A Table For {Seven}: Holiday Stuff (In a Giant Nutshell)

I really didn't want to catch-up with 6-7 different posts, so I'm posting all things Christmas related (up to the 24th) into one giant post. And it is GIANT including...

-Our ward Christmas party (complete with a visit from Santa)
-Daphne's preschool Christmas party
-Laylah and Jonah's Christmas sing-along at their elementary school
-Temple Square (the real one, where we actually made it downtown)
-Gingerbread houses
-The last week of babysitting
-Christmas Eve

SO, here we go...

Ward Christmas Party

We had our annual ward Christmas party mid-December. Baron had been really whiny that day, and we actually HAD to go because the primary kids were singing a few songs and I had to lead (I am the primary chorister). During dinner (after Baron had whined and cried and gone back and forth between Andy and I) he was walking around the table to go back to Andy and he threw-up all over. I mean like, ALL OVER. It was sick, but also pretty funny. Everyone was laughing, but also got right to helping us clean-up. I seriously adore my ward and all of my friends in it. They are the best. Andy took him home because the program hadn't even started yet. The kids did great singing and then Santa came. It was a fun night. (I don't have any pictures, but one of my friends is going to e-mail some to me, so when that happens, I'll have to add them in. No pressure Mindy- haha, j/k :)

Daphne's preschool Christmas party

I planned a little holiday party for Daph's little preschool and all the mom's were so great to help. We played several games- Red Reindeer Red Reindeer- Come Right Over Here, The Christmas Walk, Christmas Musical Chairs, and we decorated Christmas sugar cookies. We also did a little Secret Santa gift exchange which the kids loved. I think it was a success. Daphne loves her little preschool and I know she will miss her teachers and her friends so much when we move.
(I stole these pictures off of my friend Corrine's blog, and I am supposed to be getting more e-mailed to me- I'll have to add those in when I get them also :)

Laylah and Jonah's Christmas Sing-along

The day school got out for break was the elementary's Christmas singing program. It was so cute. Laylah and Jonah both sung so well and smiled and had fun. I love watching my kids do anything (as I'm sure any parent is) so, even though I had been so sick the night before, I couldn't miss it. We actually got pictures of this one, BUT Andy accidently deleted them. I'm trying to find people who may have some pictures of it, so I'll have to add those if I can find any.

Temple Square

We made it to Temple Square for family night the Monday before Christmas (along with the millions of other people who decided to go for Family Night before the snow came the week of Christmas) It was a lot of fun and I love that my kids are of the age where they ask a lot of questions and I can have teaching opportunities. I love to teach my kids about the gospel and our Savior and his birth. Even though it was absolutely frigid, we still had a blast. (Oh, and found a free parking spot a block away within 2 minutes- bonus!)

We went to see the Christus Statue and these 3 just sat and stared at it for 15 minutes. I had to drag them away.

Gingerbread House

We did a gingerbread house together and the kids loved it. I love doing fun Christmas stuff with them. I hope they have good memories when they grow up. They did a great job, I only glued the house together and then put it where they told me, and they did the rest. Baron just loved to sneek the candy and stuff it in his mouth.

My last week of Babysitting

The week of Christmas was also my last week babysitting Kajia and Javis. They have been such good kids and Laylah has loved having her best friend over every day. They truly are best friends and I know they will miss each other so much. It makes me sad to think about. And Javis and Daph will still see each other at preschool. Plus, my sister-in-law is the one who is taking over the tending, so I know we'll see them a lot. Anyway, I wanted to do something fun every day of the last week. We went to the mall Monday to play in the dino playplace. We stayed for 2 hours and I still had to drag them away. Tuesday we went and got ice cream. Wednesday I took them all swimming for nearly 4 hours. I'm glad the oldest 3 can swim because I could never do it if they couldn't. Six kids ages 6 and under by myself is a little tricky sometimes. Although babysitting was hard and it just added a lot of stress, I still enjoyed it and it was a little bittersweet that last day when their mom picked them up. I know we'll still see them all the time because they're in our ward, but it sure will be different and weird to just have my own kids every day-it'll seem downright easy! Anyway, I don't have any pictures of the week. I suck.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's, just like every year. It has always worked out perfectly that way because my mom does a big Christmas Eve celebration and then brunch on Christmas Day and then Andy's mom does a huge Christmas dinner. I love it. So, we went there and had an incredible dinner. My mom is an amazing cook and always goes above and beyond at her parties. I love it. I love that I still get to be spoiled by her (and my dad too, of course :). We had a wonderful little program, read some Christmas stories and watched a beautiful movie about Christ. We also made more gingerbread houses which my kids were so excited about. Gingerbread houses do not get old. I have several pictures of all of the MOMS helping the kids and one of the DADS sitting and doing nothing :)