Busy Week

Kathleen had her performance in the Nutcracker last weekend.  She was a snowflake.  She was so cute.

 Sunday was our anniversary.  Ryan and I have been married for 12 years!  Can you believe it?  And he is even better now than he was 12 years ago (and better looking).  As part of my 12-Days-of-Christmas gift (not to be confused with an anniversary gift) Ryan made me Baked Alaska.  I have never had it before.  I think it very well may be my new favorite dessert.

 I know many people have rotten kids in the month of December.  I don't know what it is, the sugar or the all-consuming greed of what Santa will bring them, but my kids are the worst at this time of year.  We have an "Elf on the Shelf" that comes to visit our family each Christmas season.  Apparently mom and dad aren't the only ones who have had enough of the kids behavior.  Santa has too.  When Freddie (the elf) reported back to Santa one night, the kids had been so poorly behaved that Santa did not allow him to return.  Instead, we received this note.  After a few days of the best behavior my kids have ever had in December, Freddie returned.

 We made it snow with cotton balls and cans in Primary on Sunday.  The kids loved it so much that we set it up and played at home.

 Brandon and Kathleen had their Christmas piano recital this week.

 Grandma and Grandpa sent the kids some Christmas gifts.

Can anyone say "Christmas Morning Mess?"  We had that at our house a few days early.

The kids had their Christmas parties at school.

Kathleen's class made pillow cases for kids in the hospital.