the busy, ever so busy holidays

For years, one of my favorite Holiday traditions has been to make Christmas Wreaths with Loalee.    Some years we freeze in the garage, last year Darren let us do it in the kitchen which was really nice but this year was so warm the kids played in the yard and sandbox while we worked. I tell you, there is something so quietly thrilling working with the evergreens, making my ten little bundles, breathing in the heavenly evergreen scent, clipping the red rose hip and adding the dogwood to make it pretty.  Its like a happiness tonic.  

Mark's been talking about wanting to walk on a city sidewalk.  Which seems really random and I kept wondering why?  Then I realized it was because we never do.  We walk all over the place, but never, ever on a side walk, hello, country life where sidewalks don't exist.  So I thought we'd try a cultural experience where the kids could enjoy some busy sidewalks, city sidewalks dressed in holiday style...you know like  right out of the holiday song?

So, we took them to the Logan City Gallery Walk and thought we'd have a fun look at the gingerbread houses along the way.   But, this quickly turned from an adventure to torture, craziness trying to keep five in tow and not touching the art and the whining and attitudes were going to be the death of me, but we persevered without any broken art and declared next time I get a date night without the kids.  Here's a picture from when were still having fun. 

I think their favorite part was when we found an old telephone booth in one of the galleries.

Later that week, we all enjoyed Mark's first orchestra recital.

In other holiday news, Gavin absolutely adores the preschool co-op I worked so hard to get started this past fall.  This month I had the letter J, so I taught that J is for Jesus and the snack turned out almost too cute to eat and maybe we shouldn't have,  it felt kind of weird eating baby jesus.  But seriously how cute it this?

of course, I think our Back to Bethlehem dinner is absolutely the best!

The Geisler party was down in Utah County at a golf course on the banks of Utah Lake this year.   The kids could see the lake from the club house and decided to set off on an adventure:

 they never found the lake through all the brush, so they came back just in time for the elf to arrive.

Gavin's been funny about Santa Claus this year.  One day while driving around in the car a few weeks before christmas he randomly asked if I had my list ready.  "What list?" I quirried.  "Your Christmas list" came the response."  "No," I admitted "why?" -- "Because you are Santa Claus" he stated.  What?  I'm  thinking...WHAT? 

 When I asked him who told him that, he simply said "I just figured it out" and then went on a long explanation about the gifts he received last year for Christmas.  He's three, people.  Three! The next day, Jill told me about a conversation she'd overheard at her house the week previous when Gavin was explaining his theory to his older, more leary (and still believing) cousins.  Hollie in the mists of this particular conversation, didn't believe either but when I questioned her later she adamantly believed, I guess she understands the principle that "those who don't believe, don't receive."  

I worked really hard the rest of the Christmas holidays to bring back the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus and by the time Gavin talked to the Elf the Saturday before Christmas, I'd either convinced him or the little smarty pants learned to play the part really well.

We took the kids down to the docks after the party, so they could see the lake:

We had a several family talent shows, the first at the Geisler Christmas Party, one at Aunt Jill's with Robertson Cousins and another one with the Hatch family.

Gavin sang Jingle Bells

Hollie was amazing with her piano piece -  Jingle Bells with two hands!

And Mark keeps getting better and better on the cello

Hyrum and Hannah opted out when they could, but sometimes we 

talked Hyrum into playing We Three Kings on the guitar and Hannah, 

when forced, played Children Around the World on the penny whistle

Jotham even got me to play the guitar with him at the Hatch party, which was pretty rough given I haven't played in years, let alone for an audience, ever,   I think I shocked the kids when I actually picked up the guitar and started practicing, I don't think they even knew.  Shame on me.  It was fun to watch Hollie and Gavin quietly appear in the living room and silently sit down to listen to me play.  I should repent and do better, practice more and set a good example. 

A just a few pictures of the Hatch Holiday party;