Christmas countdown & December fun!

 Thanksgiving came and went in a blur! We had such an awesome Thanksgiving weekend. I tried to talk Tyler into getting a real tree this year, but he convinced me into just finally getting a new big fake tree! The pre-lit has changed my life. The girls had a blast decorating the tree, and I am just so excited that it's almost Christmas!

My favorite part of decorating was the amazing hand carved nativity that Bonnie and Jeff got us in Jerusalem earlier this year. It's seriously gorgeous. And that newspaper just is awesome.

 Lucy also told Tyler the story of his life on the way to church the other day. Oh, I love her!

 I taught Joy school to these four for the last time! Clara, Ethan, and Luke will all be going to a preschool at the University in January. So glad she'll still be with these cuties!

 Practicing for their nativity performance next week!

 My laundry room is abnormally large and therefore full of crap, but our Elf was in there with some new Christmas shirts hanging for the girls, and later in the day I go in there to see Lucy holding up her letter to Santa for the Elf to read. I was dying. This girl is so dang sweet!

 a Birthday party for Georgia. Clara is looking so old!

 and a nice sunny run in the cemetary. You know we've been here too long when I was thinking it was a nice day... and it was 13 degrees. Huh.

 Lucy had a ballet dress rehearsal last Thursday night after her music class and we had an hour to kill. I took her to Panera for dinner and she was SO excited to have a date with me. She loves one on one time, as I know any child does, but she was just beaming all night. I sure love this little cutie!

cutest ballet dancers. 

 Another day. Another location for the Elf. Another day of Lucy carefully placing her letter to Santa for the Elf to read. We were waiting for Clara to finish her letter to mail them. She kills me!

 I go into Lucy's classroom every Friday, and this time I helped her class make Santas. She is always so excited to have me there, and I got to stay and eat lunch with her. 

I finally found coconut creme.... and My life is complete. And new jammies. Well done Frosty! 

 Clara has been seriously on one lately. My favorite Clara quote lately after me calling her my little princess... "Mom, I'm not a princess. I'm a Queen!" Yes Clara, yes you are. And one sentence has never described her better! 

She had just told me that she didn't need a coat because her cat would keep her warm, and just got done explaining to me that 3 and 3 make 6. I love this little spit fire!

 This art table has been the best thing EVER. Our Elf brought some new coloring books, markers, and cool crayons. Lucy loves doing her homework here, and Clara loves pretending to do homework right along side her.

 We were all dressed up to go to the Ballet and Clara tells me, "Wait... You don't look like my mom!" Me-"Really? Who do I look like?" .."A Monster!"

 Decorating ginger bread houses!

 And, can you even believe it? Our Elf, Frosty, delivered this doll house this morning! He told Santa we were going to be gone for Christmas, so he brought this doll house early! The girls were beyond excited and have been playing with it ALL day.

 We had some pretty excited and surprised girls this morning!

 The Kindergartener's and 1st grader's at Lucy's elementary school performed a bunch of Christmas songs at a church on the Fair grounds. They did such a good job. Lucy was so excited, and had been telling me about it for weeks! Good job Lulu. We're so proud!

We also had our ward Christmas party today. These two had a great time! Even though we had to sneak our early for yet another ballet rehearsal, but Lucy was excited to go! She sang some songs with the primary and was so cute. I feel like Clara has been in nursery for FOREVER. She seriously is the queen of nursery here- there's only like 6 kids, and she's by far the oldest. This girl is for sure going to give us a run for our money!