Christmas Goodies

I'm not going to lie.  I didn't not want to bake this year.  It is always so much work, and having all those sweets around the house is just not a good thing.  I finally bit the bullet, and enlisted the help of the kids to get things done.  We did simple cookies that the kids could help with.  They had so much fun, and I need to stop worrying about a big mess, and let them help me a little more.  Everyone was so proud of our finished work.  I wish I took a picture of our plates, because they were perfect. 

FHE Christmas Party

Since Chad is at school or at work most of the week, FHE was very hard for me.  I have loves having my "single mom," FHE with my good friend Anjie and her daughter McKinlee.  We had a fun little Christmas party for the kids.  We pinned the face on the snowman, then had a lesson ont he Christmas story.  We topped it off with cookie decorating (always a favorite!).  The kids had so much fun, and have grown to love FHE.  It is our favorite night of the week.

All the munchkins.  They keep us very busy.

Christmas Part 1

  Each night before Christmas we also open a Christmas book.  Most of the times I can hardly make it through them because I am crying so hard, but I make it through.  It is a fun activity, and the kids love it because they get to open a present each night.  Sometimes the books are about Santa, but most of the times they are touching Christmas stories that revolve around service.  I want my kids to understand that not everyone is as lucky as they are. 

 Whenever we travel away from home for Christmas we always open up presents before we leave. The kids opened their presents from their Grandpa and Grandma Clayson. They got some new pajamas, and couldn't have been happier.  This was Ava's first understanding of a present, and it is fun to watch as they discover that there is something under all that wrapping paper.

Christmas Sunday

Since we were headed to White Bird for Christmas, the kids got to wear their Christmas clothes a week early.  Claire was thrilled with her new dress, and the boys loved their ties.  This is the best picture I could get before church, Ava just wouldn't hold still.  Grant wanted to wear his new cowboy hat (no it didn't got to church).  I think this should be our Christmas card next year!  This is how our house is normally.

A better picture of Miss Ava in her Christmas dress.

Festival of Trees Preformance

This year Claire started clogging, and she loves it.  She is doing a great job, and learning so much.  It has been fun for me because I used to clog so I can help her with some of her steps.  This year they performed at The Festival of Trees, and she was very excited.  It is always fun to watch her dance.  The last few years she seemed to watch the teacher most of the time but this time she knew most of the steps and had the other girls in her class watching her.  I am so proud of her!

 Not the best picture, but Owen took it so we will take it.

Grant's Ornaments

Grant has been going to speech with Mrs. Patty for almost a year.  He loves going, and is doing great!  He still has a long way to go, but he is getting much better.  On this day he made an ornament at speech.  He was so proud of it!  We had to come home and take a picture of it before he put it on the tree.  Of course the other kids had to join in on a picture.

Just Because

This is where I find Ava often, only this time she managed to find herself a snack.