December 2022 Part 4: December 14-17

On December 14, the kids had their Christmas Sing program or whatever the current school calls it. Here's Gabe with the 1st graders

And Rachel with the 4th graders. 

I had to go to the library and I decided that some statues really just don't present as well with snow on them. 

We tried a new service idea. We passed out candy canes and gift cards to BYU students living in Wymount. 

We left a decent sized gift card to the family living in our old apartment, and I had to take a picture of Michael by the dinosaur he used to play on when we lived there. 

After passing out our gift cards (ranging from $5 to $20 each, and some of which the kids bought with their allowance money), we went to the Wilk to pass out candy canes to studying students. 

We have mixed feelings about this idea this year. We're always on the hunt for a meaningful service that we can involve our children in; we haven't found one that gets our kids as involved as we would like them to be. 

Gabe wrote Santa: 

Dear Santa.

I can't remember anything you gave me except a remote control dinosaur. This year, I would like my own Nintendo Switch. What is your favorite type of cookie? 

From: One of your children,

Gabe

In addition to the Nintendo Switch, he asked for Nike shoes. Oh Gabe! 

There is a home near us that does a very elaborate light display every year, usually for a cause. It may actually be three homes that go in on it together. It is HUGE! We finally made the time to stop by and watch mid-December. 

We read Christmas books, though I didn't read as many to the kids as I would have liked. 

Thanks to Kirt and Julie's call as orchestra managers for the Orchestra at Temple Square, we got 6 tickets for our family to go see the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. Gabe was too young to go, so Taryn got to come in Gabe's spot.  

We got there nice and early so we could get the best seats possible! That left lots of time for fun selfies. 

The concert was incredible! 

The next day, we went to go see Serene in White Christmas. She had a named part (Rita, I think). She was incredible! Jen brought her kids, Dustin brought all their kids, and Scooby and Jon just came on their own. It was fun being with friends, supporting a friend. 

By this point in the month (December 17), we were already out of school for the year and working on final Christmas preparations.