Scary Santa and $1.31

12/18—Annual Ornament Party!!  I bought my ornament for this party weeks ago and fell in love with the little blue bird I picked out.  I strategically went to the party hoping to get my own ornament.  I even wrapped it in ugly wrapping hoping no one would pick it.  Someone did, but luckily I had a pretty high number and stole it from them!  I love it!

12/19—Ella insisted I take her picture next to this manikin at Kohl’s.  Not sure what she was thinking, but it cracked me up!

Christmas Sing-a-long at the school!

To celebrate the start of Christmas break we took the kids to Five Guys and then to get frozen yogurt.  Yay for 2 weeks off from school!

12/20—Bishopric Christmas Party.  We hosted the party at our house this year and served up fajitas. 

No party would be a party without Scott Sterling from Studio C.  lol.  We also went around the room sharing embarrassing moments or things no one knew about us.  It was a fun night!!

12/21—Christmas Sunday.  I had to play the piano for two musical numbers during sacrament meeting so it wasn’t quite as relaxing as it could have been!  Luckily I nailed them!

After church Santa (Jeff’s dad) stopped by to see how the kids were doing. Ella has been scared to death of Santa all month.  She cried hysterically and hid in the office when she heard him at the door.  When I did bring her out, she wouldn’t even look at Santa. 

I’m pretty sure she was scarred cause for several days after that if someone knocked on the door she would start crying and say, “Santa, I don’t want it.  I don’t want it.”  It didn’t help that Darrin kept walking in the door saying Ho Ho Ho really loud.  And if you ask her if she wants Santa to come to her house, she adamantly says “No!” 

(She’s a little more open to Santa now that she knows what he brings,  but still scarred- I’m pretty sure.)

That night we drove around looking at Christmas lights.  We’d heard that Andrew’s teacher at school has awesome lights so we set out to see for ourselves.  It was pretty awesome!!

Playing games.

12/22—Filled up the van for $23.21!!!!  Yay for Fred Meyer rewards and getting a dollar off per gallon making it $1.31/gallon.  Woot!

We went to Chad and Julie’s to watch the BYU game and decorate sugar cookies. 

The cougs blew it.  But at least the cookies were good! 

12/23—Christmas baking day!  Each of the kids were in charge of a treat to make.  Luke-Oreo balls, Andrew-Peppermint popcorn, Josh-Rolo pretzels, Mom-Peppermint Brownies and caramel, and Dad-Almond Bark. 

Ella thought it’d be a good idea to lick the spoon that was used to measure the peppermint extract.  She doesn’t like that flavor anyway, but the potency of the extract just about put her over the edge! 

Silly kids!!!