Dec. '18- Week 2- Prelude to Christmas, Cute Videos of Alice, Bethany, and Anna, Anna's 2nd Lost Tooth, Tab Choir Concert, McKenna Student Council Service, McKenna Christmas Land Show

Sunday Ben and I (and Brynn) sang with the stake choir for the Prelude to Christmas program.  This is one of my favorite traditions during the Christmas season because I LOVE to sing Christmas songs!  Ben did great singing with the youth choir.  They sang "The Friendly Beasts."  

Bethany singing "5 Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree"

Video: Cute noises from Alice

Video: Alice Laughing

Video: Anna squeaky toy laugh!

Monday Anna lost her second tooth!  She actually LOST it.  Probably swallowed it.  She had this cute way to play with Alice as well. :) 

Monday Anna played at Alexander's.  I ran a ton of errands in the afternoon, Ben worked on his book report, and we got all the laundry done like usual.  

Tuesday I exercised, and did ministering visits to Shelly and Amy.  Dan went to the temple in the morning, but then came home for the day! :)  After Anna had ballet, we ate dinner and Dan went to church meetings.  We cut snowflakes and I worked on gathering Christmas card addresses.  

Wednesday we got lots of snow.  I went with Anna to music.  Dan printed all the stuff we needed for our Christmas cards!  

Thursday Anna had a play date at Annie's. I exercised and started putting together our neighbor gifts.  I listened to a lot of my book club book.  Dan won a free dinner to R&R BBQ for their soft opening night and took his friend, John Leavitt.  I stressed about who to take to the Tabernacle Choir concert due to McKenna being stressed out and tired.  So we ended up taking Ben with us and he loved it.  Mickelle babysat.   It was an awesome concert!  Kristin Chenoweth was so great!  

Friday I went to ladies lunch.  Swa watched Bethany and Alice while I went on a Student Council field trip with McKenna to deliver the donations their school collected for the youth homeless shelter.  

That night McKenna had her first performance at Backstage Performing Arts.  The show was called Christmas Land!  She was the Lollipop Fairy and sang "On the Goodship Lollipop" and "Lollipop, Lollipop."  

Right after the show, we drove to Layton to have a hotel night!  Once kids were asleep, we hung out with Brynn, Swa, Adam, Sam and Lara, and Katie and Whitney.  We never have a good sleep at a hotel, but the kids still think it's fun.  The next morning was Breakfast with Santa! 

Dec. '18- Week 1- Sibling Trip, Ward Party, Devotional, School Concert, Dan Work Party, Anna Lost First Tooth, Alice Army Crawling, Anna and Alice Well Checks, Nativity Display, Temple Square Lights.

Saturday morning McKenna went to Lara's to help a school friend babysit cousins Hailey and Abby.  

I got these pictures from Dan while on their sibling trip.  Looks like they had a great time!

Dan got home around 11 Saturday morning.  We went to the cul de sac party Cari Moss throws every year where we donate canned goods.   We chilled, went grocery shopping, then had our ward Christmas party that night.  I talked a lot with Shaan Bartschi and it was a miracle none of our kids cried with Santa!  The Primary kids sang too.  

Sunday we got some good snow.  Sunday school was about the millennium.  YW was about service.  I had a bad headache that afternoon.  We watched the CGI Christmas Carol with Jim Carey and apparently it was a little too scary for Beth.  :)  Mickelle babysat while we took McKenna to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  In the car, we discussed Santa Claus with McKenna. ;) I had stake choir that night.  

Monday Alice turned 9 months!

She learned to clap!

 I vacuumed, organized, and cleaned.  That evening was the kid's school Christmas concert.  They all sang great and we're thankful Grandma & Grandpa Webster and Mickelle could come watch! We kept with our tradition and got hot chocolate afterwards.  Alice had a hard night and didn't go to bed until almost 2am.  

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

"Up on the Housetop"

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

"When Christmas Comes to Town"

"Let's Build a Gingerbread House"

"It's a Holiday of Music"

"Santa Claus is on His Way"

"More than Enough"

Tuesday I did some time on the elliptical.  We had a normal day of running around driving carpools. Anna lost her first tooth! Alice had a fever and didn't feel too well, but she loved Ben snuggling her. Bethany told her preschool teachers she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up.  That evening the kids laid out all their art work and we had a mini art museum.  

Wednesday we watched George H. W. Bush's funeral services.  My ministering sisters came to visit.  I worked on gathering addresses for our Christmas card.  I worked on editing pictures after kids were in bed.  

Alice did some good army crawling and has really good form when she planks!

Using my phone to entice her! 

