Daily Schedule:
Monday: Gymnastics 1:00 (Carlee)
Family Home Evening
Tuesday: Piano 3:45-5:30 (Clark, Katelyn, Jacob)
Activity Days 4:30-5:30 (Katelyn)
Basketball Practice 5:00 (Clark)
Guitar 6:00 (Katelyn)
Wednesday: YM/Scouts 6:30-8:00 (Joe, Clark)
Basketball Practice 7:00-8:00 (Jacob)
Thursday: Hollywood Kids 4:00-6:00 (Clark, Katelyn)
Cub Scouts 5:30-6:30 (Jacob)
Friday: FREE DAY (or Scout Campouts)
Saturday: Basketball Games
Birthday or Christmas Parties (sometimes)
December 1st--Putting up the Christmas Decorations
We started decorating the house for Christmas. It took me about three days to get everything up and finished.
This quilted advent brings back a lot of fun memories as I made it with a bunch of my girlfriends in San Antonio. We had a blast and unpacking it every year makes me smile.
Our family Christmas tree with the annual Hallmark ornaments that we pick out every year.
Our Little People Christmas Village and Lego Christmas Village
are favorite toys to play with and build every Christmas.
Our Nativities that are constantly played with the entire month of December
Playmobil Nativity
Little People Christmas Story
My decorated tree and our special family elf, Jingle hanging by his mistletoes.
Jingle is keeping warm in the lamp
Our German Schwibbogen of Dresden and the Nativity Pyramid that we purchased on our trip during June 2011. This is the first time our Schwibbogen has come out of the box.
December 2nd--Ward Choir Christmas Practice, First Presidency Christmas Devotional
After church, a quick dinner, and choir practice, we sat down with some hot chocolate to enjoy the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional.
December 3rd--Broadway Stars Performance at the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village
Clark and Katelyn had a Hollywood Kids performance at the Magical Forest so we enjoyed their Christmas music medley and then walked through the lights around the village. We also went on a train ride, got hot chocolate and slid down the "snowy hill" on inner tubes. It was a fun night.
A police officer gave Jake and Carlee these Rudolph noses as we entered the gate. So cute.
Joe was really happy to be here! That face makes me giggle. He is such a goofball. 
Love the focused background. Katelyn laughs that we are blurry.
Carlee is tubing down the hill. It's too bad that this is the best picture we could get due to speed and lighting. They loved it and rode it over and over again!
On the Christmas Train
And we even got to visit Santa Claus!!
December 4th--Listen to Christmas music
Our favorites are Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, and our newest fave, Michael Buble'
December 5th--"Legend of the Christmas Tree" book
We read the story "Legend of the Christmas Tree" tonight and cuddled by the fire.
December 6th--Live Nativity (postponed due to lack of time)
We didn't make the nativity tonight because of scouts and Hollywood Kids.
December 7th--Triggs Award, Carlee's Birthday (separate post), Live Nativity, Ice Skating
Today is Carlee's birthday and she received a Triggs award so I went to the school that morning for the award ceremony and then picked her up from school.
Here is Miss President welcoming the audience.
And Carlee is walking the "green carpet" to receive her award.
Carlee received the TRIGGS award from Mrs. Lochridge and Mrs. Cooper stating that she is Trustworthy, Respectful, Imaginative, Goal-oriented, Generous, and Successful.
Mrs. Cifelli described her as "a very generous person. She is the first to lend a helping hand and is always willing to assist other students." Way to go, sweet pea!
We celebrated with a birthday lunch date at Cafe Rio.
It was a really neat nativity with music, actors, great costumes and scenery, and the weather was beautiful. We saw a bunch of friends there and we were all cozy on the bleachers "squished" together.
Joe is trying to teach Luke how to skate without the walker. By the end of the night, Luke was a pro!
Ella loved to skate with Joe because he would take her fast!
I said, "Smile, you guys!" And that's what I got!
(I'll include more ice skating pictures on Carlee's birthday post)
December 8th--Ward Christmas Party and Family Sleepover with Christmas Nightlights
We had our Ward Christmas Party in our pajamas with a delicious breakfast by the Noa Grille--pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. We had to leave for a basketball game right as the singing started and just before Santa and Mrs. Claus came so we missed that but it was a great party. Our ward is the best!
These primary children LOVE the Albrights as the Primary Choristers. They are famous around Las Vegas and especially with the Waterfall Ward. They are talented and amazing.
And Joe lovingly put up my candy canes this year to match the red and white lights on our house.
He thinks they are so cheesy and that we need a pink flamingo to match but I think they are cute!
December 9th--Make Gingerbread Houses and wrap Christmas presents
We decorated gingerbread houses which is a favorite tradition every Christmas. This year I bought pre-made kits and extra candy. Easy and fun!
December 10th--Family Home Evening on the "Christmas Orange"; Christmas Ornament Wreaths
For Family Home Evening, we read the story of "The Christmas Orange" and shared an orange for dessert. Afterwards we made ornament wreaths.
