It was the week of Christmas! We had no school this week so we got to celebrate all week and finish Christmas tasks and celebrate two birthdays and be together lots and lots!!

Tuesday was Megan's birthday! The extended Gerber family had a big week planned with activities throughout the day all week long. We managed to grab a few hours with them on this big day, though! We met at a big Chinese buffet at 11:30. We had fun talking and trying different foods and we gave Meg her big present: a violin! We've always wanted to give her one and are so excited that we finally could! Afterwards, we all browsed Barnes and Noble looking at books--a favorite family activity! We love that girl, Megan, and are so glad that we got to celebrate her birthday!

Tuesday evening McKay had a Christmas concert in the Angelus Theatre in Spanish Fork. It was so fun! He and his band sang Christmas songs as well as others with special meaning. It was great fun. We even sang "Happy Birthday" to Megan--who was there with all the Gerbers!

Wednesday was Kevin's birthday! Cali, Chey, Beth, Ben, and I played Catan with Kevin in the early afternoon. He won! It was great fun. Afterwards, Kevin and I went out and he picked out some new pants and new shoes and we had dinner together at Red Robin. Sarah and McKay and Grandma and Grandpa came over later that night for cheesecake!

Friday was Christmas Eve! Megan and Ammon were couldn't come, but Sarah and McKay joined us for candlelight dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik. We had a lovely clam chowder dinner. Then the kids made a skit and Savannah danced to "Stretchy Pants." Then the kids performed the nativity while Kevin read it from the scriptures, and we played the "bells." We came upstairs for performances of Christmas songs on instruments: Ben and McKay played guitar, Chey, Cali, and Grandma played piano, and Beth sang and played on the ukulele. We finished by opening presents and taking pictures. It was beautiful and traditional and lovely to be there.

That night, Sarah and Megan and Ammon came to spend the night at our house. We watched, "It's a Wonderful Life," before bed.

Saturday was Christmas Day! The kids came into our room to sing us awake at 7:00. We opened presents from Santa, then dad made us French toast and Sarah went to pick up McKay who started our family present opening with a rousing rendition of "Christmas Everyday." We took turns opening our presents one by one and it was still over much too quickly. The last present was a large box from Savannah. Inside were 11 big nerf guns already loaded. No prodding was needed. Everyone grabbed a gun and started shooting! So, we ended with a bang!

My favorite present was from Cali!

For the rest of the day we played games. Dad and Ben played with the new drone. Beth and Ben went around the block several times on their new scooters. For dinner, Grandma and Grandpa came over for a nice ham dinner complete with the beautiful new silverware they gave us for Christmas! It was a lovely, lovely day.

We are so grateful for the gift of our savior, Jesus Christ. Following Him has brought me to the great joy I feel at this season and throughout the year. I hope we can all find more ways to let Him into our lives!

Merry Christmas!

Ben had his last activity with Activity Days this week. I can't believe he is joining the youth in January! It will be so fun to have all four of my younger kids at the activities for a few months. For their last activity, they had pizza and watched 17 Miracles. Ben also had karate this week, but also got invited over to Max's house for graham cracker house making and on another night, popcorn ball making.

Bethany is on season 8 of Survivor. It is her new favorite show! She also had karate and went to Max's for activities. This week the activity for the church youth was Christmas caroling. They sat on hay bales on a trailer attached to a truck and drove singing through the neighborhood. We stopped at some houses to deliver fruit baskets. They got very cold but had a great time! She also exchanged gifts with friends from school.

Calianne worked at Funfinity and started fighting a cold. Cheyenne worked at city rec basketball games and also started fighting a cold. Cheyenne got to go caroling with the youth, but Cali had to work. They both had a white elephant gift exchange with "the flamingos" on Saturday night. Chey now has a new card game and Cali has a fish! Cheyenne got a new job with an assisted living center here in Springville using her new CNA skills! Her first day was pretty stressful, but she thinks she will like it!

