Weeks ending 12-4 and 12-11

One of Anderson's favorite pastimes: plunging the toilet. 

The toilets in this rental house need to be plunged quite frequently, unfortunately, so he sees it done on a regular basis. He also loves walking around with the plunger like a cane. So gross. I'd get him his own for Christmas if they weren't so expensive. :) 

Tuesday: celebrating my mom's birthday. We had enchiladas and a white cake with chocolate frosting. 

My brother and his wife and children came up for it and that was fun. 

Nathan took this picture of our mantel to put on his facebook page. The kids had put the decorations out one day when I wasn't feeling well, so on a day I felt good we rearranged, putting some of this stuff on the piano, and made the mantel look better. I also finished Anderson's stocking and hung it up, so here is what the mantel looks like today. The baby stocking is for our little one on the way. We've used it for every baby in utero and the kids love that tradition. Usually Santa leaves pacis in it.

I'm not sure who/why this picture was taken, but figured I'd include it to show how many leaves are left on December 2. 

The youth reading the Christmas story at our ward party. 

Samuel on Santa's nap. He asked for a candy cane for Christmas. 

He got it! 

Makenna 

Kaitlyn 

Anderson and Alexis 

My youngest 6 kids.

Now for this past week: 

Monday: Anderson and Madalyn were sick on the couch. 

For FHE we went and got our Christmas tree. We almost didn't get it because the price was twice as much as in North Carolina. Quite the sticker shock. Nathan wanted to leave or get a 2' tree for the same price as we used to get a 6' one ($20.) I talked him into getting this one (always the first one we see) and forgetting about the price. 

We could have fit it in the trunk (it was barely 5' tall) as we have the past few years, but the kids wanted it on the top, cause that's what you do when you get a Christmas tree. Even though it took a lot longer and we were freezing. This is the coldest we've ever been getting a tree. 

Doing art for our unschool days. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are basically you choose the educational activities." I love seeing where their interests lie--some literally spend hours on art where during real school they have to do it quick and get on to another subject. Some spend a lot more time on music or weather. 

And there's more time to goof off with each other too. 

Saturday: we went to Nathan's sister's wedding. Between the sealing and reception we hung out at the groom's house. We've never met them before, but quickly became friends. Kaitlyn and Makenna drew pictures on post-its for the groom's Korean dad for a whole hour straight. Nathan called me to come see and I found them totally laughing, talking non-stop (my girls to "The man with hardly any hair"), and drawing silly pictures. 

Dancing at the reception 

The lovely servers, Kylie and her cousin. 

Buffet of cereals and milk and cinnamon rolls. 

I loved this picture even though it came out blurry. 

Madalyn serving the hot chocolate. This is her uncle, 3 years older than her. It's Nathan's youngest brother, about to leave for his mission. 

More lovely servers, Alexis and her cousin.

Makenna finishing this puzzle while the older kids were at choir. No, she didn't do the whole thing, They just left it with like 25 pieces left and she couldn't resist.

Then she wanted her picture by the Christmas tree.