December 1st we FINALLY had our Activity Day Girls/Beehive Talent Show. It was supposed to be in September but kept getting delayed due to scheduling conflicts. The girls were ready and we had a great night sharing talents with each other. One group did a synchronized swimming routing which was very entertaining. We had a lot of musical talent in the group both instrumental and vocal. One young lady did a dramatic reading of a poem she wrote. Other brought their talents to display or eat. It was a fun night.
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| Naomi and Caitlyn playing "Silent Night" |
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| The whole crew taking a final bow at the end of the night. |
December 3rd I was reading my scriptures and trying to recapture the peace I used to feel in my life. Lately everything had felt chaotic and I was doing things that were NOT in my nature. I was confused and frustrated and overwhelmed. Quite unexpectedly I felt a peace that started in my core and radiated outward. It was like I was receiving a hug from my Heavenly Father telling me it would all be okay if I followed Him and his commandments. I am so grateful to know that my Heavenly Father hears my prayers and answers them personally. He knows just what I need.
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| Today |
December 8th we ordered Jeremy's cap and gown along with all his fun senior paraphernalia. I can't believe he is already graduating.
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| Yesterday |
That night was Young Women in Excellence. The theme Naloni chose for the night was "Personal Progress Can Change The World". It was an amazing night. The girls all stepped up and completed the tasks they were given. The decorations were gorgeous and the refreshments were yummy. She had assigned everyone a different region of the world and they were to come up with a treat that represented their assigned region. I made won tons and they were a big hit. We had an incredible group of young ladies. It is a privilege to work with and serve them.
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| All our beautiful, talented, inspirational Young Women. |
December 9th I got to do whatever I wanted all day long. I started the day with attending Naomi's D.A.R.E (Define, Assess, Report and Evaluate) graduation. During the previous semester an officer from the Huntersville Police Department, Officer Mike, would come every week and teach the kids about how to stay away from drugs and crime. He also taught them what to do when they saw something that wasn't quite right. The kids really looked forward to their weekly time with Officer Mike and grew really close to him. As a thank you gift they all pitched in and got him a gift card (for himself) and a basket of goodies for his new task force dog. His previous dog, Bella, had died unexpectedly in the middle of the semester and the kids went through the heartbreak of losing a good friend with Officer Mike. They were also equally thrilled when the new addition, Rocky, came along.
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| Naomi and Logan mugging for the camera. |
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| Waiting to get her diploma. |
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| Hugging Officer Mike. |
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| Naomi, Victoria and Carly |
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| Being silly waiting in line to have their pictures taken with Officer Mike. It was a LONG line. |
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| Naomi and Officer Mike. |
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| Everyone with Officer Mike. |
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| The Llama Squad - Anusha, Naomi, Victoria and Rachel. |
After the graduation I went back home for lunch and got to talk with Mom and Dad for a bit. I miss talking to them since we are all running in different directions. It is rare that both our available times match up so we took advantage of this. I started watching the new season of "Fuller House" which came out on my birthday. That night after everyone was finally home (Steve got stuck in traffic and got home too late to go to the ward Christmas party) we went to Razoos for dinner. I love their deep fried pickles!!! It was an amazing day.
December 12th our family had the opportunity to support a dear family (the husband served as the Young Men's president for years and the two kids are in YM/YW) at the surprise baptism of their mom and grandma. Brother Biang said his mom called out of the blue and asked if he would baptize her during her visit for Hunter's Eagle Court of Honor. He didn't event know she was seriously investigating the church. It just goes to show that people are always watching the example we set as members of the church. The kids thought it was especially wonderful because they have only been to Child of Record baptisms and have never witnessed a convert baptism. The Spirit was very strong.
December 14th was Hunter Biang's Eagle Court of Honor. Steve is so funny with "his scouts". They are like sons to him and he is just as proud as the parents. He has worked really hard for the last 5 years to make this troop into a true Boy Scout Troop. I am so proud of him.
Steve and the kids went Christmas shopping without me one night and I kept getting silly pictures of their antics around the mall. This one is my favorite!
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| That is a seriously large lollipop! |
December 15th I went to lunch with Tabitha and her two youngest girls. I love spending time with them because they are always so happy and positive. I also get to hold Ellie while Tabitha eats and that is a treat for both of us. Tessa got stuck in the play area and I got to crawl in and help her down. I haven't played in the play area for years!!
