I've been able to catch up a little bit since my last post. I've done some shopping, sent out our Christmas cards, but I have yet to do any wrapping. I'm sure I'll be cursing that fact come Wednesday night!
On Saturday morning, Libby had a soccer game. She didn't play, but she did get closer to the field and she stood by the goal during the game. Little by little. After the game, we came home and I noticed something different about her...one of her teeth was missing. I knew it had been loose, but not because she told us--I could just tell as she talked. She has not wanted us to look or draw attention to that fact. But Saturday she lost it--we don't know where the tooth is--so she technically really lost her tooth! Eliza was cute and wrote a note to the tooth fairy (Libby didn't want to) and put it under Libby's pillow. The tooth fairy remembered to come and brought her a dollar and a set of "pearl" bracelets with a note that it was okay she didn't know where her tooth was and that she hoped Libby would think of teeth when she saw the bracelets. She enjoyed getting that under her pillow.

Here's a peek at her teeth. We had to catch her FAST and when she wasn't thinking about keeping her mouth closed!
Sacrament meeting on Sunday was really nice. We had lots of singing and some narration. My favorite song was the one our Bishop sang called "Joseph." I think it's from the Forgotten Carols. It just really touched me and brought the spirit. I helped out the rest of church in the nursery. Kari asked me to help since they are out of town. It started off fine (and busy), but by the time the lesson came, they kids were CRAZY! Seriously bouncing off the walls. I had to just laugh at us trying to get everyone to TRY to sit down. Didn't work! Not even for one minute! LOL. Ellie was even crazy and had to wait to eat her candy cane until she got home. She did get to go into singing time with the big kids since she'll be a Sunbeam starting in January! She was SO excited to go in there.
Oh yeah--after church, Libby wouldn't really look at us or talk to us, so I figured her other loose tooth had come out. Sure enough it had! Two teeth in one weekend! She got another dollar for that one, too. She was more willing to leave a note for her this time.
Sunday night was our big Christmas "Eve" "candlelight" dinner at my parents' house. Both my brother and their families came along with Grandpa Bert and Aunt Dovetta. We had some appetizers first, then enjoyed ham, potato casserole, carrots, broccoli salad, jello salad, and more! We had battery powered candles to add to the ambiance.

After dinner, the kids (and a couple dads) acted out the nativity. Eliza was a shepherd and the narrator, Ellie was Mary (loved every minute of it!), Brian was Joseph, Libby was a shepherd (we were so excited that she would do it!) and Hattie was a wise man (who strayed from the other two!). Everyone did a great job and it was so fun to see.





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Eliza and Abby sang for us!
Next, my mom handed out some gifts she has been working on. She made every grandkid two pairs of pajama pants and a matching corn bag (the kind you heat up in the microwave). It was a hit!

After dessert all the kids put on their PJs and were strutting around. My girls have loved the corn bags. Hattie has wanted to take hers everywhere! We also did our ornament exchange. Instead of gifts for my siblings and for the grandkids, we decided to exchange ornaments. My girls have been so excited to give theirs to the recipient. They were also so excited to open theirs up and see what they got. Next it was dessert! We had some favorites! Peanut butter balls, 7 layers bars, Aunt Dovetta's sweetened nuts, chocolate pie, etc.

Everyone digging into the treats!
Yummmm! After dinner we sat around and sang some Christmas songs, then Eliza suggested we go across the street to carol to Sister Clem's house. We kind of drug our feet because we weren't sure if it was too late. We ended up going over like we did last year and she was so glad we did. She said she had seen us all come over and she wondered if we were going to come over this year. I'm glad we went! Overall it was a great night of food and great company. I love traditions.
Today Rachel and I did the run/hike combo. It was a killer! I am glad we did it though. Later in the morning, she graciously watched my girls so I could hit the post office and Costco
quickly. Traffic was definitely holiday traffic! We came home, had lunch, then braved the cold while playing out front. Then we were off to my mother-in-law's. She watched me girls while I had another photo shoot.
As of tonight, I think I only have some stocking stuff to do, then the dreaded wrapping!