Christmas 2019

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We could hear the girls around5:30, Kyle joined them and they waited upstairs while Marc and I got up.  At 6:00 we all started around the tree looking at what Santa brought.  We always start with stockings.  Everyone found some fun little gifts inside.  After stockings we do gifts from the kids, they each pick someone to get a gift for, this year most of the kids ended up getting gifts for everyone, they were so excited to give their gifts, they had put a lot of thought into, it was fun to watch them.  They also gave Marc and I some very thoughtful nice gifts.  Then we took a break and went and ate our yummy Christmas breakfast.  Then we went and looked at what Santa brought, he brought everyone some pretty nice things. I think everyone was very happy with their gifts. Kyle really wanted everything to go slow, because it is his last Christmas, so we took our time, and looked at everything and just really enjoyed our morning. 

We spent the rest of the day playing with our toys and relaxing, it was a very peaceful nice day. 

 Santa had fun tricking Kyle, he had some shoes that he really wanted, and Santa wrapped them in a different shoe box.

Pre Christmas and Christmas Eve

Sunday night the Yakima mission did a caroling activity, so we went and were assigned to carol with another family at a couple of houses and then to a couple of ladies that live in an assisted living center.  The first 2 houses went great, they were happy to see us, and then we went to the assisted living center, we called the lady so she could come open the door, she was so excited and wanted us to stop at all of her friends houses and sing, so we did, everyone was thrilled to see us, you could tell that it made everyones day, we probably sang for 15 different ladies.  It was a very memorable service opportunity that I don't think the kids will ever forget, we could really see the joy that we brought to those that we sang to.  After we finished we went on our light drive, there were lots of beautiful lights, we had a good time driving around and spending time together, we came home and had donuts.

Monday we did some baking, we had fun trying some new recipes together.  Monday night was the Murdock Christmas party.  We played a big group Christmas game and then did the white elephant gift exchange, which is always lots of fun, it was great to see everyone and laugh and hang out for awhile.

Tuesday Marc ended up working most of the day, so the rest of us spent the day getting ready.  We baked and got everything ready for dinner.  The kids had a good day together they all played Lego's for awhile and they played a lot of basketball together.  We had a wonderful dinner.  We all helped clean up and then we read and acted out the nativity.  We opened one present, this year instead of PJs everyone got a new pair of sweats.  The girls decided to have a slumber party upstairs, so we got the mattresses all set up and they watched a movie and then went to bed.  Kyle thought it would be funny to put toothpaste mustaches on them while they were sleeping, they weren't very happy about that.  They slept until almost 4, we heard them, so Marc went and put in another movie and then we slept until about 5:30. 

Ugly Sweater Day

We had a 2 hour delay on Friday, everyone was pretty happy about that.  Unfortunately Marc didn't have a 2 hour delay, and the roads were really bad, he lost control of his truck and went up on the curb and ruined his tire.  The kids had fun dressing up for ugly sweater day, and Christmas PJ day for Lydia.  And now they have a couple of weeks at home, which we are all very excited about.

Snow

We got some snow.  It started snowing this afternoon and snowed all afternoon and evening, I think it will be gone tomorrow, but it was lots of fun, and it sure makes it feel more like Christmas. katie and Nicole went right out in it when they got home and then they took the sled up to get Lydia from the bus stop, but her bus was really late so they didnt wait that long but she joined them outside as soon as she made it home.

Art

Kyle is in a ceramics class, hes decided it isn't his favorite kind of art but he is doing really well in the class. He brought home this cute bowl that he made.

Katie and Nicole are in an art class, they are doing all kinds of art, but are doing clay projects right now and brought home some of the things that they have been making.

 Katie made these

And Nicole made these

Gingerbread houses

Sunday after church we made our traditional gingerbread houses out of Graham crackers and lots of candy.  The kids really get into designing their houses, they come up with all kinds of unique house plans.   They turned out great this year.

another Christmas party

Our friend Penny decided to throw a big Christmas Party for a bunch of kids, she invited 50 kids to come and see Mrs. Claus, make cute Christmas crafts, decorate cookies, eat pizza, and and have some Christmas fun.  She had all of the older kids be elfs and they helped run the party.  It was lots of fun I think everyone a really good time.

 Hailey and her friend Gracie ran the hot cocoa table

 Katie and Cooper we the naughty elfs getting into all kinds of mischief

 Nicole passed out jingle bell necklaces to all the kids

 Lydia helped me run the Santas workshop where kids could pick a gift for their moms, Lydia also had fun doing some of the crafts

special olympics

One of the classes that Kyle has this year, is that he is a peer tutor in the special Olympics class, he works with a kid named Dom, he spends and hour each day with him and the other kids in the gym, playing games and working out on the weights.  Dom is a big kid, he doesn't really talk at all, but he is loud, and can get a little crazy.  This is Kyles favorite class, he really enjoys working with these kids.  This past week they had a basketball tournament for the special olympics class and teams from other schools, kyle helped out with Dom all day.  My friend was there and she sent me a text and some pictures, she said she kept getting teary eyed as she watched Kyle as he helped these kids, she said she kept thinking of his tough year and then seeing him reach out  and serve someone that others might see as unlovable just got her all emotional, and she said she could see why they assigned this boy to someone with some muscles to help keep him in control.  It has been such a great thing for Kyle to be in this class, he is great with the kids and he has really enjoyed it.

Christmas party

We had our ward Christmas party Saturday morning, we had a breakfast and then a visit from Santa.  The youth cooked the breakfast, they did and excellent job.  Lydia, Katie, and Nicole ran right up to visit with Santa, Hailey wasnt going to, but her friend dragged her up, and we couldnt let Kyle not have a turn. so he had a little visit with Santa too.

 Lydia and her friend Tess wanted to go together

Katie and Nicole

Katie and Nicole have a great young womens class, they have had a couple of really fun activities lately.  Wednesday they learned how to decorate cakes, they loved it, and were excited to show me their creations. 

Saturday they went with their class to Seattle, they went to the temple and did baptisms and then went out to dinner and then went and watched a fun Christmas parade. 

Thanksgiving weekend

We had a nice long weekend.  We drove to my parents house on Wednesday and stayed until Thursday evening.  We had a great time, the kids ran around outside, even though it was freezing cold, they played card games with Grandma and Grandpa, watched a funny Christmas movie, played all kinds of crazy games Wednesday night with cousins, spent a couple of hours Thursday morning at the gym playing ball games and running around, moved a pile of saw dust for Grandpa, ate a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, ate lots of yummy pie,   and made lots of fun Thanksgiving memories.  We were very glad that we were able to be there this year.

Friday Marc and I did a little shopping, then spent the rest of the day putting up Christmas, lights on the outside of the house, and a Christmas tree. Kyle keeps reminding us that it is his last Christmas, so he should be able to do things how he wants, he insisted on putting all of his ornaments in one spot on the tree, since he was having so much fun and its his last Christmas, he had to be the one to put the angel on the tree.  Everything looks great and we are looking forward to the month of December.

 finished a Christmas puzzle

 Kyles section on the tree

 putting on the angel

 the mall had a place to write and send letters to Santa

Saturday morning we got up early and went to the temple, the kids did baptisms, and then we did a little Christmas shopping with the kids, they are pretty excited to shop for each other.  Saturday night Kyle and Hailey had a double date, they made cookies, played games, and did face masks, they had a lot of fun.