Our Ward Christmas Party

We attended our Ward Christmas Party.  It was a lovely and delicious dinner, the boys made nativity ornaments, the primary children sang two Christmas songs, the Young Men, Young Women, and the Bishopric each acted out a Christmas song title, and we ended with a showing of the Nativity from lds.org.  It was perfect.

Spencer's Music and Band Concerts & Spirit Assembly/Sing-a-long

Spencer had a busy month!  He was in separate music and band concerts, in the spelling bee, and received the monthly Character Trait Award for December.  Here are a few highlights.  His 5th grade music concert was titled, "Paint the Town December."  Spencer was cast as the Jewish man who owned a toy store called the Dreidel Cradle.  The "painters" went from shop to shop painting the windows.  There were speaking parts and songs to go with each of the holiday celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Spence is playing the clarinet in the school band.  His teacher comes from the Middle School to 2 of the elementary schools in the district to help them.  They put on a great show.  The two elementary schools had never practiced together, but they pulled it off.  

It was combined with the orchestra as well.

Right before school let out for Christmas Break, they had a spirit assembly.  Each month they recognize a student in each class that represents the character trait of the month.  December's trait was kindness and compassion.  Usually the teacher just chooses who she thinks possesses and shows the trait, but because it was kindness and she doesn't always see them on the recess where it counts, Spencer's teacher had them vote on it.  So not only does his teacher think he's kind and compassionate, but the majority of his class thinks that too!  We quite agree!  Love you Spence!

As part of the spirit assembly, we also participated in a CHRISTMAS sing-a-long!  It was so wonderful!  I sat there with my boys singing all the old familiar Christmas songs, Santa, Rudolph, Deck the Halls, Bells - Jingle & Silver, Winter Wonderland, and even Silent Night.  It was full of the Spirit of Christmas, I was consciously trying not to cry as we sat there.  When was the last time we could do that at an elementary school?  It's been a long time.  Nobody was offended, it was truly what Christmas is all about and we enjoyed it as a school, community, teachers, parents, and children.

The teachers and staff even surprised us with their own musical number!

Katelyn's 1st Dress-Up Middle School Dance

The dress...

the hair...

the friends...

Baylie, dark hair - far right, was in the play with Kate.  She invited to Kate to go with her and a couple of her friends.  They met at Baylie's, beautifully decorated for Christmas, home for a photo shoot.

 Then they were off to the dance and out for dessert at Baylie's favorite restaurant to cap off the night.  They had a great time, and no she didn't dance with any boys. :)  She may look old enough, but she's still only 13 (at least for a few more weeks)!

Kate looked beautiful and was simply glowing!  All you had to do was look at her to see how pretty she felt.  What a wonderful example of self respect, purity, and virtue!  Thanks Kate!

HH Elementary Spelling Bee

At our elementary school, the 4th-6th graders participated in a class and grade spelling bee.  They took the top 6 from each grade to compete in the school spelling bee held on December 3rd.  Spencer ended up being the 6th speller for the 5th grade.  18 children from 3 grades sat at the front of the auditorium waiting for the spelling challenge to begin.  Some were more nervous than others.  Some were determined and confident in their abilities.  Spencer is so easy going, he's smart and wanted to do well, but wasn't really worried about the outcome.

 The spelling commenced, a couple of students missed their first word, largely due to nerves.  The bulk of the competition was narrowed in the next five or six rounds.  Spencer was in the top 5 and as we exchanged glances, I could tell he would be happy to place anywhere among these students.  There were several boys and girls bound and determined to win.  Then, it was down to three, Spencer was still in it!  One girl and two boys, all from the same 5th grade homeroom class.  He knew he would at least walk away with a trophy at this point.

They continued to spell, matching correct spelling in each round.  Then the girl missed her word, but so did the next two boys, so they all came back to try again.  Another round with everyone spelling correctly.  The girl misspelled her word, and the two boys remained, Spencer and another boy.  They continued to spell correctly, round after round, and then a misspelled word, but they both misspelled, so both continued.  That all happened one more time.  It was a battle to the end!  

