The Christmas season is here...A busy couple of weeks...

Friday night and Saturday 12/8-- Hello, this is Connor. On the subject of Friday night and Saturday, Probably have the most to tell. First of all, Friday evening there was a bike ride. While it was technically an Aaronic (not to be confused with ironic) bike ride, there were people not from church there. It wasn't a scout  bike ride because there were no leaders. I therefore classify it as a bunch of friends riding bikes with no name tacked onto the group. Now that that's out of the way, we can go out into details on the bike ride itself.  So, you know what's sad? When someone running is able to keep up with people on bikes for about a mile. You know what's even sadder? When the person running beats them. You know what's saddest of all? when  the person running goes back to see what's taking them so long to get there and still makes it back ahead of half of them. Well, you've probably guessed that this happened and that I was the one who beat everyone so badly. When I remarked about this, I learned that there was supposedly a ten minute potty break, although I can't confirm that it was actually ten minutes. The reason I was running and no one else was was because Daxton's bike, the tire air of which had carefully been checked previous to coming, had two flat tires. After pumping them up, we went on our way. But his bike was soon flat again. We decided that the bike must have a hole in the tire. After reaching a place where we could deposit his bike, we switched bikes around and I, having run a 5K, decided to run the rest of the way. That sums up the bike ride.
        Saturday, the next day, a stake youth activity had been planned. We would be making gingerbread houses (gramcracker actually) and writing cards to lonely people. We were told to choose partners, so Alan and I made D-day. We even used bits of licorice for blood. We were awarded the 'Most Historically Accurate Beach Battle Award.' However, the best part was eating the candy the next day.

Sunday 12/9--  We kicked off the new week with putting together a package of items that we're going to send to my parents in South Africa.  They will place these items in the hands of sweet little children. Dad tells me that they play with paint rollers up and down the streets.  Hopefully they'll enjoy some of these small trinkets.  We sent composition books, crayons, pens, match box cars. necklaces, small stuffed animals, and small rubber balls.

Monday 12/10-- History group gathered at our home today.  I wanted to be here for Brianne's last day of Early Intervention.  She sure has grown and is able to do so much.  Here she is playing with Susan sorting colored teddy bears by colors.    The Mattson's will be leaving for China in a few weeks so we'll continue to history group here.  For FHE, we made some cookies and took them to a few people we thought could use a bit of cheer.  They were all clinets of Barry's mowing business.  Mr. Wolford lost his wife this past year.  Betty lost her son a few months ago (and she's still mourning her husband's passing from a few years a ago.)  Ss. Beavers is in the hospital again.  It was an enjoyable night!

Tuesday 12/11--  Today wasn't quite so busy.  We had the morning to work on school work.  In the afternoon Cailin had flute practice with Rachel Neilson.  They are working on songs to perform at the homeschool gathering at the Institute building next week with our LDS homeschool friends.  Barry and I spent the evening trying to finish the Christmas shopping list.....alas, we're still just a few items away from being done.

Wednesday 12/12/12--   Tender mercies abound.  It's silly to be excited over a great find at the grocery store, but, I am. I stopped at Dollar Tree for a couple loaves of bread, but they were out.  So I went to Food Lion.  As I passed the meat isle I found so much meat on clearance sale.  Just the other day, I was looking in my freezer and mentioned to myself how bare the shelves were getting.   I thought, well some sort of sale will come along to fill them.  And boy did it ever.  I got 57#'s of meat for $51.00.  That came out to be 90 cents per pound.  I got a beef roast, ground turkey, Italian sausage, chicken thighs, and thighs/legs. 
I'm so blessed that Dollar Tree was out of bread (usually they have it when I need it.) After a couple of really tight months where I couldn't shop much, it's great to be filling the freezer again...Tender Mercies!

I'ts twelves day!  I had planned to do some fun activities centered around the number 12, but we didn't.  Instead we spent the day at the Mattson's playing.  I helped Jen with a quilt she wants to give as a gift.  We finished the top!  Great accomplishments...but very long day.  For YM/YW activity  the youth went caroling at a local nursing home.

 Today was particularly hard for Ryan.  Nothing went as planned (and he loves consistent plans) I had to take him to his college class, which meant he was with us at the Mattson's for the entire day.  He didn't come home till 9 pm after young men's.  But he did it!  Think of it as missionary prep time :)

 
Thursday 12/13   Brianne's birthday!!!--   Today was the day of birthday celebrations.  Not only is it Bri's brithday, but Christine's as well.  On Sunday Jen has hers so, today we, Brianne, me, Christine and Jen went out for our annual sushi lunch.  Brianne loved the sweet and sour chicken and lo mien noodles. As usual, we shuttled around getting people to writer's workshop, flute and the such. Delaney had dance practice in the afternoon while the boys worked on a landscaping project for one of their customers all day, but in the end we came together for dinner and a birthday party for Brianne.
The Hobbit  movie was premiering at midnight and Barry took Ryan, Connor and Cailin to see it!  They had a very late (they got home at 3:40 am), but most wonderful time.  This was the last Christmas coupon date to be redeemed for last year.....just in time for another round of coupons to come!

