Work Friends

Luke works with such great people. We wanted to thank them for their friendship by having them and their families over for a Christmas party on the 15th. It was loud, it was crazy with all the kids, and it was fantastic!

 This is Keyvan and his beautiful daughter

 Laren and Melissa

 Scott and Tiffany and their little cutie pie

 Aaron and Hilary

 And us.  I love this guy!

A house is a home

A house is a home-- but only once it's decorated :) Especially for Christmas!

Advent Calendar

In my post "Random Stuff" I talked about making an advent calendar for Christmas.  Not every day is something spectacular but some were pretty awesome.
Shepherds night.  On Dec 9th we had a night dedicated to learning about the shepherds.  We ate Greek pork Slovakia (which is the closest thing I could think of.. it does include a pita, after all!) but despite it's lack of authenticity, it was delicious!
Then we read a few stories, sang some songs, made a poster with our hand prints turned into sheep, and let the girls camp out in the living room with our new bunk-bed cots from the Sunstone Christmas gift. It was a very fun night!

I think this will become a new family tradition! 

 Some other fun things have included several Christmas movie nights, hot-chocolate included of course, driving around looking at Christmas lights--the kids especially loved Spanish Forks "Festival of Lights," and we've  made dinner for a family in the ward, delivered treats, and learned about various symbols of Christmas.  
We've made cards for Grandparent's and today we decorated an ornament for each of them.  

And one night we made a gingerbread house.

 And though it wasn't on the "calendar" we spent several nights hanging Christmas lights.

And last, but not least: just because it is funny

Static Queen

Relief Society Dinner

I was blessed to be a part of the Relief Society's Christmas party and program in our new ward (which we love, by the way!)  They borrowed decorations from the ward party and made it seem to "Bethlehemy"
The program was so wonderful.  It's about the women in Christ's life: Mary, her mother, Joseph's mother, Elizabeth, the Shepherds wife and the Inn Keepers wife. It put a different perspective on the whole story.  It made me realize that even though yes, the baby Jesus was the Savior, he was also a little child. Mary's child. It reminded me of the wonder and beauty of each and every child's life.  It makes me want to be a better mother to my own precious spirits that I am so very very blessed to raise.

Bridger's blessing

Whew.  I'm tired just writing all these posts.  In addition to 3 Christmas parties, we went to our niece's "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" play, and then Sunday morning went to our nephew's baby blessing.
My mom didn't have her camera with her, so these are for you Wombat!

 So handsome!

Annual Peacock Christmas Party

The very next morning after our other 2 parties, we headed down to Castle Dale to attend the fam Christmas party.  

It began with crafts for the kiddos and then the best part-- dinner! 

Followed by the Nativity pageant! What a cute sheep and and a gorgeous Mary we had. 

 

Cousin Sheepies! 

 Waiting so patiently for her present. Thanks Dixon. she loved the play dough

 Tianna absolutely loved her outfit from Raleigh (or was it Aden?? I dont know, but I do know she loved it)

 Pinata!

 Then "The Big Guy" pulled up.  What an entrance! I especially loved the taxidermy reindeer. hahah Adelia pushed past everyone and went right out to the street to meet him.

 Apparently she is a big fan of Santa Claus.   Tianna was pretending to be shy because all the other children were (except Adelia of course)  After awhile she warmed up to him.

 The people who make these fun events happen.  Love you Grandpa and Grandma Peacock!