Now that the kids are a little older, they always ask to stay up late. This year, for the older ones, we relented and let them stay up until midnight. Before Kenzie and Maggie went to bed we had to do the traditional pan banging to ring in the new year. Mike also pulled out some fireworks and had some pyro fun.
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This year Mimi and Sandi came to visit for Christmas. It was so fun to have them here to participate in all our Christmas activities. Mimi taught the kids how to make candy sleighs. They each made two sleighs. They could eat one and chose someone to gift the other one. We also made and decorated cookies, drove to see Christmas lights, acted out the Nativity, went to church, slept by the tree/fireplace, watched movies, and enjoyed spending time together. Alex and Shane even had a piano recital. It was so fun having Mimi and Sandi here, and I hope they had an enjoyable and memorable Christmas.
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This year Shane started learning how to play the bass in his strings class. He has really enjoyed it and has learned a lot.
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I can't believe that Mike is in his last year in his 30's. We had a fun day celebrating him and enjoying time together.
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Our branch had a wonderful Christmas devotional and dinner. The program was uplifting, the food was good, the games were fun.
Bridget is very fascinated by the Christmas train. The kids like using blocks or other objects to make bridges over the tracks or other obstacles the train has to go through.
For this year's winter concert, Alex had a speaking part. She didn't tell us because she wanted to surprise us. She has done well learning the viola, but next semester she wants to switch back to cello.
We celebrated Papa's birthday by having graham crackers and hot cocoa, one of his favorites. I wish he were here to enjoy it with us.
