December 2018 Part 1

 Taking our turn ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. Our Branch signs up to cover all the slots for a few days every Christmas.  We like to bring some of our own instruments and sing carols to pass the time. We usually get a lot of smiles and people love to see the kids.  Max just wanted to suck on the bell handle. 

At the Homestead this month we talked about cultural traditions to pass the new year, I can't remember details but something about burning various seeds and herbs in a fire and saying goodbye to old habits etc while you walk around the fire a few times saying something. Yeah, I know, lots of good details, you're so glad I'm writing this. 

Our Christmas party this year had some musical selections.  I feel like I sang a song, like a duet with Audra....urrg. I can't remember. The primary kids sang. And we had fun with Jake acting as Santa's helper. 

It was a little sad to take down our Thankful Tree from November. I really liked looking at it... but we got to make way for Christmas cards! 

We hosted a Christmas Party this year. It was really fun. Good food, good games, good friends. Man, I'm getting sentimental thinking of our good friends in dear old Starkville. I wish I remembered more from this evening. 

In the bathroom remodel we worked on the shower a bunch and painted all the water proof stuff, lots of layers, and worked on getting the old linoleum under the tile and all the grout inbetween up. This was A BEAST to get up. Its liked they used super glue. Plus we added a filler to the part of the floor where the foundation had cracked and settled a bit creating a sag. 

We had a holiday neighborhood musical night at our new neighbors, Brian and Summer Seller's house.  I was so proud of our kids. Alec played the sax and Chris accompanied him, then Charlie had a piano piece and Gwen and I sang a song. I led random volunteers in a bell ringing Jingle Bells rendition (just like my Aunt Merlene would do at her Neighborhood Christmas musical evening parties). Brian sang a song too which I was really glad for but mainly it was our family sharing musical numbers and then we all sang some carols. It was fun to meet with neighbors and celebrate our love for Christ together. I am always reminded in these settings though, how crazy and loud my kids are. 

We decided to celebrate Max and Freddy's birthday at the same time. We had a bunch of Freddy's friends over for a costume Ninja party. I let the older 3 kids plan and lead an activity during the party.  Gwen did a craft and Alec and Charlie combined to lead the obstacle course with an adventure story. They made up the idea that someone stole all of Freddy's presents and to rescue them, they'd have to go through all the obstacles and bring them back. 

I think Freddy's request for a cake this year was of Flash, running super fast... maybe from a burning building?? I can't remember. Chris did an excellent job though!

Max turned one just the day before and while we had so many of our friends over for Freddy's party, we invited them to celebrate Max turning one as well! He was a little unsure of the cake ... like what to do with it. But then Chris gave him a taste off his finger of the frosting and Max figured it out pretty quick: Chocolate = yummy.  He also caught on really fast with opening presents. I'm not sure our other kids caught on so quickly at one years old that good things lie underneath all the wrapping. I love how much our big kids get so excited for all these milestones. I just can't believe Max is 1 years old!! I wish I wasn't writing this post 2 years later, so I could comment more on all the cute things Max is currently into and loving. Sorry 5th child! 

Freddy's actual birthday wasn't for a few days later and we gave him breakfast in bed, like usual, and saved one big present for then. We had his new bike set up in his room behind some balloons when he woke up, totally expected he'd see it right away. After a few minutes of him eating went by and he didn't notice, I crouched directly behind the bike and asked him to smile at me and say "cheese" for the camera... he looked my way and smiled... but still didn't notice! We did that a few more times before he saw it! It was so fun to surprise him. 

I got home from running errands or something and found this note on the door. Freddy told Chris exactly what to write and then hid in the house ready to jump out at me!