Christmas Chain and December Via Instagram

Once again, we decided to do our Christmas Chain this year. It's always so much fun and keeps us feeling the Christmas spirit all month. I love that I don't just lump everything into the last week before Christmas but we enjoy it for 25 days. We put all the necessary stuff on the calendar first, then pepper it with other fun ideas. We really tried focusing on serving others in small ways and it made the season especially bright. Here is December, day by day:

November 31. Saline tree lighting ceremony.

1. Saline Christmas parade.

2. Decorate the tree and house/First Presidency Christmas devotional.

3. Stamp Christmas cards.

4. Christmas carol dance party.

5. Christmas movie.

6. Christmas craft.

7. Spiritual Christmas moment.

8. School Christmas night at Barnes and Noble/Magic show.

9. Christmas treats to policemen and firefighters.

10. Buy gifts for siblings at the Dollar Store.

11. Hot chocolate with candy canes.

12. Make neighbor treats.

13. Deliver treats.

14. Gingerbread house making at the Elementary school.

15. Marshmallow snowball fight.

16. Wrapping a gift for Jesus. 

17. Write sincere thank you notes for teachers and deliver their Christmas gifts. 

18. Read a Christmas story.

19. Place quarters in candy machines at the mall and watch kids find a surprise.

20. Place Christmas games.

21. Sing at a rest home.

22. Go on the Plymouth Gingerbread house hunt/Christmas party.

23. Eat dinner and share Christmas traditions with another family.

24. Celebrate Christmas Eve; read Luke 2, open sibling gifts, open PJs.

25. CHRISTMAS!!

Our town has a little outdoor tree lighting ceremony with hot chocolate, cookies, a band and caroling. It was a fun way to kick off the season. It was so sweet to watch all these boys sing their hearts out. Something about Christmas music. The fun thing about living in a smaller town is that when there is an event it isn't so crowded you can't have fun. We love it.

The boys loved placing quarters in all these candy machines and watching the surprise on people's faces. Fun, small service.

These three didn't mind sitting on Santa's lap at our ward party. The Saline ward sure does it right. Every party has been fantastic! 

Jace had a cool assignment for science...follow a bread recipe exactly. Make two loaves, one for our family and one for the Salvation Army. Pretty awesome. 

Gingerbread house night at the school was a huge success.  We got tons of supplies and made some pretty impressive houses thanks mostly to Mike. James did think of the cool reindeer chimney though and both the boys were very artistic decorators. 

Our marshmallow snowball fight was serious fun this year with tons of families showing up. It was sticky fun with hot chocolate after. The weather was surprisingly warm, so we are glad we didn't count on the snow. This is one of our favorite December traditions. We love an excuse for a party.

These two sleep like this every singe night. Even when we tell them not to. It is so sweet.

Our neighbor gifts this year were crazy delicious. White chocolate/Oreo/Peppermint popcorn. Addictive and  amazing. We made so many bags. It was one messy and crazy afternoon.

Before we knew that everyone in Saline goes in on a teacher gift, I had made these cute felt wreaths for all the teachers. So, they got a group gift and a wreath. As a note to myself, never to that again. WAY too much work. I really hate crafting. However, they didn't turn out too horribly, so that was a bonus.

Delivering the treats to the firemen. We also dropped them off at our local police station. They were a very welcome surprise and the kids had a fun time doing it.

Pierce trying to ride his best buddy Cooper at the ward party. It cracks me up to watch him show love.

The boys all had great class parties this year. It was fun to go to all of them. Somehow, Parker is the only one who ended up with a picture. 

Pierce is obsessed with both Jesus and Santa. Anyone with a brown beard, he calls Jesus and everyone with a white beard he calls Santa. He walked around our house all of December and most of January saying, "Santa, ho ho ho!" We loved it. 

We sent out LOTS of Christmas cards this year, as always and LOVED getting so many in return. We live away from so many of our friends and loved ones, it's one of our favorite ways to make sure we stay in touch. 

Dance party. The moves speak for themselves...Gangum style works for everything. 

Obsessed with fake Santas and pictures of him...hates the real thing. 

Ate WAY too many of these.

Love, love love our awesome town. They had such a fun little Christmas parade for us to enjoy and afterwards we got to see Santa!

Went on our annual Plymouth Gingerbread house hunt. One of those traditions that is more about visiting a different town and eating there. Loved seeing the tree walk and the few good gingerbread houses. 

James Kindergarten Christmas program was extra special this year...only one week after the Connecticut shootings. Made us all especially grateful to watch our little 5 year olds sing about happy moments, peace and love. 

We got LOTS of gifts in the mail. They were all just amazingly generous. Thank you all!

We took one Friday night to sing at a rest home. It was so good that we did, the facility was in dire need of Christmas cheer. Hope we brought a little bit of Christ's spirit to those lonely halls. I am always so impressed with my boys and the way the comfortable show their love to others when it counts. I hope they are always that way.

Mike singing in the car. We loved having him around for as much as possible.

One slow night I asked if anyone wanted to play a Christmas game with me. Their reply was, "Let's play tackle the elves!" It wasn't exactly what I had in mind. It's becoming more and more obvious that I am outnumbered.

This sweet baby is growing up way too fast. We just love him so much.

It was a GREAT December!