A busy December

We did have some days of nice weather to begin the month.  Preston took advantage of the chance to ride his scooter on the deck.




Cookie dough is always the best!

For Sariah's lessons, we had a chocolate chip taste-testing session.  Then we melted the chips, added mix-ins, and made candy.

We kicked the Christmas season off with a trip to Daddy's hospital for their annual Breakfast With Santa.  Dallin didn't get to come because he was at a church youth activity, but Sariah and Preston had a blast.


(Do you like his buck teeth?  He is very proud of them and loves to show them off!)





He's being so secretive, but we all know what he wants for Christmas--"that dang marble run", as he puts it.  I've gotten him two marble runs the past two years, but none of them are the one he really wants.  And yes, Santa will be delivering the correct product this Christmas.  (After Preston photocopied the page out of a catalogue and highlighted his choice.)


Decorating cookies.

 Making bead candy canes.  This hospital really does such a nice activity; I've told James that wherever he works next, if they're looking for a great family Christmas party idea for the employees, this is it.  It is so impressive!

Preston lit the candle for the first Sunday in Advent:



We got a new door handle, and while it was being replaced, Preston thought it was funny to stick his hand through the hole.

For St. Nicholas Day, we made and decorated cookies:



I love Preston's St. Nicholas.



We also had a really fun time getting a Christmas tree.  Pennsylvania is the perfect place for Christmas trees!

He's got a sucker in his mouth.





Daddy tied the tree to the top of the car, but apparently not well enough, because it fell off in the middle of the highway on the way home.  Luckily we were able to retrieve it.



He loves doing this with his eyes.  It kind of creeps me out.


Of course the next step was to decorate the tree.



His penguin ornament that Sariah made for him last year.


I'm not sure there's a decent picture in this bunch--Preston was in a really goofy mood!







Dallin had a snow day, and we got about 5 inches, so I put the kids to work shoveling.  They were all for it since I offered to do all the inside cleaning if they would work outside.  Preston of course got a good amount of sledding accomplished as well.

This was just the beginning--they had to clear all the way down to the road at the far back of the picture.



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