December Dreams

Big events are fun, but I find the quirky day to day moments most delightful.  Here are some of our happiest moments from December.

Zoe love!  We miss this lovely lady.  Her snuggles help everyone feel happy.

Craft time!  Even though it may be messy, I adore when my children get creative.  I never know what to expect.  Annika's dragon art is pretty fun.

Here she is making a giant Christmas tree.  (As you might guess, we go through a lot of paper around our home.)

Her tiny crafts are my favorite.  Here she has provided each of her creatures with a duct tape calculator and iPad.  I wonder what they're studying?

Now for some performance art.  Our elves are definitely silly!  (Inspiration comes easily when you are in the midst of a bathroom remodel.)

Annika's addition was somewhat concerning.

"Why do I feel like someone's watching me?"

As for Talia's art, it's a bit more planned out.  Beautiful piece, ReddiWip!

Not all art is visual.  Here's Annika giving our friend Melanie a hug as we watch the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square perform.

While we generally insist on eating at the table, this seemed like a good occasion to enjoy some chowder from the couch.

While it's relaxing to enjoy the Choir from home, it's far more spectacular in person.  This year we were fortunate enough to attend the Tabernacle choir Christmas concert with Lea Salonga.  It was incredible, easily ranking in the top ten performaces I've experienced in my life, perhaps top five.

As splendid as this performance was, if I was forced to choose between the Tabernacle Choir and Annika's school play, I'd attend the Wasatch school play.  After all, watching Annika sing and dance as an asteroid was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Brooklyn and Talia also performed in the West High A'Capella Christmas concert.  As choir president, here's Brooklyn helping to fundraise.

And here's Talia getting ready to perform violin at a recital held at the Marmalade library. Our adorable Anders was entranced by the music.

Speaking of instruments, here's Eli toodling away on the clarinet.

So here's a conundrum.  Why do none of my children play horn?  Eli, you seem to have an affinity.

December's a beautiful time for romance!  While I think these gorgeous roses made the blog already, it's still worth remembering that December 14th.

Speaking of flowers, Talia went to her first big dance in November.  She invited her friend Jacob to Winters and had a great time.

 

Practicing for a second career in modeling.  She's got it down for sure!

But let's face it--dancing can be downright exhausting.

As is shoveling.  Keeping up with all the snowfall was HARD work.  We thought our corner lot was bad, but the church's is worse.

If only we had a little elf to do the work for us!

Alas, ours is snoozing on the job.  (In all actuality, our Annika elf is swimming in Florida as I compose this poolside.)  As summer sets in, sweet dreams of winter all!

Party like it's 1999--Or at least December

Party!  There's not time like the holidays for getting together to consume copious amounts of sugar.  Here are the youth making chocolates with the Shepherd family.  Best place to be, right?

Adding a few cards to the mix.

You know a chocolatier is skilled when they make their own fillings  Apparently this recipe has been handed down through the generations.

Eli, Hazel, and Alisi all hard at work.

Here we have Chase, Ben, Ken, Berkley, and a couple other blonde troublemakers that like to hang out in my basement.

Sonja joins in the fun.  Perfect for an artist!

Jane, Sharon, and the back of Claire's head.  Ntohing better than a chocolate party to bring people together.  :)

Next activity: caroling with the stake. The Christmas lights are my favorite.

Adding to the holiday cheer with a white elephant gift exchange at the Breinholt home.  Their place is just adorable!

Sharon and Hazel.

Uh oh!  Looks like Brooklyn is about to get robbed.

Best entertainment around.  Feeling pretty lucky to have Peter Breinholt living just down the street,

Jason couldn't have been more thrilled with his gift.  Benny, yours is a face to remember!

Next party adventure: the ward Christmas breakfast.  You know the photo booth will be stellar  when AnnMarie is on the job.

Annika and her friend Aven.

Here's Annika confessing all her Christmas secrets to Santa.

This one is particularly tender.

As fantastic as these church celebrations are, they can't call dibs on all the fun.  Here's ASSIST's annual Open House and holiday celebration.

Jen put together an incredible spread!

Brooklyn was so impressed that she invited all her friends to come over and join the celebration. They preferred the messy back room as their special place to hang out.

Later in the month ASSIST turned into a gourmet restaurant as Zizheng led the crew in creating some pretty fantastic Hot Pot. Rather wish I'd been there!

Fantastic shrooms!  The spread looks truly delicious.

Parties at church, parties at work, but the very best parties are the celebrations with family.  So what's the special occasion?

 

Our favorite Violet turned one year old!

This little gal is the gem of the family!  (Right along with soeur Ruby, of course.)

Only fitting that hers should be a Violet-themed party.

First cake.

Whatever this is, it's really tasty!

Uh oh, a little too much excitement. Plus, NOT a fan of the hat.

Happy birthday, sweet Violet!  We hope you keep us partying through the century.