We had a wonderful Christmas and December for that matter. At the first of the month as our calendar filled with parties, socials, and service projects I just prayed we would all stay healthy to attend each one and thanks to the Lord's tender mercies we did stay healthy and enjoyed so many memorable events. A few of the highlights included our annual scone party here at the house for all our neighbors. About 27 families came and shared in warm scones and apple juice and we loved every minute. The air was thick and smokey and drove poor Katy to sit on the front porch most of the night because it was burning her eyes so bad. The weather was so mild and nice though she didn't mind talking to her friends out side. We even tried GF scones for the first time and the girls loved being able to eat a treat with the others.
We also loved our Moon Christmas party. We hosted this year and held an "Old Fashioned
Christmas" party up at our church. We intended starting the day with sledding but no snow made that hard. We had a chili dinner with rolls and salad (rolls made out of left over scone dough), then we broke into age groups and made homespun edible ma
nger scenes which were a great hit. We also had a fun time playing Christmas jeopardy and the always fun cousin gift exchange. Thanks to 
both the RS Christmas party and the ward Christmas party we had great free decorations and the night was a great success.
The kids had their friends over again this year to make gingerbread houses. We had plenty of candy from our Halloween stash and everyone got plenty messy. Katy opted to have her friends over for breakfast after doing baptisms for the dead at the Draper Temple. I love that she takes every opportunity to go to the temple and that her friends enjoy it as well.
We had a surprise visit from Santa one Sunday evening. The kids all thought it was fun to get a candy cane except for Cannon and Janey. They were terrified, especially Janey. She stayed in the corner of entry way the whole time.
The highlight of the month for Jonathan and I was finishing the temple work for a family on his mothers side from Sweden. It was a family of 9 so we felt an immediate connection. We took the parents Anna Stina and Johann and all 7 children through all the ordinances of the temple. Katy was even involved in some of the baptisms. It culminated in having them all sealed on Dec. 21st which was Anna Stina's birthday. It was the most powerful temple ordinance I have been involved in other than my own. The spirit was strong and sweet and we new that their eternal family joined us that day in the temple.
Because Jonathan's parents are on a mission in Hawaii it was our responsibility to carry on the Brinley family Christmas party and Santa Lucia celebration. It worked out great that Dave and Sandy were in from Canada on the day it was planned and were able to join us. We had warm soups and bread and enjoyed visiting and catching up with Darrin who returned from his
mission to Japan just 2 weeks before. My kids would have felt very cheated on their Christmas traditions without acting out Santa Lucia so we borrowed the costumes from Mom Brinley's house and acted it out the best we could. We definitely missed Grandma and Grandpa Brinley. Of course the night wouldn't be complete without the white elephant game. All the kids got loaded up loved their gently used gifts.
Here is a look at Christmas Day and our St. George trip though the eyes of some of the kids:
Jacob:I had so much fun. I was a jul tomtom for Santa Lucia. At St. George I went swimming and hiking. The last two days were cold. I got cars for Christmas. I stayed up all night on new years.
Katy: I had so much fun in St. George. When we went hiking, it was the best weather of the week. We went hiking at the same spot that we went last year. One of the rocks form what we call the "crack of death." Last year all of us were to scared to try to shimey through it, but this year, the 4 oldest and Alyssa did it. We were all proud of accomplishing it. The swimming pool heater at the condo broke the second day we were there. We would get into the hot tub that still worked and then do a polar dive into the pool. The water was colder than lake water, it was freezing, but just another adventure to remember the trip by. For Christmas we all got one thing other than the trip. I got a camera! It was fun to record the whole trip with it. I love taking pictures and making videos! We got back on New Years Eve, unpacked in about an hour, and then hosted a new years eve party. It was a crazy day. We were tired from traveling all day but of coarse we stayed up till mid-night. We did fireworks in the cold and had sparkling cider. The next Monday school started and it was a hard transition, but it's not like that's not normal. The first week back has been great.(:
Hunter: For Christmas I got 5 racing cars and tracks. I also got Lego Ship, Battle Blades, and a receiver glove. The most valuable present I got was a football signed by some way cool players, including Lavell Edwards! Then we ate breakfast and left for St. George.
We gave the kids a week in St. George for Christmas. It was unanimous after last year's experience that the thing we all wanted most for Christmas was being together. We had a great 2 bedroom condo with a pool and hot tub. Unfortunately the heater went out the 2nd day but it didn't seem to bother the kids. We hiked the red rocks and snow canyon and kids all surprised us and themselves in the places and heights they were able to get to. Cannon even scaled a wall effortlessly and wouldn't stop until he was at the top. We spent the two rainy days shopping at the D.I. and finding great deals as well as enjoying samples at Costco. The kids had a little Christmas money and loved buying
their dollar toy items. Thank goodness they are still easy to please. We splurged one night and went to Carl's Jr. where we fed the whole family for $24 thanks to coupons. In the evenings we played games and watched a couple of movies, our favorite one being Romona and Beezus. It was great to have our Dad full time and he even got in some good polly pocket play time with the little girls. We loved our Christmas trip but decided next year we have got to go further south to get a little more warmth!
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