December

Christmas time! The most wonderful time of the year!

It was such a wonderful Christmas season.  There was lots of love, and music, and joy, and service and thoughtfulness, and togetherness.  That is Christmas.

At the very beginning, there was a stake youth activity night, "Reindeer Games".  Our 3 youth-age kids were quite festive for the evening--

There was a "Carols & Cocoa" night for the area, at church.  That was fun.  Various musical, holiday performances.  The kids and Jonnie participated with the ward choir for a couple of numbers. Janson and Ryah wore their matching shirts-- 

And they ALL were in festive attire! :)

Performing their numbers--

(Janson was up there too, but the director was blocking my view of him)

Marie sent this picture to me, that I had never seen before...it's of Colton and Sierra, FOUR years ago!!  They look so little---he was 8, she was 2! SO cute!

And look how they've grown!  Colton, Daxton, and Sierra finished their science unit on Energy, in school--so as a final project, we made a solar oven and 'cooked' a little snack! :)

(you can tell that solar power was right in their eyes-- ha ha!)

We also had the ward Christmas party. Somehow, Daxton and Sierra got this picture taken of them, without me knowing...so it was a fun surprise to see it!

We watched a friend's 2 little girls one Friday morning, so she could go on a field trip with her son.  Our kids were so excited to have them here and help watch them.  They helped them do crafts and play--it was very cute.

Sierra even read some Christmas stories to them.

A neighbor gave us free tickets to this "Winter Wonderland" event--so we thought we'd check it out.

It was fun.  Different games and activities...

There were also various vendors, which were fun to take a look at.  And we tried (and bought!) a new card game.  It was a good time.

Snow globe! :)

Fun photo opps!

We did "Secret Santa" in our home, 3 different times over the few weeks leading up to Christmas.  I love seeing all the thoughtfulness and awareness of each other--leaving notes, giving a treat or gift, doing chores for each other, giving coupons...it's such a great way to get us thinking of each other.

Of course, our Christmas season includes our family tradition of caroling and taking homemade Christmas goodies to people!  We had a list of some friends and neighbors to go to.  

But we also talked as a family, and tried to think of people outside of that circle--and specifically visit and carol to people that we felt impressed to visit...perhaps they are going through some struggles, or are alone, or just moved here, or whatever the need may be...

And we really had some sweet, tender experiences.

I love all the music played in the home, and how they collaborate together.

Heading out for caroling--

(and showing off Janson's light display in the yard!)

He loves to do it! And he was completely in charge and did a fantastic job! Very fun.

We also got to go see the Phoenix Ballet perform parts of the Nutcracker!  We joined some others from a homeschool group, and we got free tickets!  Pretty awesome.  It was a good experience for the kids to be introduced to ballet and appreciate something new.

l-r: Janson, me, Daxton, Colton, Ryah, Sierra, Grandma--

After the show--

Another day, the kids got to perform for the people at an assisted living center near our home.

Their piano teacher helped organize it.  She also has had Ryah start helping her volunteer there on Wednesday mornings, to play the piano for the folks' sing-a-long.  It's a wonderful way to serve--and they LOVED having the kids there!  Ryah, Colton, and Daxton all played their individual numbers, and then their trio, and then Janson (violin) and Ryah played a duet, "What Child is This?"

It was beautiful!

I think next year, Sierra will be experienced enough and ready to play something on the violin, too!

Practicing the trio number for their recital, that was on the 18th.

Recital night!  

(Janson, again, played his duet with Ryah...so all 4 of them got to perform)--

I love when Janson and Ryah play together--it is so beautiful.

I loved their "Joy to the World" number!  And I loved watching the three of them work together and play--they did amazing!  They did an amazing job coming together and playing in unison--fantastic! So proud of them.

The recital group with Sis. Dent--

Marie arrived, for her Christmas trip, on the 19th.  We immediately had an impromptu recital--with the kids showing their musical numbers on the piano and violin--

And then Marie sang an opera number for them, that she has been learning--

I took Marie and the kids to the park one day, just to play and enjoy being outside.  Daxton, Ryah, Colton, and I played 2-on-2 for awhile. And then Colton and I were just shooting around.  This guy came over to us, commenting on how good of a player Colton is.  He said he works with kids on basketball skills and wondered if he could give Colton a few tips.  It was....interesting...but I was right there the whole time.  I do have to say, though--Colton DOES have skills.  You see how far back he is from the 3-point line?? Yeah, well....he MADE that shot! Awesome, huh??