Savannah worked at Funfinity and played Dungeons and Dragons with Kirk on Friday night. Today, she is fighting a cold! Drat those colds!

On Saturday, Sarah decided it would be fun to have a family Christmas party making salt-dough ornaments and sugar cookies. None of our husbands could make it, but the rest of us had a great time! We listened to Christmas music and made yummy and beautiful things and laughed a lot. What a great idea, Sarah!

Today (Sunday) in church, Cali and Cheyenne played a "What Child is This" duet on the piano and did great! Also, Mandy spent the day with us before the twins and I drove her to the airport. It was fun to have her and visit! Tonight, Megan and Ammon and Sarah came over and we watched "The Forgotten Carols." We sure do like that show! It's a Christmas tradition and we love it!

On Monday, Mariah called and told us that she will be going to Manhattan for her last transfer! She had a great last week in Lynbrook. As always, it was great to talk with her! Afterwards, our neighbor hosted a cookie exchange. Cali and Cheyenne were working basketball games, but Kevin and I and Beth and Ben had a great time visiting with our neighbors!

On Tuesday, Chey and Cali had a piano recital! They each played solo pieces and then they played a duet of "What Child is This" together. They played beautifully. Beth and Ben couldn't be there because of karate, but Kevin and I and Grandma Gazdik enjoyed it very much. Afterwards, I went to Circles.

On Wednesday, Bethany had a band concert! This is her second year in band playing baritone. They played some Christmas medleys and finished with "Funkytown." Cali, Richmond, Cheyenne, Sarah, McKay, Kevin, and I had great fun listening to her play!

On Thursday, we had our ward Christmas party! With other young women leaders, I helped decorate in the morning. In the evening we ate smoked turkey and potatoes and stuffing, rolls, salad, and deserts. We listened to the primary children sing. The bishop told us he loved us and wished us a Merry Christmas. The best part was visiting with friends and neighbors. We missed not having it last year!

Also on Thursday, it snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed! I shoveled the driveway and decided we really should get a snow blower! Why, in this age of technology, am I injuring my back to clear 20 bazillion pound snow with a SHOVEL?? :) Enough ranting. It is very pretty snow and beautiful to look out my window!

Also on Thursday, Kevin and I got to go to the temple. It's much harder to go now that you have to schedule a time. We scheduled this time weeks ago. It was so lovely to be there.

On Friday, we rested from Thursday. Haha, just kidding. I started putting together the new dresser we got for Bethany (finished with Kevin on Saturday). Cheyenne took the Front Runner up to see Jens. Cali worked at Funfinity in the evening and then she and I went to Walmart looking for Christmas sweaters. Savannah worked in the morning and then had a white elephant gift exchange with her friends in the evening. Beth and Ben had their own gift exchange with their "neighbor family" which includes themselves, Claire, Annaliese, and Max.

We also discovered on Friday that McDonald's is excited about Mariah coming home next month and has found its own way to celebrate!

On Saturday, Cali and Cheyenne had another city rec basketball game. Kevin coaches them and they all did great! Beth and Ben came with me to watch. Afterwards, the twins stayed to work book and clock for the later games. Bethany went to another gift exchange, this time with friends from school. I finished the dresser and did the iron-ons for Cali's Christmas sweatshirts. She needed them for the Christmas dance that she went to with Richmond that night! Cheyenne didn't go to the dance but did go out with a guy friend from school. 

In the afternoon, Kevin took pregnancy pictures of Sarah and McKay and afterwards we did a little  "house hunting." The prices on houses are super high but it is still exciting to think of getting their own place. In the evening, Kevin made us hamburgers. Beth and Ben hung out playing Minecraft with Max and Claire. Kevin and I tried to find a good show to watch. Savannah stuck her head in to say hello when she got back from work.

A week in the life of our family! Oh! And last Sunday we decorated the tree!