More December

On to the Ward Christmas party.  I did a terrible job of taking pictures.  I was just too busy, trying to make sure that everything was running smoothly.  We had a Christmas morning theme, jammies were encouraged and Christmas breakfast was served, breakfast casserole, fruit, and cinnamon rolls.  We tried out the family style serving and it was a spectacular success.  No standing in line for an hour to eat your cold food.  We had the YW help serve all the tables at once and it was crazy for a second, but soon all smiles and full faces were abound.  We had Santa arrive an hour before dinner, which was another happy success.  A VERY short program and sing along followed the dinner and suddenly it was over!!!!  I was really happy with how it all turned out.  Now on to the rest of December.  We had our annual Christmas gingerbread decorating.  We had Conor's Christmas concert and piano recital.  We had a cookie exchange and we made cute little gingerbread men to trade out.  The kids loved watching the advent calendar on the computer daily and putting together a puzzle.  The puzzle is actually a small miracle at out house, as we aren't known for our puzzle skills, but it turned out to be a really fun activity.  Kevin and Conor even snuck in a ski day I believe. 

The only picture I took at the ward party

Conor with Santa-asking for a nintendo DS

Josie with Santa-asking for a new princess poster

Lincoln and Daddy with Santa -asking for...some cars!

The finished gingerbread houses

Taj, Conor and Kyler working on their houses

Kevin and Lincoln working on their house. 

Conor playing Deck the halls at the recital

Lincoln entertaining himself with his cars at the recital

Checking out the advent for the day

Decorating our gingerbread men

The finished puzzle-so proud of us for sticking to it. 

Bring on December

December all ready? I am always shocked when December 1st arrives, and I swear year after year that I will be more prepared by the time December arrives, but alas not this year. We started December off with a really fun trip to the Christmas parade and firework show in Cour d'Alene.  The fireworks were pretty amazing and the lights were fun as well.  It was raining, but we enjoyed hanging out with the Wilson's and loved getting into the Christmas spirit.  We put up all the Christmas decorations and we we went out to the temple and a local production of Annie-so so long, but good. I spent a ton of time running around like a crazy woman preparing for the ward party...what an undertaking.  As if Christmas time isn't crazy enough. 

The Kellogg's just after the firework show and the lighting

All the gang watching the Christmas parade

Self portrait with the kids in front of the temple

Josie, Lincoln and Conor

The kids with the few nativity pieces the temple puts out

November Happenings

Time to play catch up! November was full of fun, family, school, life and other activities.  One highlight, is that Kevin finally got released from being Young Men's president.  We are so happy to have him home on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.  Kevin has been in Young Men's for the last 5 years, well past ime to move on.  We are loving having him home a bit more.  We then spent a lot of November planning the Ward Christmas party together-hopefully never again.  We played in the fall leaves, we played in the first snow and we cooked a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, and poof...November was gone. 

Family Game time-don't you love our new headgear?  -This is one of Josie's favorites.

We made an impromptu stop one afternoon as we were running errands.  We just couldn't resist the piles and piles of leaves.  It was getting dark, but well worth the time. 

We had a little leaf fight...3 against me.  I still think I won.

Conor peeking out

The first snowfall!

Check out the Thanksgiving spread.  Yummmo!

Thanksgiving dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Kellogg.  We were lucky to have them spend the day with us.