Light the World

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints put out an advent calendar and challenged everyone to help light the world through the love of Jesus Christ during the month of December.  We decided to give it a go.  I was shocked at how into it the kids got.  The hardest part for me was posting about it on social media - I am not really that type.  But when I read about the challenge it was clear to me that the church was asking us to post about what we are doing and using hashtags.  So I did.  

I didn't post, or even take pictures, everyday.  Some didn't lend themselves to a good post of picture.  On Christmas we were talking about what we had done and we couldn't even remember everything that we did - I told them that was good and explained the scripture about your left hand not knowing what your right hand is doing.

One day we drove around the neighborhood and shoveled peoples driveways.  They were complete strangers.  I had planned on just doing one - but after each one the kids said they wanted to go do more.  We spent over 3 hours shoveling and dusting off cars.  The best part was Noah.   Noah is not a very hard worker by nature.  But he was on fire.  I had never ever seen him work this hard, for this long, and with a good attitude.  He even did good work - he was our porch shoveler and actually did a really great job and was very proud of himself - he even tells people now, "I am a great porch shoveler".

Can you see Megan dusting off  the white car?

We went and sang at a retirement center with some other families in our ward.

We made food and took it to people.

We made muddie buddies and took and drove around the neighborhood giving it to mailmen, ups, and fed ex drivers.  This was maybe our most fun one.  They were so surprised and appreciative.  We did it again on Christmas eve to show extra gratitude for working on Christmas eve.

We hosted a neighborhood nativity out in our street.  I did this last year too.  This year I got a stable!  I love bringing the spirit of Christmas into our neighborhood and the lives of our neighbors.  Through out the year this last year some of the kids asked when we were going to do it again.

We went and played games at a retirement center (we have one in our ward boundaries and I am actually the liaison for the ward - so it was a easy thing to do often)

I have been a cultural mentor for a refugee family form Ethiopia for the last few months.  It has been a wonderful expierence.  One day for light the world - I took my kids to go visit them (they hadn't yet)  we took them to the park and then to a thrift store to buy some winter clothes.

And then we hung out at their apartment for a little bit.

Gingerbread house party

We went to our friends, the Neyenhuis', for a ginger bread house making party.  They had it last year too.  It was so fun  - the best part is having the mess at someone else house!

Their masterpieces!

This is Brock's best ginger bread house ever!  He doesn't love art or creating anything so he just usually throws it all on and calls it good.  I was so proud of him for taking time, having a plan, and finishing!

Noah's Piano Recital

Noah had his first piano recital.  Right now he is his teacher's only student (he is a HS student in our ward) so it didn't make sense to do a whole recital - so we went to a retirement center and played for them.  He played 3 songs: We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, and Away in a Manger.  He really wanted to play Hark the Herald Angels Sing (his favorite Christmas song) but it wan't quite ready - it was quite a bit above his skill level - but he really wanted to learn it.  He has loved the piano - truly loved it.  He loves to push himself and learn harder songs and I have never even had to ask him to practice because he spends most of his day at the piano.

Noah and his teacher James Henniger.

Our cute Noah.

Sledding in Sub Zero temps

We have only had one good snow fall this winter season so far (as I sit here writing this we are home with a snow day - so now 2).  Both have come, however, with sub zero temperatures - and I mean SUB zero temps - like negative 5.  My kids were so excited to go sledding however it didn't bother them.  I made them wait until it was a balmy 6 degrees and then we headed out.  They had a blast and sledded for a good hour and a half.  There wasn't a wind and the sun was shining so it really didn't feel that cold - or we just might has been numb - who knows?  We also brought our friends Finn and Zoe.

I love watching all of them carry their sleds up the hill.

playing in the preschool

Sometimes I feel kind of bad that my preschool takes up 1/3 of our house.  I think I will definitely feel more bad about it as they get older.  But for now the truth is they (and their friends) love it.  When they come over  they always ask "can we play in the preschool".  The way I run the preschool adds to the fun becasue I change things up every few weeks - so there is always something new to play with.  

One day Maddie was playing while I was cleaning up to start the winter break (it was my Polar Express train set).  She asked me if I would come play with her.  I used to play with this train set for hours with my kids (mostly boys) years ago - but I hadn't played with it with one of my kids in at least 3 years.  It was really fun - and the thought occurred to me, "this might be the last time".  

Even my boys play in it with their friends.  Lincoln and Brock set up a whole war with Army base camps. 

Library Santa

We went to the library to see Santa.  We have gone every year since living here.  This year I was late signing up and all the evening slots were taken.  So I took them all out of school to go see him.  It was a fun was to kick off Christmas.

You may wonder why Santa has a bunny.  It is a long story - he just does - and my kids LOVE him.  His name is Alowishes - meaning "all the wishes"

Family home evening

My visiting teacher, Jane Guthrie, had us and her other visiting teach-ee's family over for a Christmas Family Home Evening.  First off I want to say how wonderful Jane is.  I feel kind of bad having her becasue she is so wonderful... and I kind of asked for her.  Well, not her specifically.  I was feeling like I needed an older woman in my life.  At the time my VT'ers were other moms of young kids in their late 20's or early 30's .  I was missing my mom, my aunts, my grandma.  I needed someone in my life who wasn't in my same life stage - and when you live away from family that seems to be who you end up surrounding yourself with.  I mentioned this to my RS president and they switched me to Jane.  She is wonderful.  She takes care of me as if I was one of her kids.  She loves my children.  It is perfect.

We had some yummy snacks and dessert, did a craft,

and a nativity.

It was a fun night.

Escape Room Double Date

While we were in Utah we went on a double date with our really good friends, Rob and Jill.  We have a long history with Rob and Jill (Jason and Rob played football together as kids, Rob and I were friends in Jr High, Rob and I were each others first date, Rob and Jason became best friends in madrigals in HS, Rob dated one of my good friends in HS and college, Jason and Rob were collage roommates, Rob and Jill lived in our same apartment complex when we were all first married) - wow - that's a lot of ways to know somebody!  Needless to say Rob and Jill are awesome - it is rare you find a couple friend where everyone gets along.

However, I am definitely the odd one out of  the group.  The three of them are more "alike" in their interests and hobbies.  For example this date.  I would absolutely never, in a million years, want to do an escape room.  There is not one aspect of my personality that even finds it remotely interesting.  We have been invited on several group dates here in Denver to do them and I turned them all down.  I guess that just goes to show how much I love Rob and Jill!

It was... ok.  Not as annoying as I thought it was going to be.  But still not something I would ever want to do again.  That being said... we will probably do it again next time we are in Utah.  ha.