Pre-Christmas, Part 2

December is always packed with activities.  

*For our ward Christmas party this year, we decided to do a Christmas Pageant.  We have well over a hundred kids ages 3-11, so we had quite the cast of characters.  Personally, we contributed a shepherd and a wiseman...

And an angel and a "Super" donkey. 

Despite the program being a little too long, it was well received.  Afterwards, our Bishop asked everyone to squish together for a ward picture.  There was quite a bit of good-natured grumbling, but in the end we felt like one big family.

*One of my most treasured Christmas advent activities is our Christ-like dinner.  In summary, this is where we think of someone who is a great example to us of Christ-like love and service, and invite them over for a "thank-you" dinner.  

This is the third year of this particular tradition.  In the past, Mark and I have provided a lot of prompting and suggestions and guidance to help the kids think of a chosen recipient.  This year I was amazed at the great ideas the kids suggested of their own volition and with the solid evidence they presented for each suggestion.  In the end, we came up with four candidates and had a hard time narrowing it down to just one.

After a close vote, we chose Sister Karen Wheiler.  Sister Wheiler is Graham's nursery teacher.  She was also Thane's nursery teacher, which gives you an indication of how long she's served in that capacity.  More insightfully, she volunteered to work in nursery, and loves each of those kids with her whole heart.  

Beyond nursery, Sister Wheiler (whose children are all grown and married) is always the first to volunteer to help when a need arises.  She quietly goes about doing good and lifting feeble knees.  

It was a joy to have her and her husband in our home for dinner and graham cracker house making.  I was shocked when they told us this was the first time they'd been invited over to dinner since they moved into the ward (2 1/2 years ago).  That makes me resolve to do a better job of reaching out.

As I mentioned, we turned out Christ-like dinner into a double activity and made graham cracker houses as well.  This is probably one of my kids' top three Christmas activities; They'd spent days plotting how to get the most candy on their houses!

Mark provided a little bit of assistance to Graham, but other than that the kids were largely independent this year.  

*This isn't exactly an advent activity, but we were blessed to have our dear friends and old neighbors come by to visit one morning.  Graham and his old buddy Henry picked up right where they'd left off, though Graham did admit, "Him growed big!"

The bigger boys had a bit more trouble renewing their easy friendship, but the game of War soon saved the day.  While McKell and I caught up, Thane and Mikey battled away happily.

*We managed to squeeze in an evening of hasty sugar cookie decorating (the boys each got to decorate just a couple before heading off to bed... but don't worry, they got to eat more than their fill later on).

*Bryce had his first piano recital.  Bryce's teacher asked him to play first because she considered him the bravest of her beginning students.  

Indeed he was brave!  He is really enjoying playing the piano.

*Aubree agreed to wear a fancy Christmas dress, even though she much prefers simple, "not poofy or itchy" dresses.  

*Nellie continued to delight us.

*Our neighbors invited us over for their now-famous gift exchange game.  It takes the typical white elephant idea and adds in dice, a time limit, and constant swapping.  Tons of fun!  Thane and Bryce both came home with light sabers, and two happier boys you could not find anywhere.

*Despite what these highlights might suggest, this holiday season seemed more relaxed and less busy than usual, especially once school let out.  The big kids put together numerous puzzles and spent a lot of time playing.