Cute little Sister Flynn on her mission in Salt Lake Temple Square referred to December 23rd as "Christmas Adam"....you know, because it comes before Christmas EVE.....ha ha!
pretty funny stuff.
My Christmas Adam was largely occupied with trying to wrap all the gifts.
Truly.
All of them. This is the part where procrastination meets its maker and the piper must be paid.
But, don't worry about me....no no...
I've got Mari's pesto bread tree to keep me company and I'm starting from season 1, episode 1 of Poldark.
See you on the other side!
OH....and poor Laney has a tummy ache tonight, Megan is snoozing comfortably in her bed and Ethan is too cool for school, so tonight's Shepherd night is being upheld by Mathew, Anna and Everly.
Proud of your willingness to sleep on the ground, my loves!
Back at the Clarke's house this year for the musical Christmas. Just as well, because I'm up to my ears already.
It was bright and fun and chaotic...everything it's supposed to be when children are up late and have unsupervised access to the buffet table.
There was talking and eating and playing..pretty much all at the same time. And it gives it a fun, warm, busy feel that we love and look forward to.
Mathew somehow ended up a part of a violin/trombone trio. Why not??
Laney played "The First Noel" on her ukulele. Just as sweet as can be. 💓
Anna and I performed our well-rehearsed "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on the handbells. It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.
Megan transformed the bells and wowed us all with her percussion style "Away in a Manger". It was the very definition of delightful.
Even Everbee did a fabulous job of "Jingle Bells" on every parents favorite toy...the rainbow xylophone.
There were other numbers too:
Mark joined in with several sing alongs and made everybody sound a little more polished with his pretty arpeggios.
The Player kids did a pretty impressive duet. The practicing is totally paying off!
Fred always plays his favorite, "O Come Emmanuel". I don't blame him, it's one of my favorites too!
It was nice to be there again and the perfect way for me to fulfill the "Hufford Musical Christmas" I'd been promising my kids every night for the last week. Did it! ✔
It seems like, at least once a year, one of my children will ask for a gift that simply isn't a thing. Last year it was Everly's Elsa castle. This year, Laney would like a black flamenco skirt bedecked in romantic yellow, red, and orange flowers.
The internet has never heard of this skirt.
For one crazy second, I considered sewing one.
Then I remembered we have a very "flamencoish" red skirt amongst our dress ups. And I thought, "I'll just dye it black!"
Only it didn't turn black.
Only the lace turned black.
So then I realized I needed synthetic dye. Well, duh.
And now I have a maroon skirt.
Um... please hold...I'm gonna need to think about this.
It was my turn to pick out of the Advent Calendar....and (happy day!) it (surprise!) was my turn to open my special gift. This one falls to Mark to plan and purchase.
And, boy, did he plan AND purchase.
6 heavenly homemade "No Name Cakes" (who are we kidding? Those are ding dongs.)
The ward ice skating party is now a must-do on our Christmas list each year. The kids are all able to stay up late enough to attend, even though Everly opts out of skating...
She definitely "opts in" to cocoa and snuggly blankets.
Anna's natural bravery comes in handy. She skates and skates until we drag her off the ice.
Laney found her buddy Juliette and the stash of cookies. She was covered.
Megan skates, plays with little kids and takes breaks with her buddies, Aidan and Ryan.
Love these three.
Mathew and Emily were like peas and carrots and grabbed their own selfie.
The zamboni was a hit! Anna and Rebecca watched it smooth out the ice...
I suppose even the big kids love the zamboni..
Ethan skating with his friend, Laynie. Cute!
We never ever want to stay up and go to this activity...but we are always glad we did. I wouldn't miss the chance to spend time with my favorite person.
The big day! Anna is eight and it's finally her turn to be baptized. She was nervous and excited all morning, but Mark helped her to practice and she new what to expect, so it calmed her fears.
We made it to the church with plenty of time to take photos and change clothes.
Anna and her dad.
It was sunny and chilly, but we couldn't resist getting a photo in the same spot as Laney and Megan. And in the same sweet baptism dress. She was so happy. It was hard to capture it in a photo. She seemed lit up from inside.
She was so lucky to share the day with her best friend, Rebecca Andersen. They make quite a little pair.
And we were so glad that Grandma Kathleen made the extra trip to come out and see Anna get baptized! And that she was able to get here even though she wasn't feeling well. Mark pointed out that Anna and her Grandma have the same smiling eyes! I love that so much!
The thing that I'll always remember about this day is that Anna was so happy! She was beaming and buzzing with anticipation. Ethan gave the prayer, Mathew gave the talk and all the girls sang "The Miracle" as the special musical number. I felt the spirit and it made me consider all the love and blessings we have in our family. So grateful for days like this!
Ah... the ward Christmas party. I suppose it was very much like all the others we have been to over the years. There was ham and funeral potatoes. There was that mad dash to the food line and the twinge of fear that they might run out of the dish of potatoes you made because you know it was not coughed on by a little kid with strep throat. (I know you know that feeling.)
A long line is the perfect time to meditate.
I was assigned to put on the Nativity play this year.
It was pretty silly and absolutely thrown together in about 30 minutes, but nobody will every know that because nobody ever pays attention.
But don't you just love Everly's sparkly little angel halo?
And I don't think I'll ever love 3 wise men more than these adorable boys that volunteered to help. Sam, Austin and Caleb & Ashton (Isaac Garcia too!) are forever on my list of people I'll show up for.
I did get to lead the primary children in Silent Night with ASL. It was so sweet and everybody was quiet and listened....or maybe all the noise makers were busy singing Silent Night?
Some things weren't like other parties...
Like a "green jello" competition. (I sampled several.)
Lori's labor-intensive rainbow jello stole the show!
And Bro. Peterson's willingness to do just about anything to have fun and be a sport....he painted his face green, only to realize that the paint wasn't washable.
Whoopsie! We're all excited that he is scheduled to speak in church tomorrow!
