CHRISTMAS EVE

We went to our annual LaPray Christmas Eve Party where we ate lots of good food, watched and participated in the nativity story, and played a game with our $2 gifts! We really had a good time! We started the party a little early this year and it was nice getting home and not feeling rushed to get the kids in bed and asleep! Jingle the elf had left the kids with new PJs! Crystal asked Google where Santa was and she told her on a rooftop nearby. The kids all ran to their rooms and Lily ran to the window and peeked out  under the blinds. She gasped and said, "MOM, I just watched Santa go into the neighbors house!" I told her she'd better get to sleep then so he could come here. She just kept saying, "I can't believe I saw Santa!" Haha. It was fun to hear her excitement. After tucking them in, I didn't hear from them the rest of the night! First time for everything!

A NEPHITE CHRISTMAS

The kids worked hard for the past few months being 'citizens' in a play our stake in Idaho Falls put together. A couple in the stake wrote the play including the music. I'm going to add a video of the whole play as soon as they post it. 

This last week they have spent 4 hours a night rehearsing/performing and starting at 12 on Saturday. Once the performance began they had to sit quietly in the 'green room' waiting for their cues to go on stage. They could whisper but needed to stay quiet. It was not easy. Haha. But they did great and found ways to entertain themselves in between their scenes. 

I sat in the back with them all week, so I hadn't actually seen the entire play from start to finish yet so tonight Ty stayed in the green room with them while I sat in the audience and watched my little Nephites. They didn't have any lines other than the group song at the end, but they did a great job acting as Nephites in the background of several scenes and sang powerfully at the end.  I couldn't be more proud of them! 

CHRISTMAS FUN

Ty went the extra mile and crawled around the roof to get the lights up... in the dark! The sun went down before we were even halfway done... by we I mean I watched while he worked. I offered to go up and help but he wouldn't let me. For some reason he thought I'd get hurt or something. ;-) 

We have seen Santa several times this December. First we went to Cabela's to visit Santa and make a little craft. They also got a little stuffed animal and candy cane from Santa. And mom got a FREE 4X6 picture of the kids with Santa! Then a few days later Santa was at the credit union where Ty works so we stopped by there after school! He was so good with the kids and spoke with them individually. And he also had some mean dance moves!!! Who knew Santa could dance????? 

In lieu of building a gingerbread house, we like to make and decorate a rice krispie treat Christmas train! Lily needed a little extra attention but other than that it went pretty well! 

CRYSTAL

Crystal received an award at school in their 1st trimester awards ceremony. She has the highest grade in science for her class!!! She was so excited and surprised by this. Her current goal is to become a meteorologist when she grows up so she's heading in the right direction!
She also had a talent show 2 days later. I was 5 minutes late getting there and MISSED it! I felt so bad, I almost cried! But the principal recorded it so I was still able to see it at least! Crystal and her friend sang "Believer" together. They did a great job and had a lot of fun doing it... and practicing too!

CHILDREN

We have a 50" TV and nice soft couches right behind them and they insist on sitting on hard benches and watching YouTube on the 7 inch Hub. Lol. I don't get it...

OPEN GYM

The kids have been taking gymnastics lessons this fall. They missed a day due to the move, so they got to go to an open gym time to make up for it. It was during Thanksgiving break so it was crazy busy, but they still had a ton of fun!