The Final Countdown

Here we go, the final week before Christmas gets real.

Justin's work had their yearly Christmas party. It was at the same place as last year, even the same food. What was not the same was his boss wearing this suit. That's new. He said his wife wouldn't let him wear it to church so he had to wear it that night. It even lights up.

Garfield's Christmas Special might be the best Christmas special ever. If I had to choose only one Christmas show to watch, this might be it because it brings back all the nostalgia of my childhood plus my kids love it since I've made them watch it every year.

Sarah and her Christmas dance date. The Christmas dance is not like when I was in high school. It is now a casual "Jingle Ball" and they wear coordinating Christmas sweaters. They went ice skating, went to a friend's ward's Christmas party, ate BBQ, went to the dance and then watched a Christmas movie.


Sunday morning a week after James got baptized he came to my bathroom dressed for church with his shirt and tie. "I need a suit," he sighed. This coming from the kid that bemoaned wearing a white shirt and tie for the first time just a week prior. 

I found a suitcoat at the thrift store for $6. That's the level of confidence I had that he'll actually wear it.

I was wrong. He wore it all day Sunday (took it off to eat dinner), to his friend's baptism Saturday and then again today. He loves it!

He looks so cute.

Christmas means concerts. Only Henry had a concert this year but I went to it alone because James also had a basketball game that Justin coaches. Erica went with them and Sarah is backstage at the concert because she got special permission to play in the finale even though she isn't in orchestra anymore.

Since it was just me I got a seat third row in the center which seemed great until Henry's group filed in and I couldn't see him once everyone sat down.

Luckily I could see him during the finale.

Wednesday night basketball. They were short players so they played all game and then ran around the gym and didn't want to come home. 

Thursday we went to the festival of lights in Spanish Fork 

Erica is standing in the sunroof.

As we drove around we tried to spot what was new this year but didn't come up with anything definitive.

Friday was a half day at school and since we would have gotten out by the time my shift started, I went in the morning. I got to see Erica and the student council lead sing around the tree.

Then these blow up trees and gingerbread men surprised us all with dancing around to our singing. It was pretty funny. 

Check out these homemade cookies my neighbor brought over. Made my day. Neighbor gifts are my favorite. I get stressed out making and delivering my own but I love getting them so I keep doing it.

Yesterday I took James to Eli's baptism. Seeing these boys at each other's baptisms has been so fun. I think we just have Josh's left. 

I have a bunch of presents to wrap and one last trip to the grocery store and then we are ready to start doing things. Celebrations start tomorrow with Christmas Eve Eve (which rivals Christmas Eve in traditions and merriment). We've got lots of food to make and family to see!