December 11th--Stamp and mail Christmas cards (postponed)
I have a cute wire Christmas tree that holds my cards but they always fall off and we get too many to fit so I decided to hang them on my pantry door this year. I loved it! It was so fun to see all of those smiling faces every time we got into our pantry. We have been blessed so much by our relationships with these family members and friends over the years and I am so grateful that I got to look at them every day during the month.
December 12th--Orthopaedic Wives Christmas party; Kids watch a Christmas movie at home
I enjoyed a nice evening at Elizabeth's with the Orthopaedic wives while the kids watched Christmas classic cartoons at home. Joe is in Florida for a conference this week.
December 13th--Relief Society Christmas Dinner; Clark's Orchestra Concert, Night out with Dad
I was asked to host the Relief Society Christmas dinner but only had to get my house clean and ready so I accepted the assignment. We had baked Ziti, tossed salad, bruschetta, and all kinds of cookies for dinner. It was delicious. Then Ami, our president, introduced the curriculum and study materials for the new year and we had a musical number. We really enjoyed each other's company and took a night off from the craziness of the holiday season. I actually had it fairly easy since I wasn't asked to prepare anything but my home. Joe's night, on the other hand, was a little more complicated . . .
Joe had been gone for four days for an Orthopaedic conference in Florida but he had to come home early to help me out because I was supposed to be four places at once this night. Clark and Katelyn were at Hollywood Kids but needed to be picked up early to get Clark to the middle school for his Orchestra concert by 6:00. Jake had scouts from 5:30 to 6:30 and the concert started at 6:30. I dropped Clark and Kate off at 4:00. Then Joe and I set up some chairs and finished getting ready for the dinner. He left with Carlee around 5:00 to grab some dinner for all of them and pick up the other two at 5:30. He then drove to the middle school to meet up with Jake (who luckily was able to get a last-minute ride to the school) and watch the concert. Jake ate during the concert and then they all went out for ice cream. They arrived home just as the Relief Society sisters were starting to leave. The night went off with flying colors!
December 14th--Clark's Scout Campout, Jake and Carlee's Kids Christmas Parties
Clark attended a scout campout tonight so we planned Christmas parties for the other kids. I had the privilege of hosting the boys that are Jake's age and Carlee went to the Dustins for her age group. We had a lot of fun. Katelyn, Leanna, and Paige helped me "host" and came up with games for the boys to play. Melissa, Julie, and I organized the crafts and dinner and just divided all the supplies so the parties were basically the same except for the gift exchange and games. Those two ladies were at the Dustins with help from Mia, Sara, and Aspen (who came down for the weekend).
When the boys arrived, we started with our first craft--painting ornaments. Jen Johnson came over and helped me with this activity. The boys picked a glass ornament and some paint. They poured some drops of paint inside the ornament and swirled it, shook it, and turned it upside down to get the paint to look just right. They chose different colors and techniques to fill the sides of the ornament. They turned out really cool and we only had one mishap!
The ornaments are dry and ready to show off! Very cool, boys!
Michael, Joshua, Jake, Ryan, Cole, Sam, Trevin, and Carter
Paige made a Christmas tree and the boys had to "pin" the star on top. It was a hit!
Leanna brought saltine crackers and the boys had to whistle "Jingle Bells" with the crackers in their mouths. They were laughing so hard and crackers were spewing all over my floor. I don't know if anybody even whistled the tune at all-at least I didn't hear any jingle bells!
We had dinner of pizza, apples, drinks, chips, and cookies and then the boys decorated Christmas trees. There were some pretty fancy trees in forests, meadows, or even all by themselves.
Carter
Michael and Ryan
Cole and Joshua
Trevin, Jake, and Sam
Merry Christmas, you crazy boys!
At the Dustin house, the party was a success as well. Julie sent me these pictures so here's what went on over there . . .
They decorated trees
They made sticker scenes--Luke, Chloe, Gabi (top picture); Jonathan and Lily (bottom picture)
They played a Christmas memory game
And these three "mature" girls helped host the little ones. (Mia, Aspen, Sara)
And these three musketeers spent the weekend together giggling, reading magazines, looking at Pinterest, texting friends from school, talking, and doing each other's hair and nails.
We love when Aspen comes to town!
December 15th--Katelyn's Christmas Party, Broadway Stars Performance
We had planned on doing a party for the older girls too but luckily Tara planned that one so we were off the hook. They all went to Lexi's house for a cookie exchange and a gift auction. Each girl brought some cookies to share and a wrapped gift to exchange for the auction. When they arrived, they answered a questionnaire to earn their money for the gift auction and the bidding began. Everyone went home with a plate full of cookies and the gift that they had won. It was a really fun party.
December 16th--Orthopaedic Department Christmas Party
We hosted the Orthopaedic party at our house and made it simple by ordering Olive Garden take-out. Everyone brought their families and we ate delicious food, had another gift exchange which got a little rowdy this time, and the kids decorated gingerbread houses made of milk cartons and graham crackers.
