunteered to help with our music coordinators vision. I'm no longer Primary Singing Leader and I was definitely missing being able to teach and enjoy Christmas music. These performances help fill that hole a little bit. The only picture I took was our family on Christmas Church Sunday. 

Since July, I have been playing the piano for Primary. Since Halloween, I've been waiting to be sustained and set apart as Primary President in our new ward. That change was made in the middle of December. I'm extra grateful to realize that Heavenly Father always prepares me and provides a way for me to follow His plan. This calling is a lot, but it would have been OVERWHELMING if I had not been quietly observing our Primary from behind the piano for the last 6 months. I'm learning names and serving with some really amazing people, while experiencing small miracles and loving a LOT of new people. With our ward splitting in July, I miss so many people from before. However, I am quickly finding that this new calling will help me continue to enjoy those relationships and continue working with some fantastic people! I'm also incredibly blessed to have the time and emotional space, to serve how I want to. Here's to a new learning experience for our whole family!

Tyler is officially in his "late 30's". To say we are feeling more like 40+ is an understatement! 33+ have definitely been our least favorite stage of life in the physical aspect. We have GOT to get it together. We celebrated with our family's first time at a really great steakhouse, Saltgrass. It was delicious and now we are finding what cuts we like and how to cook them at home. Tyler is also in his bird watching era. He used some spare wood to build two picnic table type houses and picks up a new house whenever the price is right. I got him some feed to put in them and he is a happy camper. Even if the squirrels decide to show up. 

This guy definitely deserves all the good things that come to him! He knows how to make everyone in our home smile. He works his tail off and NEVER gives me attitude, when I give him more attitude than he deserves. He works hard and does his best in all his endeavors. We are so lucky to call him ours!

Happiest of 36 years to Tyler! 

Until next time...

December 2024 Part I

Every year, our school PTA hosts, Breakfast with Santa. A lot has changed this year and we were scrambling at the last minute. A suit was found and it fit Tyler. He graciously offered to be Santa for a BUNCH of really appreciative families, school staff and PTA board members. Grayson really wanted to help as well so a Buddy costume was purchased. It was so funny. Lyla became, "Little Buddy" later at home and wore it for days! 

Our neighbor treat plates were done EARLY this year and we didn't do enough. More will need to be added next year! 

 

Grayson had his first band concert of the year!

Lyla wasn't feeling well one Sunday so Tyler stayed home with her while I played piano in Primary. He was working on changed the grimy, leaky shower seal while I was gone. I get a FaceTime and see the destruction below. Lyla, who was miraculously feeling MUCH better, walked into the mess, cackled and said, "we listen and we don't judge"! She walked out laughing and left Tyler to his mess. We are STILL finding bits of glass in the craziest of places. 

Nolan's Honor Choir was invited to perform with at the high school choir Christmas concert. I LOVE this kind of stuff. My family loves it less. Jokes on THEM, because we are doing a Christmas musical number. I voluntold them myself. 

Kenney's mom aka Texas grandma lives in Tyler and recently had a bunch of medial crisis'. Kenney and Teresa needed to get down there and check things out. Grayson and Nolan we old enough and willing to come along.  They got DP shakes, Buc-ee's and met lots of Marie's animals while getting to know some people on Kenney's side of the family. They also became Christmas cookie laborers. Lyla, Tyler and I went to Chili's. 

We didn't have any good deals on gingerbread houses this year, so we paid full price for the tiniest houses on the market. We always take out old Halloween candy to use and the creativity is fun to see. Tyler knows how to play to voters, so he reminded them of warm places during a cold December and won this year's competition. 

While growing up, my grandma always had a Christmas Cactus. It was such an odd plant all year long, but during the holidays it would bloom. I love that plant! When we moved, my grandma gave me cuttings of her two plants. One from her and one from my great-grandmas. I've since purchased two more from Aldi. How could I say no when they were only $5?! The ones from my grandma continue to slowly grow, but no blooms. This year, ALL four plants bloomed! It was so enjoyable to watch them bloom and be reminded of my good memories at my grandma's

We're about half-way through December with so much more to enjoy this holiday season!

Until next time...