Noah's Choir Concert

Noah had a Christmas Choir concert.  He has decided he likes singing and choir and joined the school choir back in October.  He is pretty dang cute if you ask me.

Piano Recital

Megan and Madison have Derek Roper as a piano teacher.  He is a 15 year old in the ward.  We lucked out cux while we pay for a 15 year old we get a lot more.  His mom is a fantastic and expensive piano teacher and he is teaching him how to be a piano teacher so she is usually in on the lessons helping him teach our girls.  It is fantastic.  They had a Christmas Piano recital at their home on Sunday night.

Madison played Jolly Old Saint Nicolas

Megan played Silent Night

And they played a duet of God Rest ye Merry Gentalman

 Them and their teacher, Derek

Escape Room

For Krista's 40th birthday we went to an escape room with the Marriotts and Clarks.  It was fun.  

I also wanted to put in here about another escape room.  I don't know if I have mentioned this on my blog but since we had Dane we wanted to make sure we stayed on top of all our kids.  So we have "special time".  Each month is someones "month" to have "special time" with either mom or dad.  December was Madison and Jason's special time.  Madison really wanted to go do an escape room.  Jason was so sweet to figure it out.  It was hard to find a place where only 2 people could go in and 1 of those 2 people was an 8 year old.  But she was in heaven.  She was so excited.  They had to diffuse a bomb.  They missed it by about 5 seconds.  Apparently there was confusion about the * and the # key. 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

We went and picked out our Christmas tree.  Even though this isn't Dane's first Christmas - it kind of is.  At least the kids are treating it like it is.  They are so excited for Dane to "pick out his first Christmas tree" and "see his first Christmas lights" etc.  The magic of Christmas is back!

Dane loved help decorating... and un-decorating.

Bake Sale

Madison is on SLC this year (Student Leadership Council).  They had to do a bake Sale one Saturday morning and Madison wanted to make cake pops.  If I am being honest I was really bugged by the whole thing.  I was so tired in my pregnancy and it was the first weekend in December, we just got home from Utah, I had Danes party and had to get ready for Christmas (oh and our bathroom was getting demolished becasue of a leak).  I did NOT want to do a bake sale and if I HAD to I wanted to spend 30 minutes and make cookies.  I am not very good at making cute things and I knew this would take hours.  I am so grateful that I didn't listen to my cynical self and took the time to do something just for and with Madison.  It took us about 3 hours but we made them and it was a fun and tender time with Madison.  She was so so happy with them. I am afraid I turn down these moments too much becasue I am too busy, tired, overwhelmed, or distracted.  Every once in a while it is nice to have a win.

Thanksgiving at the Herbert's

On Friday, after taking Dane to the ER, braving a SLC snow storm, and picking the boys up at SkyZone after sleeping over at the Fosters, we drove to Mapleton to spend some time with the Herberts.  We always enjoy our time there.  The pace is slower, and quieter, and is always a great way to end our trips.

We did some dancing.

And game playing

The kids played downstairs on the Wii.

We payed with toys while watching football.

and... of course.. ate a lot of food.

We are grateful Travis and Jeanne were willing to come back down to Mapleton on Travis' only day off. 

Randy took some pictures of us packing up.

Dane Turns One!!

Thanksgiving was so late this year that as soon as we got back into town I had to hit the ground running.  I don't think I caught up until about December 20th.  First things first.  I now have a December baby - so a few days after getting back we had a party.  The older kids planned the whole thing.  They wanted me to make an Elmo cake and have a few friends over.  It was sad having a one year old birthday party with out any family.  So we invited the Weisters over (basically family) and the kids invited Lincoln, Zoe, and Finn - because they love Dane too.  

Dane did love his Elmo cake.

And he actually totally got that this was a party for him.  He seemed to understand that these were new toys and that they were for him.  He loved that everyone was surrounding him, looking at him, and smiling at him, and singing to him.  It was all pretty precious.

And he got his first taste of artificial sugar.  He, of course, loved it.

A few things about one year old Dane:

• He has a full mouth of teeth.
• He isn't walking or talking.  Real words anyways.  He jabbers all day and we think that he may have decided that it is talking and totally thinks we can understand him.
• He is sleeping great.  7 pm - 7 am. 2 naps a day for an hour and a half each.
• He loves books.  He will sit and flip through his books by himself (I am pretty sure he is the youngest of my kids to do that)
• He loves Elmo.
• His life goal is to make it downstairs.  If he hears the door open he stops and listens for the "shut" noise.  If he doesn't hear it he darts like mad to the stairs.  He can even tell if it almost shut but didn't quite click.
• He loves to throw food off his high chair and onto the floor. 
• He gets sick of food after a few days.  grrr
• He loves when his siblings play with him, hold him, or take care of him.  It makes life pretty easy - although he like Megan best right now.
• He loves to be outside.