Getting read for Christmas!

Since we couldn't get a real Christmas tree, my wonderful neighbor, Angela, brought me some candles that smell like Christmas trees!!

That was so nice.  :)

Andy brought me home some greens from the store.

They were trimmed from trees by customers and were just going to be thrown away.

So, having a bough made from those clippings helped my mood immensely as well.

 We went to a hockey game as a family, since Andy was given tickets at work!

It was a good game, but Maggie and Lilly did get hit with the puck!

There wasn't long-term damage, but Lilly's elbow hurt for a little bit.

 Anthony is always taking the misisonaries' nametags.

I saw one online and ordered it right away.

He loves to wear it now, but now (3 weeks later) it's misplaced...

 Our potatoes usually go in the gray milk crate.  I always peel and slice potatoes in the front room so I can sit while I do it.

Remember we have a large family so when we use potatoes, we use a lot!

I was in the kitchen and Anthony decided the milk crate would be better used for his cars and blocks.

 Gran-Nana needed a lap quilt for when she, Mudd, and Aunt Di go out.  

Her favorite color is purple/lavender.

I'm not a purple person, but I think I put enough in there, along with some other fun colors!

 I get to learn to machine quilt better this spring!

 Someone at Anthony's school made Olaf from a sock.

He loved it!

Until he played with it in the bathroom and it got wet.

Until then though, Anthony took Olaf everywhere with hime.

 We had missionaries over one afternoon so Anthony insisted on a picture.

 On Christmas Eve, the kids all put together our yearly gingerbread house...

 ...pretty sloppy, so they could eat it sooner.

 They even taught Anthony to eat the people!

 Daniel came over for a little bit after work.

He worked on Christmas Eve until 7 or 8, then on Christmas Day same time.

 Nothin like a late-night dance-a-thon to the Smurfs on Christmas Eve, in your undies.

Lilly's friend was going to come over for the night since his family went to Mexico without him.

But, it didn't happen.  

This was a different Christmas than normal.

I'm just so thankful we weren't in the hospital!