As Christmas break approached, I had all sorts of ideas on how to spend the days off with the kids. Unfortunately, Evelyn came down with strep throat, Dane started to throw up and Anna had a terrible chest cold. Ha! On to plan B.... hang out at home and enjoy the time off from our usual run-around. It was wonderful~! I got the presents wrapped, watched movies with the kids and played board games. I think I enjoyed it even more than if we had been out adventuring! Of course we enjoyed plenty of parties throughout the month before illness took hold. Grandma came down for the day, we enjoyed our annual Marston Family Christmas and even had time to do a little Christmas crafting! The kids love "how to draw" books and printables. I do too. It's pretty fun to color and draw and put together puzzles with the kids. I think this must be my absolute favorite mothering stage. I'm kind of a kid at heart and I find all of their activities amazingly fun. One perk of being room mom in a few classrooms is that I always have left-over crafts, food supplies for home use- ha! The kids enjoyed creating their own Christmas plates, decorating reindeer cupcakes, frosting sugar cookies and other various projects with their time off from school.
Even Blake engaged in the holiday spirit-- or at least his staff did! Love the card that Brandy created for the office and the cute contest they put together- guess what's in Dr. Marston's santa bag!
Highlights of December included a fun visit from my friend Shannon- all the way from Virginia! She is a realtor, so it was great to look at houses and to get an idea of what my values and priorities are as we approach the new year with intentions of buying a new house. In fact, her trip helped me to realize that the house I want more than anything, is the one we are currently renting! So... Blake and I put an offer in on this house. We are waiting to hear back. But in the meantime, I use my free time to check out new houses with my friend in town who is also a realtor and look on-line constantly for new listings just in case we don't end up sealing the deal with this house.
Another fun highlight of the month was a re-do of our family room! I convinced Blake to make the room more of a family/fun space and we bought a sectional, tv, bean bags and rug to make it happen. That was my christmas, birthday, valentines day and anniversary present this year- ha! Worth it. We love the new room! We brought in our foosball table and air hockey table from the garage and the kids now feel they have a whole new room to enjoy. SO HAPPY!
Seems like every weekend of the month was SUPER busy with service, tournaments, and partying! We had such a fun time-- yes, you heard me-- FUN time-- cleaning the church at the beginning of the month. We signed up with a few friends and it made the time pass quickly and with enjoyment. It helped that one of the dads is like a bonafide "kid whisperer". He chased everyone around the church as the trash monster. So cute.
We put together gingerbread houses with the Brinkleys, enjoyed the annual tree trimming party with the Perrys, had the best time exchanging white elephant gifts and playing Christmas games with the Millers, Konolds and Kuletos; and loved going to the Douds to feast on home-made sugar cookies and decorate to our hearts content. I talked Blake into attending the Anderson's Festivus for the Rest of Us Party-- SO much fun! We came home with the most awesomely scary clown ever created. I thought I'd scare the kids with it for April Fools, but instead, Anna took one look and loved it. She's been playing with it ever since-- ha!
It was pretty funny when I was explaining to Blake how stressed I was and he asked, why? I began to explain about all of the parties I had to throw this month. It sounded hilarious even to me. Too many parties!~ Too much stress! But really.... lots of events to plan this month! We had the best time at our annual BYU Christmas dinner. So fun to see our friends who we typically only see once or twice a year. I hosted our Activity Day Christmas party which was a success with three different stations- jewelry making, service, and sugar cookie decorating. I stick with my position that Activity Day leader is without exception, the best calling in the church! Even though Ev is graduated, I love it and get so excited planning fun events for these darling girls. Anna's preschool party was bitter sweet because I absolutely adore these preschool teachers and kids and can't believe it's my last holiday party with them! Dang it! Why do kids have to grow up so quickly? Dane's classroom party was low-key with cookie decorating, popcorn and movies and games. I'm getting to know the kids in Dane's classroom and realizing it's kind of a rough crowd. Beginning this new year I'll be teaching 7 Habits and let's just say I'm a little nervous about the crowd control! Not the easiest group of kids to manage. After Christmas I had the opportunity to help a friend put together her daughter's wedding reception. I LOVE helping with weddings. Of course I recruited a couple of my friends to help me help her- ha! We had a good time setting up and taking down and enjoying the wonderful celebration!
But overall, we survived the partying and had a great time doing it. It never ceases to amaze me when I look back over the month at all that has happened... first, I can't believe there was enough hours in the day to do it all! Second, I always have the greatest sense of gratitude for everything God has given me- but most importantly the gift to be a mother and part of a family. When Blake asks why do I keep blogging? Hardly a soul reads it! Our own kids may never be interested! But I never doubt the importance of documenting our life together because of the joy and warmth I feel in my heart when I review the many various experiences we enjoy together in life. I hope one day the kids will be interested to look back and read about their childhood-- but if not, it will have been enough just because of the joy it brings to me to remember and review all that God has given me.
Happy New Year!
