Tuesday Dan got a haircut first thing in the morning. I exercised and had to be firm with Alice about not playing with the treadmill plug and she got sad and pouted for a while. Lyla came over to hang out. Caleb also came over. I worked on Anna's peacock puzzle she got from Grandma Pat. Later that afternoon we visited baby William! He was so sweet and the kids loved it! Dan went to help with the final set up for the drive through Nativity. While he was doing that, I drove the kids around to do the Symbols of Christmas seek and find. After dinner, we drove through the cul de sac Nativity and it was so well done! There were pretty lights and 4 screens showing scenes from the "Christ Child"... music and everything. I totally felt the Spirit. McKenna was at the Winegar's for the evening, so the other 4 kids and I ate the delicious cinnamon roll the ward gave out, cleaned up the basement, and watched Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Wednesday, Ben found our milk with his BD date on it! I wrapped some presents while Dan was gone to lunch with Jasper. Then we went to see the live action "Grinch" and had popcorn for lunch. That afternoon, I made our German Pancakes for Christmas morning. I wore an apron that had just been gifted to me by Mindi Remington. Super cute! Arlee came over to play and Dan caught some cute pictures of Bethany and Alice waiting at the door for her. Dan worked on our Zoom poll for games with the Websters for Christmas Adam. My parents stopped by with my Dad's telescope so we could see the "Christmas Star," which was Saturn and Jupiter so close they almost looked like one bright star. The closest they've been in 800 years! We had Chick Fil A at home for dinner, then had a Zoom call with the Websters for Christmas Adam. We did our usual talent show and then put the kids to bed. We played games with the adults (plus some of the older kids). Dan and I wrapped more presents that night.
Thursday was Christmas Eve! We had pancakes and then another Zoom call with the Websters to open the sibling gift exchange. We then did baths and showers and I made brownies to take to a couple neighbors. One of them was to the Stewarts for the 12th Day of Christmas! We had so much fun delivering something to their door every night! We watched the movie "Noelle" in the theater room and had our traditional pizza dinner. We acted out the nativity, watched the "Christ Child," opened a new pair of PJs, set out treats for Santa, and the kids all slept in Bethany and Alice's room. Phew! After wrapping more, we watched "Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" which was a very moving movie! We also enjoyed the heat from our fireplace having just learned how to turn it on!
Friday was Christmas Day! We asked the kids to sleep in (or stay in the room) until 7:30am. They obliged and we went down to get them. After opening presents we had our German pancakes complete with paper crowns from Gma and Gpa Webster. After breakfast we FaceTimed with them in Hawaii as we opened our gifts from them. We chilled, played, watched some shows, took naps, then had lunch. We tidied up a little, then my parents came over around 3pm. The kids showed them all their new stuff and then we Skyped our Alabama family. My parents opened their gift from all of us kids, which was a digital picture frame we can upload pictures to anytime from an app on our phones! We had a fancy Christmas dinner then Skyped with Alabama again and played a game called Quiplash. It was lots of fun! We had pie and ice cream for dessert then put the kids to bed. Dan and I finished Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood movie. At the end of the day, I felt so humbled and grateful and content, peaceful and happy!
Saturday we slept in and I went walking while listening to my book. At breakfast, Dan tickled everyone! ;) We chilled, played games, and I snuggled Anna for a bit. Dan and Ben ran some errands. After lunch, we all played McKenna's Harry Potter Clue game. Dan and Ben also played with Ben's new circuit board. After baths, McKenna babysat and Dan and I went to the Davis Conference Center for dinner with all the Webster adult siblings. The food was amazing and then we played a couple games. We played Left, Right, Center and Skull King. When we got home, we snuggled McKenna for a bit.
Sunday Sis. Goodwin taught the Relief Society Zoom and after lunch we went to in person church. McKady Kump and Brandie Kossin spoke. When we got home I worked on replying to an email from my old college roommates. I love those girls so much! After dinner, we drove around to look at Christmas lights in our area. After kids were in bed, I listened to a podcast to help me prepare for the new Come Follow Me curriculum and worked on Anna's peacock puzzle.
Monday we finally cleaned up all our toys and gifts out of the family room and vacuumed it. We picked up groceries after lunch and Dan bought some new frames for the new prints to be hung in the office. We also delivered McKenna's friend gift to Yashvi. We watched "Soul" in the theater room then had dinner and folded laundry. Dan and I hung pictures and organized the office a bit. After kids were in bed, we watched the first "Wonder Woman" in the theater room.
Tuesday after breakfast Dan and Ben did more circuits. Dan also had lunch with Jasper. After lunch, I took McKenna and her friends Lia and Zoe ice skating at the new outdoor ice ribbon. Lia came back to our house to hang out for a bit. Dan and Ben watched Thor. I had computer time. Adam and my parents came over for dinner, then my parents babysat while we and Adam went to Farmington Station to shop and watch the new Wonder Woman. Sam, Dave and Laurie, Emma and friend, and Swa and Jake all came. It was fun to be with everyone, but unfortunately, no one really loved the movie. The first one was way better. We got home really late and I'm so thankful for my parents staying up that late!
Wednesday morning Dan and Bethany took Adam and Mia to the airport for their Florida trip. I played Color Brain with the older kids. After lunch we did yoga tricks as a family. After a nap, Dan went to the Remington's while Greg was working on fixing our kitchen chair. We had Wendy's for dinner then did baths and bedtime. I then blogged while Dan watched "Clone Wars."
Thursday after breakfast we turned Bethany and Alice's beds into bunk beds and hung some glow in the dark stars. Dan also fixed a blown fuse in his car. After lunch, we headed to my parents' to hangout for the evening to celebrate New Year's Eve! We got there around 3pm and did puzzles, Grandma helped Anna make her Gemex Jewelry, had pizza, then watched a cute cartoon reindeer movie. We also played Clue and Skyjo, and then headed outside to light some fireworks! We got the kids in their Pjs and did an early countdown. We left by 10:45 and by the time Dan and I were finally ready to close our eyes for bed, the clock struck 12 and we fell asleep listening to fireworks!
