Church Christmas Party

Our annual church Christmas party was this weekend.  The focus was on serving and giving to others and was based on "being someone's angel."

Unfortunately, a few hours before the party Dave started feeling pretty sick so he ended up staying home and the girls and I went on our own.  Before the party starts, Santa makes an appearance for those who are interested:



We had a nice chicken dinner under twinkling Christmas lights followed by a musical program and slideshow.  The Primary kids formed an angelic choir.  Paige was thrilled to get to dress-up like an angel.

Homemade Christmas Presents

I really like the idea of giving my girls a homemade Christmas gift every year.  Wouldn't this be a fun a tradition to start?  Wouldn't it have been better if I had started this 11 years ago?  Wouldn't it be great if I was better at "making" stuff?

Well, who knows if this will become a tradition, but this year I made something for both of my girls.  Given, I was supposed to make these for them back in September but somehow it just never got done.  So now they are Christmas gifts AND they are done.  (I'm not going to say how it went except that the first one took me about 4 times as long as the second...at least I improved.)

Now we have mommy/daughter aprons!  I hope they like them and never outgrow them!

Aloha! Hula Recital

We have some friends who are from Hawaii.  One in particular, was born and raised in Hawaii and has been dancing hula for over 25 years.  She has recently started up her own company and offers hula dancing lessons, so we decided to sign Paige up.

Paige started lessons about 6 weeks ago and had her first hula dance recital last night.  Her group danced two numbers.  The first was called "Pearly Shells" and the second was "Silent Night."  It was so cute.  Paige was front and center on the stage and the whole family was there to watch her.

Besides the student classes, the recital also included professional dancers, a live band and singers.  It was a very nice program and an escape from the frigid temperatures as we spent the evening "in Hawaii."

After the show it is customary for the family to present each dancer with a lei for a job well done.  The parents all gave their children candy leis which was a big hit with the kids. 

The Spirit of Christmas

I went to the post office today to mail some packages.  12 days before Christmas and the tiny little post office was packed.  There were only two counters open because the person who was supposed to be working the third counter was in the back so sick she couldn't leave the restroom--yikes! 

In one line a lady was trying to insure the gift cards in her packages.   In the twenty minute back and forth that we all witnessed, everyone learned that you CANNOT insure gift cards.  In the other line, a woman mailed her packages and then asks about applying for a passport.  The patient postal worker then asks her a series of questions, gives her the proper forms, ya-da, ya-da, ya-da.  He then asks her when her trip is, she answers, "oh, the end of March."  Now I know for sure that I am not the only person who was thinking, "the end of March!  Can't you come back in two weeks after Christmas and handle this?  Are you seriously doing this with a line going out the door?!  Puh-lease!!"

By now the line is literally out the door and because it is like 1 degree outside everyone is bundled up to the max juggling their packages and checking their watches.  There is no talking, in fact it is pretty quiet except for the occasional sigh.  Then out of nowhere in a VERY LOUD voice, you here a child say, "Hi Grandpa!  We are going to sing a song for you."  A lady way back in the line somewhere was trying to stuff one of those gift books that records a message into a box and she accidently hit the "play" button.  There is no "stop" or "off" button once it starts, you have to play the whole message.

In this case, a bunch of grumpy post office customers were touched by the Spirit of Christmas Cheer as three little children proceeded to sing (in harmony) "Come All Ye Faithful."  The line didn't seem too long after that.   

December Stuff

Choir Concert

Ashley's school choir joined the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra for a holiday concert. 

Here are some pictures from the rehearsal: 

First snowfall!

We got our first snow of the season the first week of December.  We were pretty lucky with a long and beautiful Fall, but it's Chicago--you know the snow and wind chills are coming.  The girls were pretty excited about the snow.  I love kids!  There is nothing better than to have them look out the window and exclaim with pure joy and excitement, "it snowed!"  By 8:30am the gloves, snowpants and boots were out, Dave was shoveling and Paige was playing.  Later on, the girls built a little snowman all by themselves.  They were so excited for Dave and I to see it, that they decided to face it towards the house, so every time I look outside I see those buttons eyes looking back! 

Gingerbread houses!

Dave's parents bought all the grandkids a gingerbread house to decorate this year.  They sent us the money since it's not really practical to mail a gingerbread kit.  I found houses on sale for $5, so we had enough to get two.  Ashley did a gingerbread house earlier for Activity Days, but Paige hadn't had a chance yet.  She was so excited and kept asking when she could decorate her house.  Problem was, we just couldn't find a day to do it, as it is a bit of project.  Finally, we bit the bullet and did it for FHE.

Relief Society Christmas Dinner!

Every year the women's organization in our church congregation has a Christmas dinner.  This year I was one of the planners and organizers.  It's a big project, but it is a great way to share in some Christmas cheer with your friends.  The theme for the dinner was Allelulia! which means sing praise to the Lord, so we had lots of music and caroling.  The centerpiece on each table was done by a different woman and represented her favorite Christmas song.  We sang or listened to all the songs and everyone got to take home a cd filled with Christmas music.   

Cookies! Cookies!

Ashley and I made batches and batches of cookies.  I needed some for a cookie exchange and Ashley needed some to take caroling.  I made Amish Spice Sugar Cookies (a favorite recipe from Kelley) and Ashley made Andes Chocolate Mint cookies.  There was a very tasty variety at my cookie exchange.  I came home with lots of  cookies that we divided up and took to 4 of our neighbors.

Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops

A first for us this year...a visit to see Santa at Bass Pro Shops.  They have this super cute Santa Wonderland with bunch of activities for kids as well as the real Santa.  I mean hands down this is the most realistic Santa I have ever seen.

I decided to take the girls on a Tuesday night.  They had a short day at school and I figured that it wouldn't be too busy on a weeknight.  Well, I don't have anything to compare it to, but it was definitely pretty crowded for a Tuesday.  While we were waiting for our turn to see Santa, we kept busy wandering through the store:

We were definitely out of our element in this store.  Sorry, but we are "city folk."  Paige saw a fishing pole and asked me what it was.  Ashley said, "this store is really interesting even though I'm not really into this stuff."  Amen, to that Ashley.  I think this picture is a classic--Paige putting a letter in Santa's mailbox with a crossbow in someone's cart in the background.

Finally, it was our turn to see Santa

All visitors get a free picture with Santa, free craft ornament, a Christmas silly band and a free kids meal at the attached fish house restaurant.

By this time, we were starving so we took our free certificates for kids' meals over to the restaurant.  I highly recommend the bread they bring to the table.  It is a sweet yeast bread with a crusty sugar topping.  Ashley told me, "this may be the best bread I have ever eaten.  No offense mom, but it is even better than your homemade bread."  It was pretty good.

Good times.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I confess.  I don't really look forward to decorating for Christmas.  Last year because we were out of town, I basically got out of it, but this year we are staying home for Christmas so...

Thank goodness for two girls who are excited and filled with Christmas spirit; for Paige who kept asking me when we were going to put the Christmas tree up and if we could put some lights outside and for Ashley who was so happy that I came with her to Activity Days to help her decorate a gingerbread house.

We usually do the tree the day after Thanksgiving, but I couldn't even think about it this year.  We waited until family night on Monday and had a tree trimming party.  I made gingerbread men to hang on the tree and just opened all the ornament boxes and let the girls randomly put up the ornaments in any fashion they saw fit.  After the tree was 'a twinklin' we had doughnuts and egg nog for refreshment.

It did take me the next few days to slowly finish with the stockings, lights and garlands.  I kept it pretty simple this year, but we are now ready to go.  Add the first big snow we are supposed to get this weekend and it will officially be Christmastime around here!