December 10 - December 16

   This is the week that Christmas get in full swing for our family. Christmas concert, parade of lights, ugly sweater parties, and making or buying Christmas gifts. Let the holiday season begin!
   Monday the kids had school and I went to Walmart. I then came home and worked out before going back to get Alec. That afternoon I worked on pillows for the kids. I decided this year to make travel pillows for my kids, Axel, Lexa, Ashlynn Murdock, and all the Simonson kids. I also surprised Becca by making her a blanket to match her pillow and we made little pillows and blankets for Kelcee and Hazel's dolls. They were super fun to make and easy to work on for a little bit and put away so I could get other things done. Rachel had practice that night and once again I was so thankful for the neighbors as they took her and brought her back home!

Stacking Cups while Rachel was at practice.

    Tuesday the kids had school. I washed and clean the car while Alec was at class. We came home that afternoon and I cooked some dinner and cleaned everything up so that when we got the girls home from school I could work on just getting them ready for their Christmas concert. This year the music teacher asked that all the kids wear black and white with a red accent. Rachel was less than impressed to have a matching dress with Becca so I guess this may be our last matching outfit for a long while! Becca on the other hand would match Rachel every day if she could. Wanda came to town for the concert but headed back to her mom's after the concert and I brought the kids home for bed. Mom and Patsy enjoyed watching the kids sing on the computer. I love that our school broadcasts these events for relatives that can't travel! This was also the first of many years to come that the girls has separate concerts so we sat through Becca's first and then sat through Rachel's!

Pouting because this is what he does best!

Rachel's favorite part of the concert

Most the girls in Rachel's class

Cloe, Elly, Grace, Rachel, and Braislee

     Wednesday we took the girls to school and then I helped at Alec's school. They all asked for items to be donated for the local nursing homes during the month of November. Then they let all the kids come down to the gym at school and pick a gift to wrap. It was mass craziness but the kids all did such a great job and were so proud of the gifts they wrapped. I worked on pillows again at the house before going to get the girls so we could come home and get ready for their Church Pageant. Mom came to town for their mass and pageant. After the pageant we went to Butches for supper with Thompson's and Hampton's. Mom stayed the night and the kids loved having her here to see them preform.

Rachel singing during mass.

Our Shepherd

Our Angel!

The whole cast!

    Thursday I took the kids to school while Mom got ready and then I meet her at Walmart so we could do some Christmas shopping. Mom then headed to Kearney meet up with dad at a conference and Alec and I came home. Alec and I then went and picked up the girls and Demi so we could go to the parade of lights downtown North Platte. I made hot cocoa for us and we also picked up Braislee when we got to town because Addilyn was riding in the parade. Every year I tell the kids to dress warm because they are always freezing by the end. Each year they tell me they will be fine. This year was actually nicer than some of the years in the past but we still had lots of complaining about being cold. I know, why do we go each year if they just complain? Because it is Christmas! After the parade we meet up with Mike at Tempura for dinner and then ran Demi home before coming home and going to bed.

ZigZag was at it again!

   Friday we took the girls to school, then Alec and I went to a friends mothers house to help decorate Christmas cookies. This is an annual event for all of her mom's friends and this year she invited some of her friends to join as well. I was nervous about taking Alec with me since he would be the only kids but he did so good. He played on my phone, then using all his manners he politely asked if he could help decorate. He did a great job. We then headed out to their guest house for lunch. Lunch was soup in bread bowls. Again Alec was amazing and even though he really didn't like the lunch he sat and nibbled and ate what he did like before asking to be excused to go outside and play. We left Sarah's moms just in time to go get the girls and head home. Mia came out to babysit that evening while Mike and I went to the wound care Christmas party at Dr. Schaffer's house. The kids were so excited to see Mia and have her babysit as she has not been here in a long time due to how busy she is with cheer and dance!

Axel and Lexa's pillows

    Saturday we went to Hershey and watched basketball. Sam, Jace, and Maci all played ball. They each play on different teams so we were able to watch a little bit of each of their games. After watching basketball we headed to Sutherland to watch Sean wrestle. We missed his match but got to say hi to Aaron, Liza, and Ash. We then came home for the afternoon. That night we went to church at 5:15, cody park, and then went to Marty and Lisa's for their annual ugly sweater party. The kids love Lisa's white elephant gift exchange (if they get what they want). 

Riding on the horse drawn wagon

Becca was so excited to help with the babies.

    Sunday we had a big breakfast and then cleaned the house. That afternoon we went over to Nana Dee's for her annual Santa weekend. The kids had a good time playing and Alec and Becca even stayed and played while I took Rachel to practice. Mike ran over and picked them up then we all sat down and watched a movie after practice and before bed.

They loved their gifts!