December

December went by so quickly, which must mean we had a good time. 

 Mariah and Chet were going to play the piano during the Victorian Stroll. They were so excited to pick out their outfits from the Chamber of Commerce and actually get to be in one of the windows. When the Stroll was cancelled, they still had the piano performers come in and play inside the Chamber of Commerce and they both did so well playing for maybe five people. Then we walked around the square, watched some clogging performances, ate funnel cake and visited Santa. 

This is as close as Eliza would get to Santa. She wouldn't even turn around for a picture, I think she was afraid he might try to pick her up. I think the face shield stressed her out. She insisted on wearing a dress too when she saw Mariah in her dress. 

We had a sleep over around the tree. I read some Christmas stories and then Tanner and I shared some memories we had of Christmas as children. And then I told the kids that whichever child fell asleep first would get a prize the next morning. Austin immediately laid down, closed his eyes and was asleep within minutes. Once Chet had realized he had lost the competition he stopped trying to fall asleep and tried to keep Mariah awake. But Eliza was the last one asleep. She loved laying right next to the tree and looking at the lights, talking nonstop. After she fell asleep, I moved her into her crib and Tanner (who had fallen asleep on the couch) and I headed to our own bed. 

We made a video for the missionaries in the area and I accidentally took a picture of Tanner here. But I wanted to document his beard for posterity. Eliza kept telling him she didn't like it and he should cut it off with a knife. I thought he looked really nice but I wasn't sad when he shaved it off on New Years Day.

Our ward had a Christmas party outside. Tanner was picking up Aunt Natalie so the kids and I just went. There was hot chocolate and cookies and even Santa for a little while. We sang Christmas Carols accompanied by Sister Kooyman's harmonica. The kids ran around in the snow until I felt like I was a popsicle. It was really cold so I was actually grateful for my face mask.

We got to ring bells for the Salvation Army again and had a great time. We sang Christmas Carols and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

Austin decided the car would be more fun about half-way through but everyone else lasted the full hour. 

My mom pointed out that we had no family pictures with Gus in them, and that we just had to get one. So this picture was for her and it was hard and nothing short of a miracle to have all of us looking at the camera. I blame it all on Natalie and her great skill.

We took a walk after church behind our house and had a great time exploring. Chet jumped off this log for the second time and ended up hitting his cheek with his knee and decided it was time to go back home.

Gus had a little too much fun and was covered in mud and burrs. I ended up finding three different types of burrs on him during his bath. Remind me again why I wanted a dog? 

Early one morning after a rough call night, Tanner burst into our room waking me up to say, "Ashley, look at the sunrise!" I looked, gave a groggy reply and fell back into bed. But it really was beautiful.

While I went to pick Heather and Zach up at the airport, Natalie and the kids flew kites and made cookies. Natalie was amazing and gave each child a different task in the cookie making process and she said it went really well. 

Why does Eliza look like a teenager in this picture? It kind of breaks my heart.

I got back in time to help with the rolling out and baking of the cookies but Natalie did most of it. 

The next day we had fun decorating the cookies. Eliza just wanted to eat all the frosting.

Uncle Zach watched the younger three kids while Mariah went with Heather, Natalie and I to some stores in town. She got to enjoy some peppermint hot chocolate.

Uncle Baydon was able to find a used air hockey table for us that needed some TLC. Heather, Natalie, Zach and Tanner fixed it all up and it looked fantastic. 

Tanner jokingly suggested they put the Pittsburgh Penguins logo in the middle and Heather totally did it! Tanner's sisters spoil him. Let's be honest, they spoil me too; they wrapped most of the gifts, were constantly doing dishes and cleaning the house, and were just the best house guests ever. 

On Christmas Eve we had our Shepherd's night.

Eliza loves to dance and Natalie got this great shot.

Tanner always has fun shopping for food so I knew he would be the best one to get our food for Shepherd's night. He didn't disappoint. We had at least seven types of cheeses, pomegranates, grapes, olives, two types of sausage, crusty bread, hummus and shish-kabobs. Totally historically accurate to what the shepherds would have eaten during the Savior's time. Let's just say they inspired our food choices. 

Heather and Zach made a great Mary and Joseph and we were excited to use the manger that Hiram made for us. I love Shepherd's night and the way my children immediately become reverent when we visit the baby Jesus. Even Eliza was solemn and quiet. 

We let the kids know that they shouldn't come get us until 7:00 am the next morning to open presents. I heard them wake up in the morning and go out to check the time. I looked at my phone and saw that it said 6:58. I heard Mariah say, it isn't 7 yet, we better go play in our room and then they played for around thirty minutes. Guess I better spend a little more time on clocks with them. 

We spent the morning opening presents and taking it easy. This year the oldest three did different jobs to earn money to buy gifts for each other and Eliza. They worked really hard and put a lot of thought into what they were going to get for their siblings. Mariah even worked extra jobs because she really wanted to get a dress up knight costume for Chet. I loved to see the joy on their faces when they watched each other open their gifts. 

After a lunch of Top Ramen (given in each stocking), we went to a rest home and sang carols. It was a little different this year because we had to wear face masks and sing outside while they cracked the windows open. But it was still a special experience. Several of our children didn't have the best attitudes heading there, wondering why we were even doing it. But once they saw the people scooted right up to the windows, some with their hands on their hearts, some singing along; they realized how special it was for some of those people. It was heartbreaking to see the empty parking lot on Christmas Day and to think of so many people alone during this time. 

Later that day we headed to the racquetball court so Zach and Tanner could play a couple rounds. Then we all played a little basketball and volleyball before heading home to a dinner of leftovers. 

That night we acted out the Nativity a few times so each of the kids could be who they wanted to be. We were grateful for our Christmas day and the opportunity we had to spend it with family. 

A couple days after Christmas we got some snow. Right when there was enough to play in and the kids were all bundled up outside it started to sleet and then rain. They headed inside and we woke up the next morning to a thin layer of ice on top of the snow. Needless to say there weren't any snowmen being made. But it made for some really fast sledding. 

I looked out the window just in time to see Austin and Eliza flying down the big hill, arms and legs flailing. Once they got to the bottom Eliza couldn't climb back up because she was too light to break through the ice and just slipped. I went down to rescue her and Natalie wasn't far behind. She insisted on "Aunt Nattie" pulling her back up in the sled and wouldn't let anyone else do it. 

Chet and Tanner shoveled the sidewalk and driveway together and got this great shot.

We were sad to say goodbye to all our visitors but tried to have a fun New Years Eve. We decided on a new family motto for the year and then played some different games, finished the last Harry Potter book, watched a movie and rang in the New Year at 9:30. Now that's the right way to celebrate New Years. Tanner and I shared a smooch and thoroughly disgusted our children (although Mariah pointed out that it wasn't as long as they do it in the movies) and then headed to bed. 

We are grateful for this year. Everything didn't go the way we had planned but we are humbled to see the blessings we received all year long.