Christmas Programs and Making Goodies

A few pictures from Aaron's camera that I forgot to post

  On the train

at the clinic Christmas party

Sunday Morning it was another busy morning as everyone had to shower/bathe. I also had to make sure I had everything ready for my Young Women's lesson. I hadn't taught a class for them for 2 months! I think we made it on time and I can't remember much else. I remember Aaron asked if I could give the closing prayer if the person asked to say it wasn't there. Michelle was fussy at the end of church, and I was out in the hall with her. Shannon offered to take her if I needed a break. I didn't really need a break, so I declined. Less than a minute later Melissa came out in the hall and offered the same thing. I guess I looked frustrated, so I accepted Melissa's offer. I knew she was just tired, so I went back in to get her blanket. Michelle was almost asleep by the time I went back. When I went back into the chapel Melanie was dancing around, so I asked if she needed to go potty. She said she did, so I took her. However I didn't realize it was so late and I heard them singing the closing song, so I had Melanie hurry up - she never did go potty. However I was too late, Aaron had asked Br. S* to say the prayer instead of me - oops!

Melissa was teaching primary but said she would keep Michelle since she was sleeping. So I was all alone for Sunday School, it was an odd feeling. After getting ready for my lesson I went to find Melissa so I could feed Michelle before teaching my lesson. She had just woken up so the timing was perfect. I was a little scatterbrained during my lesson, but it turned out OK. After church we stayed for the priesthood preview. Timothy and Carson are turning 12 in the next year, so there was a short program for them. Aaron made it for the tail end. However Michelle got fussy and I missed the end and I was supposed to say the closing prayer - again I missed it! Oh well. Then it was time to go home.

Michelle fell asleep, but it was late enough that we had a small lunch and Melanie didn't get a nap. Aaron called and asked if I remembered that we were having the missionaries over for dinner. I had forgotten. I'd signed up to feed them a few weeks earlier, but obviously forgot to put it on my calendar. I ended up making a couple of pizzas, one artichoke spinach and one half pepperoni and half cheese  We asked if we could have it at 6:00 instead, and that worked for them. Amy wanted to make brownies for dessert, and we put M&M's on them. That's all I remember.

Monday was a busy day as well. At home I did some cleaning and making banana rolls. Other than that we all went up to the city for Timothy's drama performance. He got to play Tinsel (one of Santa's elves)  in "Santa and the Efficiency Expert". We had to wait in the lobby for a while, and the kids were bored, but Michelle stayed asleep. She didn't wake up until we went in for the performance. So I nursed her just as it started. I still got several pictures thanks to David.

 

 

When we got home we finished up the crock pot meal I'd started and then had dinner when Aaron got home. I can't remember what we did for a family activity that night.

Tuesday I went up to the city for grocery shopping. We came home and ate lunch and then headed out to Amy's school. It was the First Grade Christmas Music Program. So once again Melanie didn't get a nap. We got there a bit early so I could get a good parking spot - which didn't happen and a good place to sit - which did happen. Then of course Michelle was fussy so I ended up standing in the back with her in the wrap until she fell asleep. I got some pictures from there, and some from after I sat down.

 Waiting for it to start

 selfie

 There is Aleya

 There is Amy (she was not about to wear a dress to school)

 There is Dani

 There is Kameryn

 There is Paige

All up on stage

 All of the girls from preschool were on one side of the stage!

 They knew who to put in the front row - 

those that knew all the words, and enjoyed singing and were very animated!

 Amy knew the words and actions, but she didn't look very happy to be up there.

 

 Melanie had fun dancing to the songs

After it was over I checked Amy out with her teacher - who had to see Michelle even though she was sleeping in the wrap. We walked over to the Yukon and headed home. The boys came home on the bus later. We had a snack ready for them.

That evening after dinner, Michelle and I went to the Relief Society Christmas Party. I left in plenty of time, however I got stuck behind a parade of lighted vehicles going 5 mph! I was a few minutes late.

I love that the Coca-Cola truck has a lighted nativity scene on the back.

