We had a delightful December because I made sure we kept life from getting too busy.This means I had to tweak some of our activities and even say no to some of my great ideas so that we could breathe from day to day and avoid getting sick and overwhelmed. I think we found a good balance of rest and activity this month. We were very blessed.
We got a big snow dump on Dec 1 and 2. Church was canceled! We all played outside together as a family and had a great time.
He is so proud of his muscles.
We met up with Margi one Saturday at the SPAM museum, which was fun because we hadn’t been there in a few months.
I got to take the boys to the NUTCRACKER!
The ballet was in Rochester. Jeremy drove us there, dropped us off, and then ran erands at Costco and other places while we enjoyed the ballet.
I was really excited to be with the boys at the nutcracker, to carry on a tradition that my mom had taking us siblings to this ballet every year. Last year, I was too sick to get out of bed, so Jeremy took them. During the ballet, I was pleased to see the boys engaged and curious. They recognized most of the music. And their comments were hilarious. I wrote down as many as I could on our way home.
“Why don’t they do any talking?” – Dallin
“Here come the toys!” – Dallin
I told them during one of the numbers that it was the Nutcracker march. “we KNOW, Mom!” -Tanner
“Why does the nutcracker man have an ugly mask?” – Tanner and Dallin
“It’s snowing!” – Tanner and Dallin
At intermission, “What?! It’s over already? But they didn’t go to the magic land yet!!” -Dallin
Dallin was wiggling and wiggling in my lap. I asked him if he could now sit in his own seat. “MOM, I am JUST trying to get COMFORTABLE!”
“I think the sugar plum fairie has cooler moves.” -Tanner
“Why aren’t there any black people dancing?” -Tanner
“Mom is it okay if on Christmas eve, me and Tanner wake you up?” -Dallin
“Mom, I know how Uncle Drosslemeyer made the nutcracker turn back into a toy!” -Tanner
“I liked the battle the best.” -Tanner and Dallin
I was waiting for it, but neither of them ever said the ballet was boring!! I totally will take the credit for that because I do a lot to prepare them for this outing.
Afterward, Jeremy picked us up, and we ate at a greek restaurant and shopped at the consignment store. Fun day in Rochester!
I was waiting for it, but neither of them ever said the ballet was boring!! I totally will take the credit for that because I do a lot to prepare them for this outing.
Afterward, Jeremy picked us up, and we ate at a greek restaurant and shopped at the consignment store. Fun day in Rochester!
Dallin took a nap or something right next to me. He was completely out when I took pictures of him. I love having him as my cuddle bug.
Jeremy got the boys to help him build something. I had no idea until Christmas day.
One evening, our family caroled and gave cookies to our neighbors and friends.
We got several frosty days of beauty like this! It looks like a magical winter wonderland. Very intersting to have it juxaposed with the school bus bellowing down the street and up to our home to get the boys.
I managed to take the boys to the Hormel Historic Home after school one day. They had already seen a lot of it at Soup and Santa before Thanksgiving, but I wanted to be with them while they explored the home. The Christmas decorations in this home are incredible, all done by just three volunteers. The boys loved admiring everything in each room. They really like seeing how the decorations are similar or different from years past and how it makes the home look different from the rest of the year. “Oh Mom! Look they put the nutcrackers in the office this year!” “Look mom, there are santas all over in this room, even where they have jewelry.” “Hey, they moved the vases. Oh I see what they did here!” “Where is the big Santa? He was right here last time!”
Can you see me?
This scene! It’s like witnessing a memory.
On early release day, we went sledding at a small hill behind the Gabrielson’s house! The kids played so well together, and it was nice to be in a wooded area protected by the wind. We had special hot chocolate that Lacey made for us with treats. Fun, cozy and relazing afternoon!!
Tanner’s winter concert was really cute. He was very excited to perform. He got to ring the bells for the jingle song and play the glocks for another song. His music teacher is Mrs. Zerke, and I’ve been able to sub for her a few times this year! I also helped her with the IPAD player for each performance. (It worked out beautifully because I was subbing on that campus that very same day, so I was able to work and help with the concerts all at the same time).
Jeremy was able to make it on his bike from work to the concert, This was his view.
After the concert, we got to celebrate with Tanner in the library, and they also had math games for parents to play with their children. We are so proud of our handsome, singing musician!
Note that Dallin got sick with a stomach bug and fever the day before his winter concert. I was super bummed because I helped the principal teach the chidren songs for the big day. Dallin had been singing every song for weeks and knew them perfectly. He was sad, but then turned over and went back to sleep. Poor guy.
Our church held a great Christmas dinner and our friends Matthew, Lonnie and Shirley Ann were able to come with us!
I love Anita, she is such a good friend to me.
At home Saturday morning, the boys took pictures of things they like in the house.
This worksheet is from the beginning of the school year, and I found it under a pile of stuff. I like how Dallin often signs his name with JZ at the end, which are his initials for Jerold Zavoral.
He dressed himself for church with Easter pants, Easter hat, Christmas shirt and vest with a tie from when he was two. Then he went around the house tipping his hat and hollering “Hidy Hoe, kids!” This kid is beyond adorable.
In primary, I was able to have God’s help wtih creating some ornaments for the children to make during sharing time. I wanted them to have a take home item where I would only need to spend $10 or less. I figured a craft or ornament that would be easy to make and cute enough to actually keep around for a few days would be good. If I could find one with supplies that I already had, and if the ornament could teach about the signs of Christ’s birth that occurred on both sides of the world, all the better.
Knowing that a craft like this wouldn’t exactly be easy to figure out, I asked Heavenly Father if he would help me find or create a craft that would fulfill all these needs. I then began browsing the internet for ideas. I found an ornament made from juice-can lids with holiday ribbon and quickly remembered that I had a whole box of those things in my teaching supplies. Before I knew it, I had found some images online that I could put inside the ornament. My mind was filled with clarity as I played around with Word Art to write a poem and make it look cool around the images. Within an hour of saying my prayer, I had an example ornament finished and looking really cool!!
During primary, children got to color the images, cut them out, and pick their style of ribbons. Teachers glued everything together with hot glue. It was a big success. Here’s what the boys’ ornaments looked like. One side says The new star guided wise men from afar..” The other side says “…And gave the Nephites light all through the night.” I am so grateful for God’s goodness in answering my prayer!
For viewing Christmas lights this year, we simply drove to Albert Lea to see this house that got featured in the paper. We watched the light show twice and then drove home, talking about how lights at Christmas remind us of Jesus, who is the ligh of the world. The evening outing was short, sweet and simple.
Tanner typed up a letter to one of his pen pals. He wanted to do it all by himself. It took him a long time, but he was able to do it!
Another one of his pen pals sent him this cool post card. The neat thing about the post card is that Tanner is the one that painted the picture! Pretty fun getting a card in the mail with your own artwork on it.
We were able to host our 6th annual series of Wassail Parties. Wow, hard to believe we have been in MN that long! We told everyone to wear pajamas, which was well recieved. I made the wassails this year, and the cranberry one was a big hit. Dallin and I had matching scarves that I made from the legs of Jeremy’s old pajama pants that matched mine. We sang lots and lots of songs, taking requests from the guests. We also enjoyed some solos and guitar playing from the guests as well. This is easily my favorite of our Christmas traditions!