Thursday Dan went to the temple so I drove kids to school.  I also did a workout video and worked on getting caught up on my Book of Mormon reading.  Brooklyn Ulmer babysat that night while Dan and I went to his work Christmas dinner/party.  Unfortunately we had to sit separate from everyone because we had Alice and kids under 21 are not allowed in the bar area.  We still had a good time! 

Friday I tried to do more Book of Mormon reading.  We had Anna and Alice's well check ups.  

Anna's 5 1/2 Stats 

Height: 43.2in (2.8in increase in a year)- 40th% 

Weight: 39.5lbs (3.5lb increase in a year)- 40th% 

Alice's 9 Month Stats

Height: 26.5in (1.5in increase in 3 months)- 10th% 

Weight: 15lbs 13oz (3.1lb increase in 3 months)- 12th% 

Head: 75th %

I watched Hazel in the afternoon. Ben went to Prelude choir practice after school.  That night we went to the Grand America for the holiday window stroll with Moultons and Pugsleys.  We took Henry Alexander with us and then had homemade pizza and hung out at the Pugsleys till 10pm.  

Saturday Ben and I had Prelude rehearsal.  Dan took Anna to a dance recital where he had a Foster Care booth.  (Dan also wore his awesome Christmas blazer to work earlier in the week and his boss got a kick out of it!)  I took the other kids to see over 200 nativities set up at a local stake center.  They had lovely hymns playing and I totally felt the Spirit there! 

That night we braved the crowds to see the lights at Temple Square with John and Megan Rowe from the ward.  

Nov. '18- Week 4- Thanksgiving, Decorate for Christmas, Thompson Thanksgiving, BYU Vs. Utah, McKenna 10 Year Check Up, Christmas in Color, Festival of Trees, Dan Sibling Trip.

Thursday was Thanksgiving!  McKenna and I attended a High Fitness class taught by Aunt Laurie Marsh and cousin Dantzel Crane.  We were home around 9:15 and watched the Macy's Parade as per our tradition!  I made a pumpkin pie, and we headed to Salt Lake for the Nelson family Thanksgiving!  Grandfather spoke a few words to the family.  He said he "loves us dearly, we should keep the commandments, and love others." 

When we got home that evening, we watched some Studio C and chilled.  We played games as a family and after kids were in bed, we took down the Thanksgiving decorations.  Dan didn't feel well that night and was up late.  

Friday we spent most of the day decorating for Christmas!  We were especially excited for our new personalized stockings!  And I love how I caught Bethany coloring and she had picked out only the purples and pinks.  We tried to see "Wreck it Ralph" in the afternoon, but it was sold out.  So we ran a quick errand, then went back to the movie theater to see "The Grinch."  After kids were in bed, Dan raised up our kitchen pendant lights.  

Saturday we found out that McKenna made the part of Wendy Darling in the school's Peter Pan play!  She cried, I cried!  We got a good amount of snow, so the girls played in it a little while Dan and Ben gave each other hair cuts.  I did the elliptical for 20 minutes.  

Our lunch was the Thompson Thanksgiving gathering.  Our Alice loved snuggling my uncle Davey and playing with my cousin Lucy's baby Elliot.  

That evening, the Winegar's watched our kids while we went to the BYU/Utah football game with the Stewarts!  What a game!  BYU fans were pretty thrilled until the fourth quarter.  :( 

Sunday we were late for church.  Sunday school was about the second coming, and I spent most of YW in the Mother's Lounge.  We practiced for a few minutes after church with the YW who were planning to sing at YW in Excellence.  McKenna had a hard time after church and we watched "Barbie Christmas Carol."  We had a normal evening home together and I had Prelude rehearsal.  

Monday I tried to catch up on my Book of Mormon reading.  Once kids got home from school, Anna was super grumpy and McKenna worked on a panda presentation.  We did two Topical Guide topics for FHE that evening.  Emily also called that day so we could plan a little Christmas break stuff.  

Tuesday I woke up with a bad headache.  The girls played nice that morning.  I drove carpool and listened to my book.  Mickelle babysat that evening while Dan and I went to YW in Excellence.  The musical number went very well!  We found that picture of Mia and Bethany on the preschool website.  

Wednesday Dan went to the temple.  Anna had a play date at the Atkins.  I took McKenna had her 10 year old check up.  

McKenna's Stats

Height: 54in (2.3in increase in a year)- 40th% 

Weight: 55lbs (4lb increase in a year)- 5th% 

We had lots of rain in the afternoon.  I went to music with Anna.  I had book club that evening at the Moulton's to talk about "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency." It was a lighthearted entertaining read.  

