We have been crafting a lot actually. Ever since Mom and I sang at this Creche Concert at the beginning of the month I was inspired to make our own family creche. As Jessie and I wandered through rooms full of nativity scenes from countries all over the world, made from almost any material imaginable, I had the coolest idea. How awesome would it be to surround my own home with many different nativity scenes that our family made every year? When my children are grown and gone I want to remember these early Christmas' and this is one way we will do so. The medium of choice this year was clay because all the kids, even the grown-up ones, love it, it is cheap (1/2 off at Michaels a lot), and I already had some. We started our project after a review of the Christmas story for Family Night last Monday. Daddy was in charge of making Joseph and Mary, Jessie really wanted to make baby Jesus and the manger, Toby was forming some adorable sheep, and I helped Logan stay out of trouble and started the Wisemen. We will add some shepherds, a star, maybe a few different animals, the manger and an angel. When I first mentioned to the fam what we were going to do they kind of looked at me funny. After we got started though, everyone was having so much fun and saying we should do this every year. Aaaahhhh, I love it when a plan comes together!
This is one of my favorites from the Crech Exhibit and below is the beginning of our family one. 
I feel kind of snookered into being Jessie's room parent at school this year. No one else (who all have less kids and probably more time) volunteered and I was the last one out the door at Back to School night. I want to be involved in Jessie's class as much as possible and her teacher asked pretty, super please if I would step up and be room parent. It has been fun but only after the worrying about planning parties is over. Her party was last Friday and we had a good time. I also went in the day before to help Mrs. L roll out and bake sugar cookies with the class. Mrs. L whipped up some icing for the kids to decorate a few cookies. I learned that almond extract instead of vanilla in frosting recipes is SO good. I will do that from now on.
Anyway, I'm feeling too long-winded. J's party went well but we ran out of time. 30 minutes goes fast. We made these reindeer, ate some healthy snacks, and did a gift unwrap relay. The relay was super fun. Wrap up a few gifts several times with a direction taped on the top. You could use wrapping paper, newspaper, or all those ads that pile up in the mail every week. Each person has to unwrap their layer while following the direction, like "bark like a dog," sing "Jingle Bells," or "do 10 jumping jacks."We sang at the temple Wednesday night which was a lot of fun. Mom, Dan, Tom, Denise and some friends sang and my Mr. Bennett and Denise's Arnold played guitars. The 2 programs went well, the second better than the first, and we had lots of family and friends there to help with kids. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for taking the kids! I'm so thankful I didn't get the nasty chest cold that Mr. Bennett had- an answer to prayers. I would have planned another trip to the temple on a night we weren't performing, so that Dave and I could wander around and go to the visitors center with the kids. They had fun with friends, but every year we sing I can't be there with them. I'm also kicking myself for not remembering to get a picture of our group at the end. I forget every year and it's a time I really want to remember. Singing with friends and family is the best.
Lastly, we took our annual trip to Christmas in the Park in San Jose for Family Night a couple nights ago. Lauren made yummy chili and baked potatoes at her house for dinner. It wasn't too cold. All the kids took their letters and personally delivered them to Santa. The people in back of us in line thought that was the cutest thing ever. It was.
We drank huge cups of hot chocolate as per tradition. We saw some cool trees and lights. Our group sang carols with a big group of Elders and Sisters from the church. We ran out of time for the kids to ride any of the rides and they were too freakin' expensive. I promised them we would do rides next year and drink smaller hot chocolates (they weren't cheap either). Really though, it was all worth it. Coop is getting bigger and easier to take out in big groups. Little Syd was good and slept in the stroller a lot of the time. J and Toby loved horsin' around with their uncles. The kids loved riding the light rail from Dan & Lauren's house to see Santa. There was a glass-blower making ornaments which kept the kids attention until he finished. They didn't want to leave to see Santa until the ornament was done. The guy had a huge glowing furnace and was sticking rods into numerous colored flames in his observation box. What hobby could be better for little boys? They were mezmerized.Merry Christmas to all!!
