December 07 | This morning at Choir Practice our family was asked if we would sing a song at the Ward Christmas Party this Saturday. So, before church, we broke out some instruments and began practicing. I was so excited to finally try out our ukelele and ended up practicing all morning.
During sacrament meeting at church Eva drew the cutest picture of marshmallows relaxing in a cup of hot chocolate. She is so awesome.
We finally located the missing tree skirt and put it under our tree for the very first time. It’s so fancy! I love it.
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December 08 | Today I worked on our annual CD of holiday music. We add a few new songs to it each year and keep our old favorites. Now, this isn't traditional Christmas music. We like new takes on old classics by undiscovered Indie Artists and quirky covers.
This year there are a lot of new songs by Jack Johnson, Guster, Weezer and old favorites like “Christmas Island”.
I burned the CD and took it into the car for a quick errand. When we got home the kids begged to keep driving so we could hear the rest. So we did and I loved every minute of it.
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December 09 | One of my favorite holiday traditions. The Scholastic Warehouse sale. I went this afternoon with Ella, Jude and Cecilia. We got so many great books for so cheap! I stacked them all up and gazed at the pile, grinning. Two years ago we started a tradition of giving our favorite picture book of that year to our close friends and family. And this year we will do it again. There is nothing that excites me more than gifting a book that we love to a family that we love.
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December 10 | Today was a very busy day and I wondered if we could make time to let Christmas in at all. But in the end we did.
We sang our Advent Christmas song and I handed out these wooden jingle bells I bought for each of the kids. They loved shaking them in time to "Donde Este Santa Claus?" and dancing around the living room.
Then we drew names for the family present exchange. We ended the night with a small craft and there was no fighting or crying for 10 minutes in a row. It's a Christmas miracle!
Before bed we sat down with our no-stress Christmas-song Advent and taught our kids about the song "The First Noel".
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December 11 | Today I opened an early Christmas present from my in-laws: a Bluetooth speaker system. The kids and I spent the morning dancing around the kitchen as the music played.
We dropped off Bianca for a play date and preschool and the rest of the kids and I headed to a Christmas concert by the Crescent Super Band. Not only was the music amazing, but we got served hot chocolate from the best Mrs. Claus ever AND Evangeline won a door prize of five Christmas CDs.
Before dinner the redheads and I did a Christmas craft and then Ella and I made easy microwave caramels. They are delicious!! Today was a very Christmasy day!
Before bed we sat down with our no-stress Christmas-song Advent and taught our kids about the song "The First Noel".
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December 12 | Today was a hard day. I cooked and cleaned. I organized and unpacked. I finished the Christmas shopping and ran errands all day - with five kids in tow. I cut and wrapped 30 homemade caramels. I yelled at my kids. I listened to a crying baby. I was mad at my husband. I felt lonely and exhausted. I cried at the end of the day.
After 1 am I tried to sleep, but couldn't. I went into the front room and turned on the lights on the tree. Those soft lights seemed to calm my spirit. I wondered at the power of those lights. This caused me to reflect on the Light of the World. I thought about Christ's power to calm, sooth, and comfort. And he extends that power to people who have suffered massive, gut-wrenching, hardships AND to tired moms who have had a hard day. For that, I am thankful.
Before bed we sat down with our no-stress Christmas-song Advent and taught our kids about the song "The First Noel".
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December 13 | Today was our church Christmas party as new members of the Layton 37th Ward. The theme was Dr. Seuss and the church was decorated so well! Amazing centerpieces and decorations. The kids got to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and do a craft while the adults played a get-acquainted game. There was dinner and then a small program.
After a week of practicing, our family took the stage in hula skirts, leis, and with kazoos and a ukelele. It was fantastic! We belted out "Christmas Island", we danced, we hula-ed. It was great!
After the musical number a Grinch appeared to give out candy canes. I have to say I thought he was a bit creepy. But Evangeline went right up for a photo op. Brave girl.
Before bed we sat down with our no-stress Christmas-song Advent and taught our kids about the song "The First Noel".
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on Amazon. I melt 
and add 2-3 drops of 
(not the same as peppermint extract) and then pour them into the molds. Then, one pig gets a special chunk of real candy cane hidden in the middle before the candy melts harden. 