Thursday we went to Lara's house to take another Christmas gift picture for the three newest baby girls Hazel, Abby, and Alice.  Their word was "JOY." And just for fun, here are the other words with all the other kids/babies.  

I did the elliptical that day as well.  In the evening, we ate pizza in the car and went with all the Websters to see the Christmas in Color light display.  This year they had "3D" glasses which made every light look like a snow flake.  It was awesome! 

We had a blast at Nielsen's afterwards getting an ice cream treat! 

Friday Bethany had a preschool dance performance at Festival of Trees.  Jonathan was nice enough to come watch! Bethany did great and had lots of fun, especially because she got to wear make-up.  

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

It was so fun to see all the cousins perform who also attend the same preschool!

We also enjoyed our traditional walking around to see the trees.  

Pokemon and Peter Pan

Our Stake YW decorated three trees Dr. Seuss themed.  And of course we loved the Pony, Unicorn, and Barbie trees. 

We ate Wendy's for lunch and then took the big kids to school late.  I watched Ellie and Hazel and worked on neighbor gifts.  Dan left for a very quick sibling trip to see another Utah football game.  Alice had a cold and wasn't feeling well, and Bethany got some raccoon eyes when she cried because she still had her dance make-up on.  :) 

We kind of had a rough evening but still ended up watching a quick Christmas movie before everyone went to bed.  

I got some cute videos of Alice being very vocal.  She's probably more vocal than any of my other babies! 

Nov. '18- Weeks 3- Ben's China Day, Alice Ritz Cracker, Kids No School, Bethany Preschool Thanksgiving, Alice Laughing Video, Christine Visit,

Friday Melissa Roth watched Bethany and Alice while I volunteered at Ben's class China Day.  I helped with the station with the red envelopes and we had a yummy lunch!  After school, Dan took Bethany to Lowe's and I took Ben to the Prelude to Christmas youth choir practice.  I thought Dan was home, though he wasn't, so McKenna unintentionally babysat Alice a little while we were both gone.  That night we enjoyed time together and watched "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving." 

Saturday I had a singing practice with some YW for a song they would sing at YW In Excellence.  Anna went to Hilton Smith's birthday party.  We watched the Utah football game and went through Ben's clothes.  We borrowed an elliptical from the Alexander's and put it in the patio room.  I made cookies that afternoon and Dan went and visited Bro. Twitchell whose health was not doing well.  After kids were in bed, I went to the Alexander's for a game night and Dan stayed home.  

Sunday we had a family fast for Wendy Maxfield.  Ben gave an Article of Faith in Primary.  Sunday School was about the signs of the Second Coming.  YW was about the Word of Wisdom.  We watched "Narnia" after church.  The kids made birthday cards for my brother, Jonathan.  We had Webster family dinner that night and I went to Prelude choir even though my voice was still NOT 100%.  I got a picture of the girls playing with sleeping Mickelle and she didn't budge.  And Alice's first Ritz cracker.  She loved it! 

Monday started our week with the kids having NO school for Thanksgiving break!  We had some Lego drama in the morning.  Then we went shopping at Old Navy for some new school pants for the girls.  We had Keva Juice and Great Harvest for lunch.  We played at 5 Points Park for a bit but it was quite cold!  We went through kids' school papers.  We had an FHE that evening about being thankful and put leaves on our Thankful tree.  

Tuesday I went to the temple and did 3 names in Initiatory.  I also did 20 mins on the elliptical.  The kids played school and Legos.  Bethany still had preschool that day and the big kids worked on writing their Christmas lists.  After picking up Beth from preschool she quickly fell asleep in the car and continued sleeping on me when we got home.  I totally didn't mind it! The things she is thankful for are "my food, my baby, and my mom and dad."  We watched some "Studio C" before bed.  

Cute laughing video of Alice.  

Wednesday I slept in till 8:30!  It was so nice but the kids were beastly by the time they had breakfast.  Alice woke up with one arm out of her jammies.  Paisley and Eli Forbes came over to play.  The girls colored and the boys played Pokemon.  I spent a lot of time getting caught up on my Book of Mormon reading.  After lunch the kids all went up to Alexander's.  Dan came home early and started hanging Christmas lights.  I trimmed back the rose bush.  After dinner, we had a nice visit from one of my good friends from Virginia, Christine (Platz) Knapp.  She and I became good friends in 6th grade and stayed friends through high school!  She was in town visiting her brother who now works for a refinery out here.  It was so good to see her and meet her sweet baby boy, Alex.  Her visit brightened my day and it was so fun to talk motherhood with her!  Alice had her first bath that night in the big tub!