December 17th--Family Home Evening on the "Symbols of Christmas"
We had a wonderful lesson on the symbols of Christmas and the kids hunted around the house for the items that represent Christmas. The lesson kept everybody's attention and there was actually less wrestling and messing around!
December 18th--Put together a Christmas puzzle (cancelled)
When the daily activities were done, I worked on wrapping presents and finishing up projects.
December 19th--Deliver Neighbor gifts
While Clark and Joe were at scouts, the rest of us drove around delivering our neighbor gifts. This year I bought sparkling cider and put them in cute tall wine canisters from Michael's. It was easy and fun and everybody loves getting cider to go with their Christmas dinner or New Year's celebrations.
December 20th--Annual Military Friends Christmas Party; Kids watch "Elf"
Tonight was our annual military wives Christmas party. It is one of my favorite parties because we schedule it so that everybody can be there and I absolutely love these girlfriends. They have been a part of my life for a long time and we are all connected in some way throughout our military journey. Our kids have grown up together and we have spent many days and years together as pregnant first-time moms, growing our families and raising more children, moving on to the different phases of toddlers, children, and teenagers, carpooling to and from school, cheering each other on in sports and performances, doing crafty projects together, sharing and copying creative ideas, going out to lunch, dinner, and movies, vacationing with families, kids, couples, or just the ladies, sharing stories, opinions, and experiences, calling each other at the drop of a hat in emergencies or to share something wonderful or funny, crying on each other's shoulders, being there for each other during deployments and other "military experiences", and the list goes on and on. I am very blessed to know these women and our conversations are always uplifting, sincere, and leave me smiling and wanting more. They are truly some of my favorite people.
Our picture isn't the greatest but at least we are all there. We kept saying that we needed a picture but would get distracted eating and talking so we never ended up getting around to the group shot.
Whitney (honorary military wife), Beth, Melissa; Kristen, Wynette
JaCoy, Amber; Missy, Marquessa, Jana
December 21st--5th Grade Field Trip to "The Nutcracker" and Holiday Dessert Etiquette party
The fifth-graders got to attend The Nutcracker Ballet at the beautiful Smith Center. I was so excited that I got to go with them. We were one of the first schools to arrive so we were right up front. It was a great view. We only saw the first act but it was amazing. Clara's home was a three-story set with people in each room on each level that looked like an amazing dollhouse. The entire house turned around for the outdoor scene and during the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, snow was falling the entire number. A live orchestra played the music and it was beautiful!
Riding on the school bus
Mia, Summer, Alyssa, Katelyn
Mrs. Montgomery's Fifth Grade Class
After the ballet, we came back to the school and were able to have lunch with the kids. They were sent back to class and we transformed the cafeteria into a holiday etiquette party. They were amazed to see tablecloths, centerpieces, and place settings for their party. Mrs. Montgomery taught the fifth-graders how to set a table and use proper manners. They were to put them to good use by serving themselves different desserts. We served several kinds of pies including apple, pumpkin, cherry, cranberry-apple, cherry rhubarb and small desserts such as cream puffs, brownie bites, and cookies. It was a great way to start Winter Break.
Mia, Katelyn, Summer
December 22nd--Church Community Christmas Concert (Clark played his cello)
Today was a much-needed relaxed day. Due to the start of the holiday break, nothing was scheduled on this Saturday. In the morning, we cleaned up the house to be ready for Christmas and the afternoon was spent playing with friends and finishing up last-minute lists. That evening, Clark played his cello with a youth orchestra at our stake center for a Community Christmas Concert. He and Joe were able to leave right after his songs so we stayed in that evening watching Christmas movies and reading stories. It was a nice night.
December 23rd--Grinch Dinner, Christmas Piano Recital
We got dressed up in our new Christmas church dress and enjoyed the Christmas program in sacrament meeting. Carlee and Jake sat on a bench in the audience while the rest of us were involved with the ward choir and musical numbers. I had to sing with a small women's group musical number, Clark played "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" on his cello with the youth orchestra, Katelyn sang with a youth group in one of the choir's song medleys, Clark played Pachelbel's "Canon/The First Noel" medley on his cello while the choir sang, and Joe kept the tenor section alive. It was a lovely program and the spirit was really strong.
Clark played an upbeat version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"
Katelyn played a jazzy version of "Jingle Bells"
Jake played "Joy To The World" as a duet with Wendy Osborne, his teacher
The youth orchestra played "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" again so that the parents could videotape the performance.
I love when Carlee gets the camera
My children and their very patient and loving piano teacher, Wendy Osborne
It's been a great month and we are finally to Christmas. We got everything accomplished that we set out to do and we are all healthy, alive, and full of the Christmas spirit. It's been an exciting month and we can't wait for the Winter Break for fun and no schedules! Late nights and late mornings are on the agenda as well as lots of family bonding and playing with friends.
