Holiday Hustle

 December flew by, as I knew it would. We celebrated with church activities, a band concert, an orchestra concert, a dance show, making treats, and delivering gifts to friends and neighbors. For almost a week, everyone has been talking about the big storm that's been going across the US. Today was supposed to be the kids' last day of school before the break. Since my boss thought the idea of having school two days before Christmas was ridiculous she had scheduled the closure of Red Bell at the beginning of the school year, thank goodness. Due to this storm, they canceled school everywhere else for today, much to our delight! I would have usually been frustrated with that decision since they made it yesterday before school was even out and before the storm had started. However, since my week was already over and I had a successful week at my school with giving out all my student's gifts and writing all the thank you notes, in addition to our Christmas party on Wednesday and a family sing-along yesterday, I didn't care if my kids' schools were canceled today. We needed this day off together! Now we can relax and watch the wind blow the snow around outside. We'll venture out tomorrow, but not today!

First batch of Christmas cookies!

The boys and Jason and I went to see a new light display nearby.

Below are pictures of Austin's first band concert. Remember, he had decided to try percussion this year instead of choir. 

You can see his little head in the back with the chimes and bells.

In this one he's more to the left, playing the tympany. 

Proud percussionist!

Below here are pics from the Christmas dance performance. No, they are not of Victoria, her studio didn't do a Christmas performance this year, they're just prepping for competition. These are of Austin in the hip-hop class that he wanted to try out. He's loving the class so far, but I think the 2-hour Christmas recital was more than he wanted to be involved with. We'll see how it goes when swim and track season started. The owner of the studio, Derek, is super stoked to have Austin there and very complimentary.

He's on the far right.

Austin-the hip-hopper

Now here are some highlights of Erik as he read some lines at the Ward Christmas party as a wise man. He also sang in a trio in sacrament meeting with the Primary a few weeks ago as a wise man. It was the same day my other kids and I played some string music with other friends from the ward as prelude. Erik sang an octave lower than everyone else, he doesn't like falsetto, but he did a good job! 

After the ward party, Jason stripped off his sweater, ready for the BYU game!

Jason's making this aquarium table for Kai's snake, Ross.

Round two of treat-making: fudge and cupcakes.

My brother sent us these Crumbl cookies! I had never had one before and have enjoyed trying a bit of each one!

Below here are pics of Kai's and Austin's orchestra concert. It's too bad we couldn't see either one playing because of where they were in the group of instruments on stage and where we were sitting in the audience. I thought we had good seats, too.... I'm only including a video of one of Austin's songs. Not because you can see him in it, but because it was such a fun song!

Here's Kai leaving the stage.

My string players!

Here's what Erik wears in class. He strips off his pants and sweater to wear a t-shirt and shorts (yesterday the shorts were particularly short). He doesn't care to ever wear long things, and this was the day before school cancelation for the super cold upcoming blizzard!

Luke, this morning by the heat vent in the bathroom.

The wind had blown down my snowman sleigh that was right by the door. The winds are very strong right now!

Crazy kid!