Tis' the season to be busy...but we are loving it!

Last week I began a post with an update of what our family has been up to this year, but I guess that post is going to have to wait, because December has been a fun and exciting month. I've got lots to post about.

Last weekend was Bayley's and Kendal's Christmas Dance Recital. The recital in and of itself takes up a good portion of our week. They rehearse on Thursday and Friday nights and then the performance is on a Saturday night. It is always a crazy time of year to try to devote that much time to dance, however the girls love it and somehow we always make it work. This year Bayley performed the Christmas Waltz and Kendal the Christmas Polka. Both girls did a wonderful job and looked beautiful. Grandpa and Grandma "G" were able to come and enjoy the performances with us...the girls have loved their yellow roses all week!

While I headed to rehearsal with the girls on Friday night, Jeff and Trey joined the branch for some caroling...yes, we sent our best singers! It was a cold night and we quickly realized the Trey does not have any gloves or a warm hat the fits...so rather than dressing him in pink hat and gloves, which we do have in abundance, Jeff grabbed one of his hats and some random gloves...aren't my boys so cute!

The girls and I met up with the boys for hot chocolate and donuts afterwards...which is always a hit around here.

I finally made it the mall for the first time this holiday season last week. Kendal quickly jumped up on Santas lap and told him she wanted 3 puppy dogs...a far cry from a couple of years ago when she would only shout her wishes for "boots" to Santa. Kendal has trully caught the Christmas spirit this year. As I was preparing my Christmas cards, she decided that she wanted to write her own set of Christmas cards. She took it upon herself to write a Christmas card to each of our neighborhood dogs. I have to say that she really got into it. She had me write down what she wanted each card to say and then she copied it onto the card in her own handwriting. Then of course, she hand delivered each and every one. It really was so cute!

Trey on the other hand is still a little weary of Santa. On our first visit to see Santa he refused to even get out of the stroller. But by the second visit, he was ready to sit on his lap. He still walks around telling everyone who asks that he wants a Barbie...you should see the funny looks we get from strangers who have asked, but recently we have gotten him to add on that he wants a boy Barbie. It should be an interesting Christmas morning to see if the Boy Barbie is really what he wanted. Last night was our Branch Christmas Party. I asked him if he wanted to wear his Christmas hat to the party and he ended up wearing about half of the time. He is such a funny kid.

Bayley is excited to be out of school for the next couple of weeks. Besides being out of school she doesn't have any dance or swim practices, making it a true vacation. She loves breaks, but by the end she is usually ready to get back into the swing of things. This year her Christmas list includes Pixos, shoes and clothes. It is going to be so nice to be able to spend Christmas morning at our house this year. As much as me LOVE seeing our families and spending Christmas with them, the hauling of kids and presents over Christmas can be a bit exhausting. This year we get the best of both worlds. We get to spend Christmas morning at our house, then head off for hot cinnamon rolls and Christmas Day with the Griffeths. Believe me, Bayley is looking forward to those cinnamon rolls...she has listed them on every assignment that had to do with Christmas at school!

Jeff is taking this week off from work. We are so excited about spending this great time of year together as a family. Despite how busy we have been, we have loved the opportunities we have had to think about our Savior, his life and miraculous birth.