December Wrap Up

December went by in a happy blur. There are a few pictures I have to blog.

First up we went to see Santa at the on post library. Mallie and Ashton were just 3 days out from their tonsils and were troopers. Mallie still had no desire to sit on Santa's lap.

Then we had our ward party that same night, "O Holy Night". This was the best Christmas Party I've ever been to. The kids were all supposed to dress as angels and the adults as shepherds. We had money to spend on food and it really felt like Bethlehem eating on blankets.

 Someone in our ward caught this picture of David with Mallie walking out of the chapel. She was tired and not feeling too great but I love David dressed up as a shepherd and Mallie hanging on tight.

 This was part of the amazing Nativity and the kids "The Heavenly Hosts" stole the show. The whole room quieted down to listen to them sing and it was an awe inspiring moment to see the kids sing about the Savior's birth.

Next up Emily and I threw a going away Luau for our friends the Lopez Family. Kori is so dearly loved and she is one of those people you just feel grateful to have crossed paths with. We had it at the community center and gave the 20+ kids 10 beach balls in a big open room and they were happy for hours! Here are all the women.

 Here's a picture of Kori, Lili and I. I took the girls over to say goodbye on their last day of packing up. Lili their 14 year old has been our babysitter from the first month we lived here. I had her in YW for almost 2 years and she is awesome. The girls still look for her every week at church and we are all still missing them. I'm convinced we're going to meet up somewhere somehow when they are back on the mainland.

 This year we did our Christmas mailbox again. Every few days an activity or new book pops up in the mailbox. David loves the tradition of sleeping under the tree last year we tried and the kids were too excited to do it. So this year I had the idea to bring a little Bethlehem to the living room and we built a fort and talked about the Shepherds seeing the star. The kids loved that they were sleeping in a "stable" facing the star on top of the Christmas tree. I told David I can't believe I had an original creative Christmas thought too make a new spiritual tradition that didn't come from pinterest. They lasted the whole night and can't wait to build their stable next year.

At David's clinic they had a decorating contest. David and his assistants went all out (and won obviously) so we went to visit. It was a slow day during Christmas break and women in scrubs from all over the building came over to see the kids. Hannah was mortified by all the attention as they snapped pictures of us.

December 2013 was my favorite yet. Next up Christmas!!