Friday 12/14 --  Today is Ryan's last day of class at NRCC!  he's quite excited for a break....and really hopes he won't have to sign up for another semester, but alas, he deep down knows that won't happen.  We also have presentation group meeting at the Brame's.  Back home again and I was finally able to sit down and relax....and what did I do?  I just sat looking at the beautiful tree and watch Barry play Halo, while the kids were in the back room playing video games of their own.  Really it was quite peaceful and relaxing.

 

Saturday 12/15--  Aahhh, a slower paced day.  The yard care group head off for more landscaping duties while the younger ones and I stay home to keep the home fires burning.  Brianne loved helping me with the wheat grinder.  If she's not helping push the grain through, then she's dancing to the music.  We know she loves all kinds of music, but this sound tops it all!

 
Late afternoon, Delaney and I headed off to watch her friend Janet perform her dance recital.  They were performing Madeline's Christmas Adventure,  and she got the part of Madeline.  It was a lovely evening.  Afterwards we got a bite of dinner to eat and did a bit of shopping at Walmart.  I loved spending time alone with her.  What a dear one I have.  I'm so very blessed, as I have six lovely dear ones.

This has been an enormously busy week for me....I'm ready slow down and enjoy the spirit of Christmas a bit more....
and we did accomplish that somewhat , but we're still quite busy this next week too...
Monday 12/17--   Our last week of history group for this week.  We'll all enjoy a nice break from school. See the History Group in December updates for details.
Tuesday 12/18-- All morning long I worked on Christmas projects and lounging about in my PJ"s reveling in the fact that I didn't have one single place to be, do , go or see....and then I got the phone call from our dental office....they were wondering if we were on our way yet?  OH MY GOODNESS!! I totally forgot about the dental appointments.  We rushed out--with out the teeth brushing--kids wearing flipflops and pants with holes in them (Liam), but we made it, albeit, one hour late.  They graciously got us all seen (I'm sure they missed their lunch hour for us).  I haven't missed an appointment since Barry's first deployment...I really am going faster than I should!
Later that night we went to Macado's again (what a super treat that is!)  Barry's shift at work gathered together
Barry's thoughts--On December 18 we went to dinner at Macado's with my shift from work. It was good to get everyone together and break bread. Everyone was there except for Ronda, not sure why she was not there, and Danny Johnson, who was sick with the flu.
We met at 6:30 and met up for the meal. Brianne was the center of attention. She talked to very one, gestured and pranced around to the amusement of all. I received comments from about everyone about how good my children's behavior was. I realize that I just take that for granted most of the time. We rarely have incidents of bad behavior when we are out and about in the community. It made me realize just how blessed I am to have some good children.
Wednesday 12/19-- We tried to accomplish some school work, but we ended up spending our time at the sewing machine.  We made our ornaments this year.  We all enjoyed it, particularly Barry, enough so, that he declared that we are going to change our tradition of purchasing ornaments to making them every year from now on.  This one simple act helped us slow down, spend less and think more of the Savoir.
Later, in the evening, the kids had Christmas parties to attend to for youth and primary activities and Barry had to work a midnight shift.

Thursday 12/20-- Writer's workshop.  Ryan's therapy with Mr. Bryant....and a fun Christmas party at the McKinley's for the boys...here's their thoughts: This is Ryan reporting on the party. It was cool, happy and free. I loved all the candy and games. It was fun playing Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart double dash. It was great that I got to invite a friend over (Jess Hicks). Now here is Connor. Well, the party was enjoyable. Finn, Alan and I, the patrol leaders of our troop, planned to do it at Finn's house, as he had two TVs. I brought super smash bros. brawl, which was very popular. At one point, we had seven of the ten people cycling through. Being the owner of the game, I won most of the battles, but we made it so that the winner gives up, so that the losers got better. This arrangement was satisfactory.
At home, the girls and I enjoyed watching a Netflix movie...12 Dates of Christmas.
Friday 12/21--  Book Group.  We really enjoyed reading Charles Dickens  A Christmas Carol, together as a family these past few weeks. More info on this activity will come later.
In the evening we met in Blacksburg and the ward building there for a talent night/pot luck dinner with the others in our LDS home school group.  The kids have been working on various things to share.  Connor and Beryl recited the Declaration of Independence from memory. Cailin and Rachel Neilson played 4 or 5 musical numbers on the flute. Delaney and I played a duet of She'll be Coming Round the Mountain. In the end we had all the kids sing Simple Gifts they did a lovely job.  I think they enjoyed singing something that wasn't from primary too.  On the way home we enjoyed the many lights of the season.
Saturday 12/22--  Another party for the youth....this time Cailin will share the details:   
It was fun. We played games. I played Apples to Apples and Sorry and a game that I don't know what its name was. The End.   My, she's quite the wordsmith today.  She sure did gush with excitement over the night telling me all about it when she got home.  In the end they all had a good time!  Those of us here at home watched The Gift of the Maji. from Netflix.

Whew, what a couple of weeks.  We read scriptures almost every single morning!  What an accomplishment for us.  Barry started a new tradition in hymn singing and had us sing 201 1/2   or 211 1/2  ....Harry Potter fashion.  This came about when Barry told the kids to open to hymn 211 and Cailin heard 212 and complained that she wanted to sing 212 not, 211, so Barry made a compromise-- two verses of 211 and the last two of 212.  Well the jovial way of singing stuck for the season. But I don't  think the kids want to continue with this into the new year.