12 Days of Christmas for Nessa and Darbee

 We've done the 12 days of Christmas several times for other families throughout the years, but this year we decided to do it for members of our family! The kids helped me plan and shop and we sent a special package to Darbee and Tanessa. It was so fun getting pictures from Kristi, showing us the girls loving their gifts.

Cleaning and Breakfast

I got the family up early on a Saturday and we went to clean the church--well all of us except Tim... he started a star wars marathon very early in the morning with some friends and ended very late that night.

Anyhoo-- the kids were troopers, we helped clean the church and then we grabbed some Cowboy Donuts and some Pancho Burritos for breakfast!

Christmas letters

 Sydney wrote letters to her Primary teachers and then we brought them a treat. She was very concerned about Sister Smith being naughty or nice. She was also pretty excited to deliver her goodies and she wanted to do so all by herself!

Serving the serving

I love those Youngs. They are just good people!
Kristi and Sam were going to help the young women with their service project... or maybe fundraiser, I'm not sure. Anyway, they told Landon about it and he decided he wanted to go help to. It was hours and hours of help and it was super hard work. He was exhausted after!! But I'm glad he went! Good stuff.

Foot rubs

I am a weirdo who loves her feet rubbed. Every. Day.
And often my sweet middle boys will sit down and rub my feet for me. Love this kid!

Helping Vicki

These boys sure love their Vicki. No one ever complains when I tell them we're going over to help out Vicki. She always feeds them well!! And often pays them--even when I tell her not to over and over again. They cleaned up her whole yard and garden Saturday.

Working at Vicki's

My kid's have gone to our friend Vicki's house to work a few times now. They love it. She always feeds them hot dogs for lunch. She has been so happy with how hard they have worked for her and I have been too. We've told her not to pay them, but she always gives them something for their mission fund.

This last time Sydney and I went too. 

Vicki couldn't believe how hard Sydney worked. She was so happy to help. In fact the only time she got upset was when her brother tried to steal her job! :)

They all sure love her!

Christmas Eve at the Senior Center

Our friends, the Corbetts invited us to do a little program with them at the Senior Citizen Center on Christmas Eve. We were excited to do it! What a good way to help our children to serve and show love at Christmastime. We had to come up with our own little section of the program. Nothing huge--thank goodness, we're not exactly musical. But we can carry a tune. :) We sang With Wondering Awe and the boys told the story of the candy cane and why it's such a precious Christmas candy. While they did that I walked Sydney around and she gave each Senior a candy cane. That was my favorite part. The people loved talking to her and having her offer them the candy. And she was so sweet. She loved giving one to each of them... and err, 6 to some of them. haha.

She stole my music half way through the first verse. :)

Along with the Corbetts, two other families helped out. The Keys, this is Felicity Keys with Sydney. And the Johnsons.

The kids all sang Santa Clause is coming to town and then our family went. So, we got to sit and watch most of the rest of the program. Sydney wanted something to drink so I got her some lemonade from the drink stand. She went back for seconds and thirds and I was feeling bad getting up and walking in front of everyone again and again. So, when she got up for fourths I just let her go. She could do the pull down drink system perfect and she only got herself a quarter of her cup. She did this a couple more times. The last time she did it, an older man was at the drink stand and he decided to help her and filled her cup to the top. This is how she walked back to our table. :)

The kids also sang Once there was a Snowman. And we ended the program with everyone singing Silent night.

It was so fun--and honestly easy as can be. 

Soup Kitchen

My new Relief Society calling has me super busy. Wowza! it's been a crazy couple of weeks.

But it's been good too!

One of the things we had to worry about immediately was the soup kitchen. We got called Sunday and our ward was in charge (with no one set up to go) of the soup kitchen the very next day!

So Monday the RS President, my friend Nadine and I went into the soup kitchen and made a menu for the week.

Then on Thursday Tim and I worked in the kitchen. It was a good experience for both of us and it was nice to do it together. He was a trooper and did everything we asked him to.

 

Day Camp

Day Camp was part of my Scout calling and I got to go with both of my little boys! It was a fun filled day with all kinds of activities. Rafting, swimming, sling shots, crafts. Fun stuff!

 

 

With the ward changes I am no longer a Scout leader. It really was a fun calling. I loved being with my boys and the other boys I got to work with too. It was never boring that's for sure!

When they called me to Scouts the 2nd time, it was because they were having a hard time filling the call.

I don't know why people say 'no' to Cub Scouts. It isn't hard at this young age and it's fun. I'm glad I got to do it. And I'm sure I'll have another chance another time. :)