Wow, we did a LOT of Christmas this year! In contrast to the mostly virtual/cancelled Christmas of 2020, this year was filled with so many wonderful ways to celebrate!
These two with their funny smiles! Plotting to catch Santa on Christmas Eve, a plan which was eventually thwarted by sleep. "There's always next year" they said.
Neither were interested in sitting in the big man's lap, but it was fun to say hi to one of Santa's helpers at the Primary Christmas party!
And they still made sure to get their letters in the mail.
There was so much music this month- caroling with friends, performing in church, and playing at the piano!
We even had our first in-person piano recital since 2019.
Leah played Christmas music in the school hallways,
and Adam had a virtual concert- his first one!
We also enjoyed a virtual concert with the Iowa/Iowa City missionaries- they are all so talented and we just love President and Sister Sturm! This was the night that Leah told me she can't wait to serve a mission- we definitely have a lot of wonderful missionaries setting a great example for us.
We went to an adults only white elephant Christmas party! The beard hat has made it's comeback!
And over the course of the month we exchanged gifts with so many of our favorite people- including the stake presidency at our annual Advent dinner! We have put our new Whirly Pop to really good use!
We did spend one night driving around DSM trying to deliver treats with very little success, but we got to look at lots of lights and listen to lots of music that night! There is just never enough time to celebrate in all the ways with all the people.
We had plenty of time at home too.
One of my happy childhood Christmas memories is of the Santa's workshop that my mom set up in one of the sheds outside their house in Arkansas. On Christmas Eve we went out there to wrap presents and listen to music by the warmth of the space heater.
I've created a little Santa's workshop here too, and the kids are very careful not to stick their heads in unannounced. I think they've heard my story about snooping and discovering my big Christmas present (roller blades!) when I was a little girl. Surprises are extra fun when you wait for them!
What a happy little Christmas elf!
The kids painted beautiful ornaments to share with their cousins (and we kept a few for ourselves too!) I think we have enough ornaments to cover 4 trees now, but we keep it to two.
Hot cocoa was everyone's drink of choice in December, especially after I brought home some fun new supplies from a favorite things party.
We squeezed in as many Christmas movies as we could- Noah could not believe the way 8-year-old Kevin talked to his mom in Home Alone.
There were lots of Christmas stories read as well.
One busy sabbath day the kids and I went to a Christmas concert with the DSM Woodwinds Ensemble. We sat in the upper level so we could spread out and not be quite as quiet. It was a really great concert!
At Christmastime there is always a present to wrap or a book to read or a craft to assemble. For so many reasons, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. 
There has been plenty of snuggling by the fire this winter-
and snuggling up with my favorite people!
Noah and Emma helped me shop for donations for Afghan refugees,
and we all put together stockings for our four missionaries,
who joined us for our "Jesus dinner" on Christmas Eve.
The company, the salmon and the drinks were amazing, the bacon-wrapped dates, not so much.
After dinner the kids started tracking Santa- ha! Everyone had their own Chromebook up and ready.
And this post is getting quite long, so I'll continue Christmas Eve in it's own post. Suffice it to say, December was a wonderful month that was fully celebrated and enjoyed by everyone!
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