December

The first Friday in December I was able to sneak away on a Friday morning for a session at the Bountiful Temple.  It was the perfect way to start the month.

I tried to keep the kids busy with activities...since we were mostly stuck inside in December.  We made this little Santa's workshop one day. 

Our ward Christmas party was the first Friday in December.  The kids loved running around and playing in the cultural hall.

When the Primary went up to sing a song...Millie followed Phin.  It was fun to see them up on the stage together.

The first Saturday in December Seth's parents treated us to a matinee of Newsies.  It was AMAZING!

The kids got bunk beds in December. 

We finally got some snow in December.  Just enough to pull the sled around and throw some snowballs.

We tried to make it to the pool at least once a week in December.  Millie LOVES the big slide and asks Seth over and over again to take her down.

Lots of time inside also meant lots of time for dressing up...this was one of my favorite combos.

We lucked out and scored some tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert.  We saw Sutton Foster in the show Anything Goes back in 2011 when we spent Christmas in the Big Apple.  It was a special treat to hear her sing again and to hear Hugh Bonneville's storytelling.

I took some pictures of the artwork the kids have brought home from school recently.  I think this is Phin's first official signature. 

The Gingerbread...aka Ninjabread man is a big hit with the kids.

One of my favorite paintings from Millie.

December must have been exhausting to the kids.  Millie fell asleep mid-morning after throwing a massive tantrum one day. 

Phin fell asleep while we were out and about running errands.  Luckily I had a blanket in the car that could serve as a pillow.  He ended up sleeping for two entire stores.

Seth scored some free Star Wars screening tickets and we decided to treat Phin to a date...he ended up getting two dates because we mixed up the date of the screening.  So the first night we went to dinner at Costa Vita, took some pictures by the Start Wars balloons and played in the lighted outdoor areas at the Gateway.

The next night we headed back for dinner at Panda Express and then the real screening of the movie.  We lucked out and got the reclining seats...I was in heaven.  I seriously may never be able to go back to the normal seats...especially when I am pregnant.  We also enjoyed free popcorn and soda.

We are starting to potty train Millie and have found that Phin is very motivated to encourage her when he gets a potty treat when she goes on the potty.  This particular morning he picked out some glow-in-the-dark beads to make a necklace...and she picked out some animal crackers.

Over Christmas break the kids helped me make our traditional Gingerbread cookies.

We also decorated a Gingerbread house.

One morning we did a little craft...Phin made a caterpillar and Millie made a crown.

Another potty prize was glow in the dark stars.

 ...and another Princess crown.

On December 23rd we went to the movie The Star.  We all loved the movie and think it may be part of our annual traditions.  After the movie we stepped into a little game store and the kids loved playing with one of the demo games.

Christmas Eve we enjoyed some hot chocolate after church.

Millie in one of her vintage Christmas dresses.

We had our traditional Christmas Eve pizza dinner at Nona and Papa's.

Aunt Collette brought all the stuff for the kids to decorate a cookie.  It was supposed to be for Santa...but they couldn't resist eating the cookies right after decorating.

We started a new tradition this year and went down to Temple Square after dinner to see the Christmas lights.

 

There kids loved balancing along all of the planter boxes.

 
After we got back from the lights, Papa pulled out his 12 Days of Christmas game.

Then the kids unwrapped pajamas from Nona and Papa.

Our favorite wolf pack.

 

Grandkids with Nona and Papa.

Christmas morning we had Nona and Papa over to watch the kids open presents.  Before we opened presents we did a Christmas story sticker book.

Millie loved her Minnie Mouse playset.

Phin's favorite gift...Goldar from Power Rangers.

We played games and enjoyed our gifts before heading to the movie Coco with Papa and all the cousins.  We finished Christmas night off with a yummy turkey dinner.

The rest of Christmas break went by quickly.  We spent lots of time organizing the playroom, storage room, closets, etc.

I apparently tuckered Millie out one day and she put herself down for a nap on the chaise lounger.

The last Wednesday in December we joined cousins at the Zoo for Wild Wednesday.

Holly, one of my best friends from BYU was in town from Washington DC for a wedding and was kind enough to make time for a visit with me.  We enjoyed catching up over lunch at The Lion House.  

Grandma Jo and Grandad spent a couple of nights with us at the end of the month.  They took us out to dinner at Sea Bears and we enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and live music.  Phin busted out some serious moves and Grandad even got up to dance with Millie.

On Christmas Eve we pulled out some of our leftover fireworks and celebrated the New Year a little after 8:00 PM with the kids.

We also did some Pop-Its while we shouted HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

2017 was full of fun memories and we are excited to see what 2018 brings.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

November

We started November off with shots...Flu shots.  The kids were not big fans.  We literally had to pin Phin down.  I am sure the patients in other rooms thought he was being murdered.  He kept his band-aid   on for almost a week.  We have decided that you get to eat ice cream for dinner when you get a flu shot.  Hopefully the kids remember this tradition and put up less of a fuss next year.

Seth and I were able to get away for two dates in November.  The first was to my Aunt and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary party.  Their four kids pulled off an epic surprise. 

It was a special treat to celebrate with Aunt Harriet and Uncle Wallie.  I also enjoyed visiting with their children Kirsten, Karina, John and Mark.  I think it was the first time that Seth had even met my cousin John.  We also ran into lots of other family members at the party.  I am so grateful to have such strong examples of marriage in my family. 

Seth and the kids were able to come with me for my 20 week ultrasound. They loved the rocking chairs in the waiting room.

The kids also got to meet Mr. John Stockton himself this month.  Bart recruited me for my help and these two come along with me.  

For our second date, Seth and I also got away for an afternoon at the International Gaming Day.  We played several light kids HABA games.

Then we got into some heavier games...this is Seth's strategic face.

The kids made some cute Thanksgiving day hats at school...they were more than willing to model them for me.

Thanksgiving Day meant the last race of my series.  I completed a 5K.  I was starting to come down with a cold...and the baby decided he would rather not run...but I made it to the finish line.  

We had some friends over for Pie for Breakfast after the race...then I got to work preparing dinner while the kids played outside.  How often is it warm enough to be barefoot outside on Thanksgiving?

On Black Friday we decorated the house and put Christmas lights up outside.  They worked great when we put them up...but wouldn't turn on later that evening.  We found out we blew a fuse in the lights...so we replaced the impacted strand...and they worked for one more night before another fuse was blown.  I was able to capture this gorgeous picture of the sunset one of the nights that the lights were working...oh well maybe next year.