December 2012 catch up

December is so buys. I have been so behind on blogging. These are a bunch of Dec. misc.

our neighbors down the street decked out their rockin' chairs.

 we started a new tradition this year that a friend of mine shared on her blog. The kids get to unwrap a Christmas book to read every night. They LOVED it. It was nice to get a collection of favorites purchased and we will add to it when we find new favorites. The kids also opened a chocolate from their advent calendar each night and we did the story of Jesus' birth by advent also. They loved the routine every night and we enjoyed the family time together. They especially loved the Hallmark books that had been recorded by grandparents in their voices. Thanks grandparents!

These were some of their favorites too!

Ollie came back this year and observed the kind things the kids said and did for each other. We are trying to teach him to be a good little elf but he still has a silly side and did funny things like...

making smore's :)

Dusty took the kids to the Parthenon (full size replica in Nashville) while I had a Dr. Appt. and they loved it. 

Whitten was checking out just how tall it was.

Pizzle got the stomach flu. Nasty! and this picture was the right after. The poor girl had no sparkle in her eyes and wouldn't really eat for over a week. She started throwing up one night when I was at church working on primary stuff and Dusty was home. She threw up all over her bed and blankets. Dusty helped her clean it up and explained that if her tummy felt sick again she needed to go to the bathroom and get sick in the toilet and tucked her back in bed. 30 minutes later she came out and ran to the bathroom and MaDe it to the toilet. He was SO proud of her. By the time I got home she was awake, feeling yucky, and looked pitiful. I made her a bed on the floor by me and bless her little heart she got sick 7 or 8 more times in the night and every time she moaned I would roll over, grab her hair, and that little 4 year old of mine never missed the bowl. She is an ANGEL. 

We went to ICE again at the Opryland Hotel. The theme was Shrek this year. It was Freezing and FUN as usual. 

I peeked in on Whitten one day and found him sleeping like this. Wacko.

Rae Rae sent me this picture which has become my favorite.

We went to AnnaLee's 1st birthday party. We gave her a hair kit. She made me realize how much Whitten is NOT talking. She is already putting words together and while Whitten communicates exactly what he wants he doesn't have very many WORDS at his disposal yet. 

we also visited Papa Rusty who was in the hospital and we sure hope he stays healthy this time

Dollar store reindeer antlers were involved in every day this month. We started using them one night while we made cookies with cousins for the local police/firemen. The kids were a little young to really understand but hopefully next year they will be a little more involved in the baking and delivering.

Paisley was a sheep in our ward's nativity re-enactment

We try to get pics with the kids in front of the tree every year. They are not always keen on participating but will be "forced" to every year :)

See these happy faces!

This was at the Vaughn Christmas party which again they do early every year for us so we can participate and we are THANKFUL! Our kids/we were so spoiled and given the sweetest gifts.