Finally, Spencer spelled his word, cabana, the other boy spelled fiesta, Spencer spelled tornado, the boy was given gardenia, asked for the definition, started spelling and missed it by one letter.  Here was Spencer's chance.  His word was clementine.  He nailed it and HE WON the school spelling bee!  It really was awesome!  Some of the other words he spelled were: blister, jute, cockatoo, chutney, woodchuck, ramen, bevel, hurricane, and alchemy.  Spencer actually felt a little bad because he knew the other boy really wanted to win more than he did.

Spencer will be going to the district spelling be to represent his school the first week in February.

Deck the Halls...

Okay, so this is a totally posed picture because every time I tried to take a spontaneous one of them decorating the tree, they would step in front of each other or move so quickly they were a blur or out of the picture!  We decorated our smaller front room tree a different night and so fast we didn't even get a picture of doing it.

Our Jesus Wall and Nativities...

 These are just a few of our favorites...Mom & Dad W brought the Eskimo nativity home from their Alaskan cruise...

 The nativities my mom made... I always think of her when I get them out, someday I hope to have all the pieces.

 Our sad Christmas card holder...one of our favorite things, to see how our friends who we have moved away from continue to grow and find joy.  We realized after living 4 years in our house in Providence, UT, we have been in different house for the past 4 years, so some of our friends may have sent cards only to have them returned.  We hope by next Christmas we are settled here in our own home to stay for a very, long time.  We kept waiting to send out new address cards until it was more permanent.  Thanks to all of you who continue to erase or cross out our old addresses and find out our new one!  We love you and will never forget you!

 

Outside lights and decorations, it was fun to use our garland outside again, we haven't since our Rexburg porch and pillars.

Once this is all done, it really feels like Christmas at our house.  I love Christmas!  For me it truly is the best time of the year.  There is more tangible love around.  Perfect strangers are happy to share their lives with each other whether it is singing at a nursing home or even in line at the grocery store.  Everyone you meet is just a little more kind or patient or aware.  We recognize our Savior's birth, his life and example, his love and perfection and have hope that we can emulate that in our own life.  It is good news and fills us with gladness and a recommitment to do the best we can!  How many of us don't need or want that in our lives?  I do.  I need it.  Fitting that a week later, we ring in a new year, fresh and clean, ready to leave our mark or a good impression, just like a new snowfall that has yet to be walked in or disturbed in any way. 

Thanksgiving 2013

 Thanksgiving...it's really all about the people and the food!  Great people surround our table.  We missed being with those we love outside of our little family, but everything turned out and we literally feasted!
 We also celebrated Matthew's birthday (see the following post)!

 Appetizers...

 The main event...TURKEY

with Mom Warnick's never fail rolls (they turned out perfect this year!), Mom G's stuffing, Sjogren twice baked sweet potatoes, the Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie (and chocolate bday cake).

So what are you thankful for?  Mine's right here...LOVE them!

Matthew's 6th Birthday!

It seemed fitting to have Matthew's birthday, November 28th, fall on Thanksgiving this year.  We are so thankful for him!  Every year I find myself reflecting on my difficult pregnancy with him and health issues associated with it.  I was so thankful then, and continue to be, that we both survived that pregnancy, his birth went well, and I have been able to return to good health.  What a blessing children are and how grateful I am to have the ones I do.

Matthew was adorable as he opened each of his gifts.  He was genuinely excited for every little thing.  His wish list included things like more sidewalk chalk (hard to find in November), bubbles, and hot wheels cars!

 From G'ma & G'pa Warnick...

Matthew considers himself an artist, so he loved the art set they sent him.  He has used it almost everyday since his birthday!

 From G'ma & G'pa Goates...

 little boys and their toys...I think everyone wanted to (and did) try out this one.

 Even though it was really cold, he had to try out his new bubbles!

 And chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla ice cream to top it all off (and since it was Thanksgiving you could also choose pumpkin pie if you wanted!)

 So simple.  Childhood is magical...my little boy - it all depends on his big cardboard box!  (My parents gave Matthew a book a few years ago entitled Little Boy.  It is Matthew's favorite book, he even memorized it.  It is all about the adventures and imagination of a little boy who made this big cardboard box into whatever he wanted to be for the day.)