December Report

(Oh I’m getting so close to catching up!)

We were pretty good this year at doing one on one dates with the kids every other month.  In December Ryan and Seth went to a do it yourself pottery place and out for yogurt.  Jane and I went to the neighboring stake’s production of Annie and a gas station visit that resulted in Mamba’s (because: yum.)

We had the usual spate of Christmas concerts and events.  In 8 days, we went to 7 concerts/meets the second week of December.  I took a few pictures, but they’ll show up in the Instagram post.

Jane was in a cute Activity Days play:

 

I am continually surprised at how easy Christmas decorating is with older kids to help.  I turned my back and the tree was done (with Emma saying in the same not-so-nice she heard for years from me “Um, that’s not where that goes.  Here just let me do it!!”)

     

Ryan’s work party was all kinds of fun this year.  They did it at the ritzy hotel downtown and had a fun faux-gambling activity planned and great food, but mostly I like picking out my party outfit and chatting with my good friend Tessa, who’s husband also works there.

We went to a few of the usual holiday events (our Christmas cookie exchange with neighbors and the Rowells annual adult gathering) and a few new ones (Liberty Lake tree lighting and the gingerbread house event downtown):

Christmas break was super fun.  It snowed like crazy the first day and we sledded and played in it all day, we did gingerbread houses, we did our Christmas tradition stuff, I tore my ACL, we did a few New Years things and then it was over.  No “How am I supposed to entertain these people for 5 more days in the depths of winter” or anything.

 

 

Ryan was a superstar and did the 12 days of Christmas for me, which included back rubs, running gear (boo hoo!), an arranged lunch with girl friends, a night out alone, a day when he stayed home from work, a spice cabinet and a Clarisonic (eee!).  It’s my favorite thing that during the most stressful time of year, I have that daily treat to look forward to.  Here’s one of us having lunch together:

We also made lots of cookies and took them to people and I gained my usual 10 lbs.  (Lame.)

We were all by ourselves this Christmas and we still had a lovely time.  After much debate, we decided to repeat our Brazillian grill restaurant choice from last year.  It was a pretty day and every obliged me by putting on their holiday shirts. 

We went to Legends of the Guardians (cute) as usual, but then were sad to have to do the Bethlehem dinner sans Daines this year (Hawaii, pfft!).  We had a simple hummus spread and enjoyed dressing up and a simple nativity re-enactment (we needed those Daines cousins desperately for that one). 

Of course we opened PJs.

Christmas morning was nice.  Everyone seemed happy.  Jane was on her kindle, the boys played Legos, Faith and Jane had Soap Opera world with all her new dollhouse stuff until I shut that dysfunction down, and we all watched movies together.  I did the unusual and decided to do a simple dinner (Clam chowder, rolls and pies) and it was the best decision of the month.  I actually relaxed and enjoyed my Christmas.  Honestly, Christmas 2013 was my favorite year ever.

Ryan (ward scoutmaster extraordinaire) organized a snow shoeing/campout for the last weekend of December and it was a rousing success.  Lots of good dutch oven dinners, pancakes from a mix, fires and snow caves made for the perfect Boy Scout event, apparently.  (He left me 12 hours after my injury, but we managed just fine). 

We rang in the New Year with our awesome progressive party:  Finger foods at Foxes (last minute change after the busted knee), games by Youngs at Shenemans (so so so fun.  Especially the limbo party.  We got some bendy Mamas in our group.) and dessert at the Beykirchs.  Honestly best New Years Eves I’ve ever had.  It’s a genius set-up, I tell you.  You’ve just got to not be scared of 50 people at your house for an hour.

      

How sad is my Crutch dancing:

    

 

And that’s it for 2012!