The Christmas party was fun. There was hot chocolate, veggies and brownies. Michelle got passed around a bit. My neighbor Ruth was there. Then Bonnie S* wanted to hold her and Jackie W* too. She was pretty fussy, and acted like she wanted to eat, even though I'd nursed her just before I came. So I went to change her diaper and she nursed again. Oh well. We did a fun game trying to list as many Christmas Songs, Movies and Cookies as we could. Jane G* and I got the most Movies. Then we did our white elephant gift exchange. It was fun. I ended up with some wall decorations. CArol P* held her while I got to talk to people. At some point during our socializing, I mentioned to Rebecca W* that I was starting my baking the next day. She asked if I wanted any help. That sounded like a great idea! When I got home Aaron said he'd help me with the first batch, so he started on the gingersnaps and put the dough in the fridge.

Wednesday when I woke up Aaron was already baking the gingersnaps. We got them finished before taking the kids to school. After coming back I got the kitchen cleaned up and eventually got to take a shower. I was about ready to start baking when Rebecca arrived. I had started mixing the butter and sugar together when Rebecca asked about the Skor bars. I realized I didn't have any - I usually buy a bag of the Heath bits, but I had completely forgotten. So I switched gears and made peanut butter cookies. Michelle woke up and wanted to nurse, but Rebecca held her until I was done with the dough. Then Rebecca rolled, pressed and baked the cookies while I nursed her. I was going to have her roll truffles too, but the chocolate was still to stiff from sitting in the fridge. So she did the peanut butter cookies while I took care of Michelle, and while Michelle slept I worked on rolling truffles. We got to talk a lot. Of course I also had to take Melanie to the bathroom at least once as well. It was a fun morning. I fed Melanie some lunch, but I don't think I sat down for lunch, I just snacked. 

Speaking of lunch... it was the Peds department Christmas Luncheon that day, and I didn't have to do anything! They decided to have it catered by Dickey's. Aaron still brought in tons of decorations and a banana roll for dessert. Others brought in a few things, but the main dish and sides were taken care of.

 

The meal was great, all I did was wash the dishes later that evening.

While the girls napped I rolled more truffles. I couldn't start any other cookies yet. I made more truffle filling, and another banana roll. That afternoon Timothy and the Cub Scouts went caroling to a nursing home in the neighboring town. I was grateful when Melissa offered to drive him to and from the activity. Aaron called earlier in the afternoon and told me they had some flu mist that just came in and that I should bring the kids in. I would have to bring Timothy in another day. So after Melissa picked up Timothy the rest of us headed over to the clinic - the brand new clinic. I texted Aaron when we were on our way, so he checked them in and we just walked back to the waiting area. Every department is color coded. The Peds dept is orange. Instead of movies they now have video games. So Amy and David hopped on right away.

 Melanie just jumped around from chair to chair

 Michelle slept

 They had us in the Minnie Mouse room

David and Amy got the flu mist - Melanie already had it at her check up. Then we headed home. I'm glad it didn't take long because Timothy got dropped off right as we arrived back home. Then it was time to fix dinner. Aaron and David had stuff for church. David was in charge of the activity, and they did an iron chef/chopped type activity. He gathered a bunch of random ingredients and they split into two teams. They used the kitchens at two homes near each other and had a competition. I knew it would run a little late, so I put the kids to bed, and then left Timothy in charge while I picked up David, taking Michelle with me. That's about it for Wednesday.

Potty Training (Again), Toy Trains, and Christmas Parties

I've missed blogging about a major milestone in my daughter's life. Not Michelle's, but Melanie's. I guess 5th time is a charm. She is finally catching on to potty training. She's not 100% accident free. And she won't actually tell me that she needs to use the toilet. However most of the time when I tell her to go sit on the potty she will. At first her currency (bribe) was M&M's, but then she preferred gummy worms. After a while I still had to convince her she needed to use the bathroom. She would say, "but I don't want to go potty", and I would answer, "I know, but we are going to go anyway." It was a long process. It still isn't over though. She will only pee in the potty, and not on command. It seems she only goes 2 or 3 times a day. She waits until the last possible moment to get dressed so she stays in her pull up as long as possible - ick! If I don't take her to the bathroom she will have an accident eventually. However she isn't afraid to use public bathrooms. She has successfully used them at 3 different stores, at church, and the dance/drama studio, plus three friends' homes. I continue to make a big deal when she is successful and she loves to give me a high five and can do every part of the process herself except turning the water on an off for washing hands. I just wish she would tell me when she needs to go. It would be easier, oh well. We're most of the way there.

