DECEMBER

DECEMBER ACTIVITIES -When we got back from Rigby we decided it was time to get the house decorated for Christmas.  We got out our little baby tree - Kinsley has started calling it our Charlie Brown tree.  It is a sad tree to look at, but such a fun tree because everything on this tree is nostalgic.  I love pulling out the ornaments the kids made as gifts from Christmas' past.  Dallin got to explore the fun play area in the mall when we went to do some Christmas shopping.  I really need to do more kid stuff with him. 

The first part of  December was pretty busy.  We went to an interfaith live nativity that was really cool.  They had a small village with people performing different jobs and teaching mini lessons.  There were live animals and music playing.  In fact, there were even camels there.  It was really cool.  The only thing that wasn't cool for us was the fact that it started pouring rain the entire time we drove there, the whole time we were there, and the whole way home.  We were all soaked to the bone.

 

We also got to see the Kay family as they came over for a gymnastics competition.  I've always thought Kinsley looked like me, but sitting next to Morning they both looked pretty Erickson to me. We took the kids to a movie at the cheap theater.  I sneaked a picture during scripture study to Jed's disapproval.  Dallin also found his favorite reading spot in the house.

 

On December 3rd we had our first snowfall and it was a big one.  Everything looked so pretty and the kids spent hours outside.  It didn't last until Christmas, but it was fun while it lasted. 

We had our ward Christmas party.  They had an area to meet Santa.  There was a program and singing and dinner.  The kids all had parts in the program.

Ava had a friend Christmas party and gift exchange.  She had a great time and really thinks her friends are great.  They are a very special group of girls.  The other Ava on the far left and her mom started the Kindness Club at the middle school.  While they were at their party, they also worked on finishing up their service project for the month.  I can't remember now if they made a card with a candycane for everyone in their grade or in the whole school.  It is such an awesome thing to have friends that like serving other people.

 

The kids also had their Christmas mini recital.  They are all getting good at the piano and it is fun to listen to them play.  Dallin is not fun to take to the recitals, but it was worth it to hear the other three play their Christmas songs so well.

I surprised the girls with tickets to a matinee performance of the Nutcracker.  Ava was in 2nd grade when her school went to the Nutcracker for a fieldtrip in downtown Lousiville.  I went as a chaperone.  Since Kinsley is in 2nd grade now I thought it would be a fun thing to do.  Kinsley was even wearing the same dress that Ava wore to her fieldtrip.  We stopped for an ice cream treat on our way home.  Dallin really missed us, but mostly me.

Officially - my parent's sold their house this month!  They have had quite the whirlwind month.  They sold their house and my dad got released.  He had his last time presiding over stake conference after being the stake president for 10 years.  That night they wanted to facetime with everyone at the same time.  They told us that despite their plan to serve a 6 month mission in 2019 they had actually received a call to serve as a mission president and companion for 3 years.  They didn't have a call yet, but had already had two interviews - Elder Rasband & Elder Eyring.  Then a few weeks later they wanted to facetime everyone again.  This time they opened their call to find out they would be going to the Marshall Islands.  There mission also includes the countries of Kiribati and Naru.  We were all shell shocked to say the least.  Everyone was trying to saw it was over by Florida, but Ava just said calmly it's an island in the Pacific.  Turns out she was right! 

The next weekend they came to Boise for the potato bowl.  It will probably be the last one we go to for a while - at least 3 years.  This year it happened to be on Kinsley's actual birthday so that was fun.  She turned 9 years old and got to celebrate with some fun visitors.  Kinsley loves her Christmas birthday.  It is one of those birthdays that is tricky to celebrate and have a party for.  We didn't get one planned this year with her friends.  Everything we did that day I told her was just to celebrate her birthday which was fun.  "Oh look Kinsley the cheerleaders are dancing - just for your birthday!"  "Oh look Kinsley, it's freezing today - just for your birthday."  etc. Kasen invited his friend Will to go to the game with him.  This was the first Christmas Will and his family will celebrate without their mom and it was fun he could come with us.  During the game, Dallin was so funny yelling for "B-I-U." 

Our friends the Petersons came up for the game too since they are die-hard BYU fans.  They came out to our house afterward to celebrate with cake and ice cream and pizza.  It is crazy we have been out of school for as long as we have. Kinsley is such a special girl and we love her so much!  Sitting through a cold football game and pizza are not her ideal birthday choices, but she kept a smile on her face all day and didn't complain.  She is going to take year 9 by storm!

Christmas time wouldn't be the same without the Manwaring recreation of the Nativity.  This year Dallin was a wise man and Kinsley an angel, but Dallin really felt more comfortable in the manger.  The only thing that got him out was a little bag of treats from Aunt Patricia.This month Dallin has become obsessed with a little cartoon called "Baby Joy Joy" on the Living Scriptures app.  It is super cheesy and the older kids make fun of it so bad, but Dallin seriously LOVES it so much.  He has all the songs memorized and likes to stand up so he can see everything.  Kinsley is in a big cat phase again - hence her pet kittens.  Kasen has been working on his art lately.

CHRISTMAS EVE - Another tradition - the night before Christmas at Tresa & Jeff's house. We love celebrating with them and Tyler. This time we had Cheyenne and Ryan to hang out with too!  Dallin and Ryan had to show off their awesome yellow shoes.  The kids made suger cookies!  Yea - my one and only thumbs up for sugar cookies are from Christmas decorating and Tresa's recipe.

As per usual, Jed was passed out shortly after the kids went to bed, so it was my duty (like every year) to stay up late and make sure Christmas is perfect for the morning.

CHRISTMAS DAY - A nice and low key Christmas day.  The kids were awake about 9am and waited patiently on the stairs for us.  Then they raced to the family room to see what Santa brought for them.  They got some fun surprises.  Ava got two octopi - every year she asks for an octopus and she keeps asking each year.  I'm not sure why Santa can't figure that one out.

We spent the day at home just relaxing.  Tresa came over to see what the kids got.  Dallin spent a lot of time rollercoasting,  Kinsley tried out her new bike, Ava started checking out her camera.  Kasen went out for target practice right away.  Christmas is just pure magic.  I love the season.  I love the opportunity to celebrate the greatest gift of all - that Jesus Christ was born.

This year I got a new camera too.  I was really excited to test it out.  Our weird, creepy cat kept a close eye on me.  I made sure to keep one eye open in case she went for my jugular.

Kasen did great with his new gun.  It will be a fun little thing for him to do.  It's just a pellet gun so it's not too dangerous.  We spent the rest of the day eating and relaxing and watching a movie.  I'm so grateful for my little family and the blessings we have received as a family.