That night was the annual Young Men Young Women caroling activity. The Beehives were in charge this year. We had to change from our usual nursing home as it was all booked up for the season. I chose the dementia care home right around the corner from our house. Back in the Joy School days we went there and presented our Christmas program and the kids and residents loved it. Also, this year set it up so that each person had a copy of the words to all the songs so everyone HAD to sing - no excuses. Monica played a song on her clarinet and Jeremy accompanied us with his ukelele. THe Young Women also performed their special number, "A Manger Filled With Love". The residents loved it and they all sang along with us. At one point the air turned on and sent the pianist's music flying. She had to stop playing and gather it all up. One of the residents yelled, "You are just a mess, aren't you?!!!?" We all laughed and I said, "Yes we are!" This kids loved that moment. There was another resident that would scoot around in her wheelchair and come right up to the kids and smile while they were singing. It was a memorable night for everyone. Afterwards we all came back to my house for hot cocoa and doughnuts. The Young Men leaders cracked me up because they are stood around and commented on how much smoother that went than last year. They thought about it and said, "We were in charge last year, right? That's why!!" I love the Young Men leaders. They have such a good sense of fun.
December 17th the youth all met at the Shamanis home for a new missionary activity. They were divided up into pairs or trios and given an area to canvas in order to hand out the new church Christmas DVD and conduct an interest survey. It is called clipboarding and has been wildly successful in other parts of the country. The kids were excited to be a part of the project. After a training session on what to say and how to behave we got in our cars and drove to our assigned neighborhoods. The kids were amazing. They handed out the DVDs and got several people to fill out the interest surveys. Collectively we got 32 contacts for the missionaries to follow up on. I am so proud of our youth!!
That night was the annual Christmas party at the Gerrard's home. We made a special effort to attend since this will be the last year we will be invited. Their son, Mark, is a friend of Jeremy's and unless they stay in touch... We all enjoyed ourselves. I sat and talked to some of the kids from school that I knew from subbing. We worked out the word puzzle worksheet. The kids did their usual video game palooza in the basement.
December 18th the Young Women sang in sacrament meeting an then again at the stake fireside that night. They sounded beautiful. The University City Ward Choir finished out the night with three numbers that left the crowd speechless. They were amazing!!!
December 21st was a doughnut day. I subbed for Mrs. Rogowski in the media center and had a blast but I smelled doughnuts all day long and kept finding books with either "Doughnut" in the title or a picture of a doughnut on the cover. It was an omen. Also, since Nick survived his first day of midterms at the high school, we stopped and got doughnuts while doing some errands after school. Everyone was happy!
December 24th we went to see the movie "Sing". It was really fun and we liked it a lot. We went to lunch at PDQ afterwards. That night the kids got their new pajamas and we all went to bed ready for the morning. Nick was a little bit upset. He wanted a MINT hoodie for Christmas. It is all he really asked for so we ordered it together early in December. The website said it would arrive after the 11th of December so Nick started watching the mail every day from the 11th onward and had not seen it arrive yet. Well, it arrived on the 9th and I hid it away. He would ask me every once in a while if I had called to see when it would arrive. Christmas Eve at dinner her asked again and I started crying (in a theatrical mood, I guess) and told him how sorry I was that I didn't call. I got busy and... He went to bed thinking the sweatshirt had not arrived.
Christmas morning they were all up early and ready to open presents. Steve and I made sure that the MINT hoodie was the last thing Nick opened. He was so shocked and surprised and relieved. It was worth all the waiting. Jeremy and I both got a lot of books and warm socks. We laughed about that! We apparently both have cold feet and really like to read. Everyone enjoyed their Christmas. We went to sacrament meeting and heard wonderful music and talks that added to the spirit of the day.
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| The one and only picture I took on Christmas Day! We just enjoyed being together, |
December 26th we finally started building the shelves in the bonus room. They are going to be gorgeous when they are done. I will post a picture then.
December 27th I took the kids to the dentist in the morning, Megan out for custard for her birthday in the afternoon and we went to see Rogue One that night. It was a fun day.
December 30th was a Young Women movie night. They wanted to get together and just chill one more time before the year ended.
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| Me, Sidney, Monica, Kaylee, Megan and Kellie |
December 31st - New Year's Eve - The whole family helped prepare the Chinese food for the big celebration that night. We had fun being together in the kitchen That night our guests arrived and I must admit I was a little nervous because we had a new crowd this year and I wasn't sure how it was going to work out. I didn't have to worry at all. Everyone just fell into groups and had a great time. We talked and ate and joked and laughed and played and it was amazing. I enjoyed getting to know everyone better. Jeremy invited Elizabeth and her family so I finally got to meet the Ehlers. Their five girls fit in so well with the Mullers, Tufts, Maughans and Biangs. We will have to remember this combination for next year.
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| Carson photo bombing my picture of the girls playing Uno. |
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| The braid train. |
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| Nick is in heaven with Ellie sound asleep on his shoulder. |
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| Nick was popular with the ladies. Erica, Lexi and Tessa followed him everywhere and he did not mind it one bit. |
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| Playing with Ellie now that she is awake. This is a huge milestone because she usual cries when he holds her. |
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| Lexi and Tessa sharing the stool and apples. |
The last guests left at 11:30 and the kids wanted to watch the ball drop in Times Square. We all sat there in disbelief watching Maria Carey complete botch her performance while throwing a divaesque tantrum on live, national tv. It was a great way to end the year.
Welcome 2017!