Now back to Christmas fun. Saturday the 12th after chores were don, we headed over to the train museum. Every year they have a Christmas toy train exhibit and then you can ride a train to the "North Pole" and meet Santa. The kids really enjoy it.

 

 

 Patriotic tree

 

  the only trains the kids are allowed to touch

Aaron sat with a sleeping Michelle most of the time. I took the kids around and they got their hot chocolate and cookie. Timothy did a snowflake craft. Then it was finally our turn to ride the train to see Santa.

  Me and Melanie

 David tried to dodge the picture

Michelle stayed asleep until we got to the train car where we wait to see Santa. I had time to feed her there. Then we took pictures, and we actually got everyone in the picture this time.

 Just Santa and Michelle

 Just the kids and Mr. and Mrs. Claus

 Then Santa made silly faces

We got our pictures on a CD and then got on the train heading back

Not a great picture, but the kids had fun riding up there on the way back (it's only about 1/2 mile down the track).

It was already 1:00 by the time we got to the hospital. It was the annual Children's Christmas party for kids on employees at the hospital. As usual they served hot dog and nachos. This year they also had hamburgers and corn dogs. The fruit punch was "jolly juice" and the lemonade was "reindeer fuel". Of course they also decorated sugar cookies.

 They had crafts

 and games

 We always bring cupcakes for the cake walk because we end up walking away with 3 or 4 prizes.

Amy really wanted a sugar daddy from the Santa goody bag. She even posed for a picture next to him!

 These are the pictures they took of the kids with Santa

 

  

 Even Aaron got a turn

 

 

We got home fairly late in the afternoon, so Melanie didn't get a nap. We got the mail and there were presents from Grandma and Grandpa G*. So we had our first presents under the tree.

There wasn't much time before Aaron had to leave again. Sharon W* was in the hospital in the city, and we had another Christmas party that evening. So Aaron went up a little early and visited her and then met us at the party. David had a basketball game where he was playing in the pep band, so we hired Madelyn to babysit. The I*s picked us up. We dropped David off at the middle school, and then the rest of us went to the party.

Aaron arrived just before us, and found a table for us. We put our stuff down and Julianna and Phillip kept an eye on Michelle while Aaron and I wandered and talked to people. Our table was mostly full. One couple we were expecting didn't come. We enjoyed our salads and then our main course arrived. They were short on the vegetarian dishes so Dr. R*'s food didn't arrive until later. We chatted and ate. I tried to nurse Melanie but she was having a a hard time. I wandered around with her and changed her diaper. I tried to nurse her without the cover, and that didn't work either. Aaron took her for a while and then Jennifer A* said, "I'm stealing your baby". So she had Michelle for a while. When she came back she finally nursed. After dinner and dessert they did the raffles and awards. It was Aaron's five "years of service" recognition. They also mentioned the brand new clinic that they had just moved into. The organization started in the clinic Aaron works in, so it was the oldest building. It seems fit that they finally get a new updated clinic. The clinic was closed the day before so everyone could pack up their stuff and move into the new clinic. As for the raffle, they gave away iPad mini's and TVs and ninja coffee makers etc. One of the first prizes was a fitbit. Dr. R* (who was sitting next to me) didn't hear what it was and asked for clarification. I told her what it was a little bit about it. And then she won it! That was fun. At the end of the raffle, the last prize was a 55" TV, and Jennifer A* won it!

I enjoyed talking to other people at the party, but once the dance started it was hard to talk and hear, and Michelle was done for the night. So we headed out. We were home before 10:00. David had just come home, and the rest of the kids were asleep. It was a great night.