December 2009

We did it! We made it through the holidays healthy and sane, though this was the latest we've
ever done Christmas shopping before!

December Highlights:

Royce achieved his goal of playing a large-scale Warhammer game. They tied in the end, but he
had a great time and made some new Warmonging friends!

Jen got to go see "The Christmas Carol" with Duncan at NAU for school. Excellent production.
She took Maren and Eva to the Lollipop Concert-a short version of The Nutcracker production
with lollipops at the end. She made her first necklace at a friends' gathering, went to Enrichment
which was fondue dinner and dessert and a white elephant gift exchange. And supported 3
service activities : Munos, make cookies, wrap presents. Sang in the choir.

Duncan went on a fieldtrip to the Landfill-the coolest trip ever. he came home asking why he
can't just go get things out of the pile-so much cool stuff to build with.

Brynne obtained 2 American girl dolls-Marisol and Kit-for Christmas and her birthday. Her mom
drove her and the kids to Sedona to get them, at night during inclement weather-a 4 hour trip!
She also went on a daddy-daughter date to "The Christmas Carol". And she attended her first
Acitivity Day on her birthday and got to wear her pjs.

Maren went caroling for preschool, finished out her music class, had preschool Christmas party.

As a family:
We watched "The Sound of Music" for the first time. The kids loved it!
Attended Tithing Settlement: the older kids were full-tithe payers.
Attended the Porter Family Christmas Party in Mesa-dinner and Temple lights and music.
Grandpa gave the adults a weeklong houseboat vacation at Lake Powell every 2 years.

Ryan and Sandy (Royce's parents) drove from Washington for Christmas. They came the 23rd
through the 28th. The kids loved it! On the evening of the 23rd, we had Brynne's 8th birthday
party. She decided she wanted to have it with Grandpa and Grandma instead of friends this year.
The cousins came too and made gingerbread houses, Brynne's favorite. The boys focused on
accumulating as much sugar as they could on theirs, and the girls' houses actually turned out cute.

On Christmas Eve, we went to V and T for visiting, dinner, and a Christmas Eve Program
Christmas Morning: short b-day celebration for Eva, since the kids didn't see her until then.
Boxing Day: Triple date to Avatar-3-D





New Year's Eve: Family Party, then Charly's for a gig-the biggest turnout ever with people

waiting in line outside in the cold for an hour to get in.