December

December was full and wonderful. Elise turned 18 months old and is officially on the move—active, joyful, and learning new words every day. Her favorites right now are Mama, Dada, baba, ee-uh (Lydia), Eee-s (Elise), Ooh (Luke), bye-bye, ooh-kie (cookie), and bah (bath), plus many more. She still loves baths most of all. She also started nursery this month and didn’t cry at her first drop-off—just looked adorably confused.

We packed the month with Christmas traditions and celebrations. Luke ran the Jingle Bell Run at the elementary school for the first time, and our annual Ugly Sweater Party at the Fergusons’ was the most fun yet. The kids had way too much fun acting out the Nativity in Primary, and we enjoyed the YW Favorite Things party, the Grinch-themed ward Christmas party, and The Nutcracker with Emmi and Laura Branch. Lydia was recognized as a Core Value Student for being trustworthy, which made us so proud.

We baked and delivered 22 boxes of cookies to neighbors—many deliveries in the snow!—made gingerbread houses, met Santa at Bass Pro (as is tradition), enjoyed a few snowy days, and even sent a Christmas card to Princess Kate (still waiting on a reply!) Elise had her preschool holiday performance, and Vikki came to watch, which made it extra special. St. Nicholas filled the kids’ boots, Santa made an early visit before we left for Utah, and I finished another semester of teaching for UAF.

The highlight of the month was spending Christmas week with Grammie Heidi and Gpa Mike. We drove up to DC the day before and met cousins and the Statons at the DC Temple. It was chaotic, beautiful, and so fun to be together as a big group—exactly the kind of Christmas memory we love most.

Our four days in Provo were full: Heidi took the kids home from the airport on FrontRunner, where they promptly fell asleep, and we even took the train back one night to visit Temple Square. The kids loved touring BYU and seeing Mike’s office. Heidi thought of every detail—decorating sugar cookies with the kids, gingerbread-man-shaped pancakes, and her traditional clam chowder on Christmas Eve. We visited with extended family and were glad that Great Grandpa Hill was there almost the whole visit. He and Vivian became best buddies. Matt and I even snuck away for dinner at Sundance and visited Moon's Rare Books - a highlight for both of us. It was a really wonderful Christmas!

Vivian on her first day of Nursery!
Wearing the same dress Lydia and Elise wore on their first days. 

A note from Avran

Old stove

New stove!

Dive-In movie - The Grinch!

Lydia's Activity Girls favorite things / ugly sweater party.
She suggested the theme!

YW party

Santa came early!

Grammie did a Polar Express night for the kids!

I had fun making charcuterie for the group one night. 
It's supposed to look like a wreath. :)

Joseph, Mary, and a Wise Woman (wearing Grammie's vintage fur)

Dinner at Sundance

Holding a book with a note written by Queen Victoria (!!) at Moon's Rare Books