December Happenings

Happy 2020!  The good news is, we survived December.  I don't know about anyone else, but this December was really challenging for me.  With only three weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we were hopelessly overscheduled.  While I'm often behind during the holidays, this year was a whole new level.  In the end, lots of things simply didn't happen.  While I feel a bit guilty for dropping the ball, life goes on.

My very favorite part of Christmas is gathering for evening devotionals where we sing a carol and share a spiritual thought.  I'll be honest--these devotionals didn't happen as often as I would have liked--but we at least managed to unpack the nativity I purchased in Mexico.

Meanwhile, here are some of the many events that did happen.

Caroling.  The Young Men and Young Women in our neighborhood loaded onto trailers to sing for different families.

We even caroled for the most outrageously decorated house in the valley.

Parties.  Jason's company, ASSIST, celebrated 50 years of serving the community.  For a non-profit, that's really incredible.

Jason designed a pretty spectacular postcard for the occasion.

Plus, he stayed up all night waxing the floors.  Looking sharp!

Later in the month, our Young Women's group enjoyed a fun white elephant gift exchange.

Service Projects.  Instead of hosting a ward Christmas party, our congregation invited the neighborhood to join us for a service project.  We created meal packs, lots of meal packs, to give to children who otherwise might go without during the winter break.


I went to three different grocery stores to get enough pudding packs.

What a great way to bring the community together.

Skiing.  We've been working hard to get full value out of our Brighton ski passes.

It's not hard with beautiful days like these.

Jason even got to ski with his siblings for a day.  Here's Christy, looking far too confident on skis for an Arizonan.  Way to go!

My favorite day was playing hooky from school with my older girls.

When my babies were born, I never imagined they would become my best friends as well.  Life is beautiful.

Science Fair.  Talia totally procrastinated and did her science fair project the night before it was due.  She stuck a bunch of eggs into different liquids to see what would happen.

This egg's gone all soft.  Apparently so did the judges, since they advanced her last-minute effort to the district level.  Congratulations?

Christkindlmarkt.  A favorite December tradition is visiting the Christkindlmarkt at This is the Place.

The kids loved the Forbidden Forrest.

Even better, we discovered that Ruby was at the Christkindlmarkt as well.

St. Nicholas rather looks like he hopes the kids won't touch him--lol.

Performances.  We went up to Hyde Park to listen to Grandma Susie sing with the American Festival Chorus and Gentri.  We loved the concert even more than last year--and that's saying something.

Meanwhile, Annika got all tuckered out.

 Brooklyn sang beautifully with her school A'Capella choir.

...and Annika made an adorable Natosha the Rat in her school musical, the New Neighbors.

Keeping with the animal theme, Annie and Ruby even got to see a performance of Pete the Cat.  Rock out!

Silliness at Home.  Pie Face anyone?

How about rainbow unicorn hair?

Scripture study doesn't seem that unusual, but look closely.  Spark certainly feels at home.

This tree in Memory Grove is certainly all decked out...

...as is Annika.  Her beautiful outfit comes all the way from Lithuania.  Ačiū!

Running.  The cold weather didn't stop Talia and Eli from joining Launch Team for a run through downtown Salt Lake to see all the lights.  We went from City Creek over to the Gallivan Center and back through Temple Square.

We even got to see the fun candy displays at Macy's.

Temple Square.  We made it back to Temple Square one more time to see the lights with the Wheeler family.  A piggyback ride and a hand to hold--Annika is in cousin heaven.

The men of the family (with a couple feminine shoulder mounts.) From left to right, we have Charles, Jason, Eli, Lance, and Justin.  What do you think of Lance's mustache?

Now for the gals.

Brooklyn, Talia, Brianna, and Christy.  Aunts are the best!

Final Tidbits.  Back at home, we were fortunate enough to open some early Christmas presents.  All of our heartfelt thanks for the generous gifts.  We feel so very loved.

Annika has played Pretty Pretty Princess pretty much non-stop since opening her gift from Uncle Justin and Aunt Brianna.

She also loved the white chocolate nativity that her Primary teachers gave her.  It was a little disturbing to come home one day and discover that the wise men had all had their heads bitten off.  Mercifully, the entire thing has now been consumed.

Last but not least, a few obligatory Christmas Sunday photos.  Truth to be told, we were all kind of worn out by this point.  Between Jason speaking as bishop, Brooklyn and I singing in the choir, and Brooklyn and Talia playing cello and violin for our ward orchestra, it was an intense Sunday.

Talia may be a smidge taller than Brooklyn now, but she's definitely standing on tiptoes.


Guilty!

Despite the lack of silent nights, our December was still joyful.  If stillness eluded you as well, I hope that you and your loved ones still found some peace resonating from the happy noise of life.