December 2018

 We had our family Christmas party a few days before Christmas.  It was so fun.  We had yummy food and did our annual White Elephant.  The best was when Kim and Brian gave each family a white envelope with a donation they had made.  For us they donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.  It was a great night and sadly I only have 2 pictures.

 The next night we were supposed to do zoo lights with Kim and Brian but the zoo was packed.  Instead we went to different neighborhoods to see light displays (see picture below)

 It was a fun night.

December 2018 continued

 We were able to have everyone who could come over to do gingerbread houses.  We got Costco pizza and hung out.  Most of the boys played Super Smash Brothers the whole time but we still had fun. 

 Xander and Shayna's house was awesome.  I didn't get a picture of Kim's house but it was amazing!

 Ollie liked cuddling with dad. 

 Later the next week we went Christmas caroling to Great Grandmother.  It's a tradition that I love. 

Just wanted to include this cute pic of Evan and Ollie.

December 2018

 As usual December was a crazy month.  Added to everything was Max's recent diagnosis and trying to get everything squared away with medication and getting things moved in his school schedule (he felt like he could no longer do track because of it).  Anyway I was slower than usual getting our tree up.  Evan helped and Kim came over a few times to help. 

 Finally by December 9th we had a tree.  And it was beautiful.  I love our Christmas tree so much. 

 On Sunday, December 9th, Evan gave his first talk in church.  He did amazing!

 Ben sent some pictures of him playing a shepherd at one of his ward parties in Idaho.  A sister in Idaho sent me a picture of him and his companion doing service.  It made me so happy!

I ordered an ornament with his name, mission and service dates to put on the tree.  December didn't feel the same without Ben there.