Christmas Happenings

I have to start with a couple of purchases I've made recently with which I am very pleased :)

Aren't these little gnomes adorable?!

I'm usually not a santa collector but these guys were just too cute to resist.  They are in a set of about 12 but these four were my favorite.  I debated whether or not I should just get one or two but finally just splurged and bought all four.

Also, if you follow me on Instagram, you probably know how much of a sucker I am for seasonal candy.  These kisses are plain milk chocolate but packaged as santa hats...again, too fun to pass up :)

Matt made a cute Olaf snowman a few days ago.  He even had sticks coming out the top of his head for his hair :)

We had some things happen at school before it was let out for the break...

The fifth graders participate in a program called NOVA which is kind of like the DARE program from when I was younger.  It seems to be a much bigger thing now though and is taken very seriously...

At the end of the program, they all write their own constitution about things they've learned.  Abby was one of six students in the three fifth grade classes chosen to read hers at graduation.

She did a great job!

The fifth graders also all had to create a "house" with functioning lights powered by a battery they made in science.  Abby wanted to do a snoopy dog house :)  It had one, little green light at the top.

Abby and Matt also both received reading counts awards the last day of school.

Matt's in the top picture in a navy blue shirt and black snow pants.  (I'm still figuring out my zoom on my new phone)

Josh had a Christmas orchestra concert.

We have learned that taking Ben to things like this usually ends up disastrous so we usually take turns attending the kids' things.  Andy took Josh that night and I forced him to take the camera :)

Josh always makes some great faces during performances :)

Abby and Matt sang with the primary kids at our ward Christmas party...

I really struggled getting pictures because they both hid on the back row.  Most of the time Matt was covered up completely but here you can see his blurry face between two girls' heads.  Abby's face was often covered up too but I could always spot her topknot that she seems to wear 24/7 these days :)

The kids had their Christmas recital which, because of scheduling conflicts, was held in a local Episcopalian church.  It was beautiful and lent such a neat atmosphere to the occasion.

The students all were paired up and played duets.

Again, excuse my non-zoomed-iness and the poor lighting...

Josh played "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch".

It was super fun and I think he really enjoyed learning it.

Abby and her partner played a cute version of "Jingle Bells"...

and Matt's duo performed "Little Drummer Boy".

They all had worked really hard learning their pieces and did a fantastic job that night.

So much fun!

I'm so grateful for this sweet, patient teacher.

She's wonderful and I hope we can keep her for many years!

I was able to get together with several of my high school girlfriends last week.  Some of these ladies I haven't seen in years.  I seriously had THE best high school friends!  They are relationships I will forever cherish wrapped up in memories that will never be forgotten.

And finally, we had our annual Kidd Family Christmas party (This is my mom's side of the family....so her parents and siblings and all of their kids)

My dad is always so willing and happy to feed Ben when we have get togethers of any kind.  Ben loves any time he gets to spend with "Bapa".

After dinner we played bingo.  Two missionaries were in the church building and joined us for that part of the evening.  It turns out that one of them is from Franklin Tennessee...the very place Andy's sister and her family live.  Turns out they know each other!  What a small world it is :)

Two Matthews :)

Josh and Matt both wanted to perform their duets for the talent show...I guess we only got a picture of Josh though...

To close out the evening, the kids did their nativity...

I love this picture...even if it is pretty dark :(

(We used to try and get Ben to participate in this and other such activities but it was never a pleasant experience...he fought it so much...so we don't even try any more.)

Ahhh...traditions...I should find an old picture of me and my siblings participating in this same nativity and post it :)  The years go by so fast, every year more swiftly than the last.

I'm so grateful for my family, immediate and extended and the unity and closeness we enjoy.

What a blessing that is, especially at this joyous time of year!