Fa La La La La...........La La La La.
What have we been doing these past few weeks??? Why.... decking the halls, eating some figgy pudding (yum), being jolly (tis' the season), etc. etc. I love December, even though it may seem a little chaotic at times. I love all of the Christmas festivities, recitals, food, folks, and fun. I especially love how we have a little Christmas devotional every night and try to focus more on the Savior.

A December list
-piano recital for Kaden
-decorate the house
-watch Christmas program with the First Presidency and play games with Darrin, Donae, & Lynn
- made gingerbread house (thank you Costco)
-R.S. progressive dinner
-Went to see a performance at the Hale theater, "The Christmas Carol"
-Ward Party
-Party with friends
-host a visiting teaching brunch (thanks Larisa for the great idea) My menu- quiche (again, thank you Costco) crepes with berries and yummy filling (homeade), fruit salad, pumpkin muffins, bacon and orange juice. I had the three girls I visit teach and my visiting teachers over.
-Christmas carol at the care center (with yw). Kaden will be doing this with scouts this week.
-Visit temple lights and watch Luke 2 (with yw)
- lots of Christmas shopping
-write (boring) Christmas letter. Maybe I'll get creative one year.
-made peanut butter- kiss cookies- yummy
- wrap presents

to come this week
-Hailey's kindergarten Winter Wonderland program
- YW Christmas party- I will host part of it
- finish Christmas shopping
-make treats for friends/neighbors
-drive around and look at lights
-try to figure out how to pack up "Christmas" to take to California

Some pictures of all the festivities.

If you enlarge this you can see a piece of orange candy stuck in Hailey's teeth. Kaden seemed to think that for every piece that went on the house, one went in his mouth. I am guessing that it will be picked at all week. It's not even good candy.

We had to let all three have a turn putting on the star.

The Mesa Temple. It is quite beautiful, and they have a performance every night. I think the youth like to do this every year partially because there are a ton of other youth there.

I get a picture of the kids in front of the tree every year.

I think Kaden is trying to hide his teeth. He read one of my comments about his funny teeth at the time. They have since grown in. Poor kid's going to have a complex.

This little girl was being a stinker. She was "done" sitting in front of the tree.

This was a lucky shot.

The Care center. This was so sweet. This gentleman, named Jack, had a tear in his eye as we sang. He started to sing along. His sweet helper said it was the first time he has sung in three years, since his wife died. I think it really touched the girls.



And this, just because I love these pajamas (from Jill), they are so soft and cuddly and perfect for Ella's chunkiness. And also to show that Ella likes to push her shopping cart. Do you love my bad grammar?


What's this?? Did it snow in Arizona?

It snowed bubbles. Hailey was having the time of her life!

The "snow" was at this performance of "A Christmas Carol". This play was excellent! It kind of reminded me of a Music Circus type place. Thayne was given 15 tickets at work (worth $20 each). So, we had Neil and Heather; us; Rich and Crystal; and our friends, the Flemings, come. (Darrin and Donae saw it the week before). We might have to make this a family tradition. (Heather if you want this cute picture, just right click and save it to your pictures).

We'll see some of you on Saturday-- we are very excited.

Our 2007 Christmas card. (Mom, this is for you).

I couldn't resist

I did this for my kids the other night, and I know they are going to want to see this again, so here it is. They think it is hilarious.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1287952202

Who can solve the mystery of the missing bloodwork?

Right when I was about to leave Tuesday morning, to re-do Ella's bloodwork, the doctor office called and said, "Don't come, we think we found it. We think it may have gone to a different lab. I'm going to look for it and call you back." I'm still waiting for the call. Notice the word "think". Did you find it or not? Why is it so hard to find? Maybe I'm not familiar with the policy and procedures of this place, but this seems a little unorganized to me. Now, even if I do get some results, do I trust them to be accurate? Anyways, guess who I'll be calling in a few minutes. I hate being a nag (Thayne may beg to differ).

Ok- enough of my whining. This is old now, but Thanksgiving was great! It was fun to have Ross and Angela, and Rich and Crystal. The dinner was yummy. I tried some new recipes this year, I think they were pretty good (if I do say so myself). We pretty much chilled out and watched a movie. It was nice and relaxing, just what I needed.

Saturday, the guys watched the BYU football game and the girls (and Kaden) went to lunch and the movies. We saw "Enchanted". I thought it was really cute... Hailey was in heaven.




Ok- in the midst of me blogging, I called Phx Children's and just got a call back. They did get the test results, but gave them to the doctor to review. They said she will be calling me (on her own time of course). Doesn't that usually mean they found something?? I'm actually expecting them to.

Here we go AGAIN!

GRRRRRRR! I called Ella's neurologist office today (for the fourth time), wondering where the non genetic test results were from four weeks ago. It seems they are lost, or perhaps never even turned in. I think I am going to have to walk Ella's blood to the lab for them- they can't seem to get it right! Well, we are off AGAIN tomorrow.

And the good news... the genetic testing came back negative! She does not have prader willis, or fragile x. I pretty much already knew this, but it's nice to say it officially.