December- The never ending month

It seems as though it could have been Lindi's birthday, as she 

makes almost every picture for the month of December!

She is the 3rd child to get braces.
And lucky for me, all said 3 children currently

have metal on their teeth.

I should just live at the orthodontist at this point!

Lindi had her last Winter Sing for elementary school.

She said she wasn't sad about that in the least bit.

It's funny how they reach the point of wanting to be in Jr. High.

Being top dog in 6th grade isn't enough anymore!

And lucky for us, they played their recorders as an added Christmas treat!

Della was sick and missed out on the singing this year.

Some of her friends, Maylie and Ryah.

The joys of Christmas.

Boxes piling up in your entry.

I have tried it all over the years.

Hiding presents all over the house, and wrap Christmas Eve.
Wrap presents and hide them in the house.
Haul everything to my parents to store and wrap there to bring home

Christmas Eve.

Wrap the second they arrive with a shape code and stick under the tree as they arrive.

This year I left everything in their boxes and told the kids they better not open them

or I would return them.

Nothing seems to work better than the other, or save me time.

It's all hard, and time consuming!

Lindi qualified for the Spelling Bee!

Not going to lie, we were all shocked!
We had no idea she was such a good speller.

I was so proud of her.

She killed it and got 5th place!

Lindi had her Young Women recognition night.

As you can see, it is a big year for her!

We did have some festive fun during December.

Including our gingerbread house an Christmas light gazing night with the Evans!

I feel like there is a trend or theme every so often.

This year was the year of BOWS!

Lots and lots of bows on houses and Christmas trees.

Including ours.

I sort of fancy them:)

I finally upgraded my tree!

It's hard to say upgrade, because she is tinier than my last one.

So I guess I should say, replaced.

I have found that less is more for me.

Too many knickknack decorations and things blown

up in every corner makes me go a little crazy!!

Nothing like eating dinner over piles of laundry.

I look forward to a laundry room some day.

First world problems, first world problems...

My boxwoods that were out front died out of nowhere!
I was so sad.

We replaced them along with the landscaping rocks of my dreams!
I love the big, black rocks so much!

Not so much the price tag, yikes.
Merry Christmas to me!

I was helping in Lindi's classroom and 
got lucky to sit in on their science presentations.

I was pleasantly surprised as why it was not a good idea 
to remove the wolves from Yellow Stone back in 1943!

We did the nativity for our ward party.
Della loving on the llama. 

The sweetest lady in our ward, Heidi Chappell, put together a sewing

class with the girls Lindi's age.
It wasn't even part of her church calling, she just wanted

to teach these girls out of the goodness of her heart.

 

Who does this kind of stuff?!

She is a busy woman who works and takes care of grandchildren, on top of

some personal challenges she faces.
Talk about losing yourself in the service to others!

She had them over every week for months to teach them

how to sew.

Look at her cute quilt she created!

The girls had their Christmas showcase.

Our Christmas party at my parents.

We usually just combine it with a Sunday dinner.

It's simple and just lovely.
The kids share a talent if they want, and then we sing the nativity songs.

My mom and her violin students!

The girls love language is shopping, go figure!
They would do a girls day every day if I let them.

We hit Zupas for a very girly lunch of salads and sandwiches.

It must have been a special occasion, as she busted out 

the fake nails!

I die over the scotch tape for extra durability. 

Then off to the mall!

This makes me a little emotional.

Long story short, but this Summer after we went to Texas

with the Kovacs (Casey's cousin), they felt the prompting they 

needed to move there!

They had NO reason as to why they needed to do this.

They were not looking to move.
David was currently serving as bishop of their ward.

They have a great business they own, and lots of family in Arizona.

They were purely acting on faith and the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

I am not so sure I would have been so faithful!!!

Casey and I had a trip planned to New York the week before Christmas.
Two days before our trip, Casey hopped in the Uhaul to help 

David drive the last of their stuff.

They drove through the night, unloaded the truck, slept for a few

hours, and then caught a flight home in time for Casey

to hop on another flight. 

We cannot wait to see their new life in Texas unfold and

the amazing things that are in store for them!

That same night Casey left, I took the kids to my extended family Lindblom 

party! It was put together last minute as my Aunt Karen was in town visiting.

It was a miracle that we had so many show up as it is no feat getting a group

together last minute, let alone right before Christmas!!!

Of course we dined on the most fabulous food!

Lindbloms kill it in that department!

Smoked meat and fresh salsa's, desserts good enough to be in bakeries...

Doug gathered pictures and created the most amazing video tribute 

to Grandmother and Grandad. 

I know they were there gently squeezing each and every shoulder.

They had endless amounts of love to each grandchild.
You couldn't say or do anything wrong in their eyes.

Escaped to the most magical trip of all time!

The kids had fun at Grammy's Christmas party.

We were sad to miss it while we were gone!

 

Our orphan children continuing the fun at the temple Christmas lights with my 

parents and cousins!