For the last activity night of the year, Janson's Teachers Quorum was going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  Bro Huband (the leader, from the bishopric) invited parents to attend, so both Jonnie and I went!  We ended up driving the whole group in our 12-passenger van. It was a great night.

Janson will be ordained a Priest in January (I kind of can't believe it!!)--so he will move up, and we will all miss him having Bro. Huband. He has been an awesome leader.  Grateful for him.

We got out our Christmas break puzzles...love those!

Grandma was invited to go to my sister's house for Christmas, and we figured we should share her with other grandkids. :). She was gone for about 4 days, and we gave her her Christmas gifts before she left--her mission blog book printed!, and a BYU basketball shirt! :)

Another tradition: sleeping around the Christmas tree one night.

Sierra crashed out, without her shirt (apparently, she got pretty warm!).

Christmas Eve came!  We had church and most of the family sang in the choir. Ryah also was asked to speak and she shared her testimony about being a light, following the example of Jesus. She did a beautiful job.  At home, we had a wonderful Come, Follow Me discussion, about Christmas.  We talked about "receiving" Him.  And how RECEIVING is illustrated in different roles of the Nativity story:

Herod (not receiving); Innkeeper; Shepherds; Wise Men; Mary; Joseph;...Anna & Simeon...

And how can WE receive Him, every day?

Also, we talked about how it repeatedly says "Fear Not" in the story.  A strong message for us.  We need not fear, because of Jesus Christ.  We can have hope and power, because of Him.

We had our special meal on Christmas Eve, and as we finished the preparations, Janson serenaded us with Christmas songs on the violin. It was lovely!

As we sat down for the meal, I was about to take a picture. Janson walked by, stopped, turned to me, and flashed his charming smile. :)

And then, we acted out the Nativity...

Complete with scripture reading and hymn singing...

3 wise guys :)

It was a beautiful night--

Before bed, an exciting game of Twister was played! :)

Christmas morning...

So much fun!  Sierra showing Janson and Ryah her "National Park" shirt from Santa--

Close up on that excited face...I love it!

Colton got one, too!  (The 5 of them all did). :)

Daxton got a flat, indoor soccer ball!

Marie, looking surprised!

Daxton finished his recent books, and was wanting to start reading The Ranger's Apprentice (favorites in this house!).  He was disappointed that there was a waiting list at the library....but Santa pulled through!

Christmas present opening....I love all the hugs!

This, of course, is just a fraction of them:

I got my hoped-for Canvas pictures for the home!  These are all pictures that I took, from our RV journey!! These just fill up my heart!

The 5 kids in (l-r): Cape Cod, OR coast, WA coast...

AND....we got this special one made of Jordan Pond, at Acadia National Park in Maine.

And I took this picture, too!

Ryah got this Ranger's cloak, from Marie--made to be like the one in Ranger's Apprentice! It was a hit.

Janson got Ryah the piano music for Sound of Music!

Sierra got the picture books that are our favorites, but were damaged by a leak when we were in the RV.  We replaced them for her to enjoy!

Colton excited about his Black Panther bedspread!

Sierra's violin tie for Janson--

Daxton is excited!

So is Dad! (his very own Christmas shirt!)

Sierra checking out her personally-made Harry Potter Guess Who? game, from Marie.

Group shots!

(National Park game from Uncle Brett)--

The blog books JUST for our year in the RV (this was a labor of love, from Jonnie. I mean..I wrote the blogs and did all the posts...but getting them into printed books was not an easy task.  Jonnie, the hero!)

Ryah and Marie working on some song compositions:

Marie decided, at 26, that she wanted to get her ears pierced.  So, that's what Jonnie and I gifted her with.  Ryah and I, as veteran pierced ears people, went with her.  She did it!  And she chose out some earrings for us to get her, for fun!

Two puzzles completed in our time! And lots of games and fun, movies, and talking time.

It was a wonderful Christmas with lots of family time together.

It really is a WONDERFUL time of year!

2024 is approaching QUICKLY!