December to Remember

Our December was very full indeed.  It was brimming with service, traditions, family, and blessings. I can't possibly try to contain all the activities in this post, because there are so many.  But here are the highlights!  Come on the photo tour with me!

The older two boys and I had the privilege to serve at Operation Christmas Child once again.  It is such a great organization, which collects shoeboxes filled with goodies to distribute to various countries, directly into the hands of children in need, who would not normally be in the situation to receive anything for the holiday.  It is so much fun to be a part of this endeavor, and they even tell you where the boxes you worked on for that day will be going.

Here's Luke packing boxes!

And Austin weilding his scanning gun....right up his alley :-)

We made our traditional Christmas yummies....

 Bordeauxs (Coffee filling...tastes just like See's Candy!)

 Snowballs (Russian Tea Cakes)

           Toffee....and also sugar cookies, truffles, and red velvet cheesecake bars.  

We brought home a lovely tree!

 

 I cherish putting on our ornaments every year.  I love our tradition of picking out a new ornament for our boys each year. I try and find something that matches their interests or current hobbies.  

Christmas puppy!

 Our annual Hanukkah celebration with my side of the family.  Making latkes with Dad!!!  Each family member grates an onion and potato, no exceptions...even the gentiles!  I also tried my hand at brisket this year.  It came out delicious.  I was actually quite surprised, as nobody can really live up to my Mom's brisket.


Christmas Eve is always wonderful.  We look forward to having Dave's family at our home every year for dinner, dessert, and gift exchange.

 Enjoying the festivities!

 Dave's Mom and Step Dad...my sweet in- laws!

Receiving a larger than life Nerf gun.  WOW!!!

Then it was Christmas Day!!!!  We spent the morning as a family with our breakfast tradition of cinnamon rolls, presents, remembering the birth of the Savior and how that reality affects our lives.

Appetizer dinner!

And this beast for dessert.  Chocolate heaven.  Soooooo amazing.

The day after Christmas, we surprised the boys and told them we were going to San Francisco for two nights!  Everyone was so excited.  We packed up and headed up to NorCal.  My Dad so sweetly and generously provided the hotel for us as a birthday gift.  We have not been on a trip with the kids in a long while, and usually it's camping, so this was a treat.  I tried to justify it by saying it was my big birthday celebration....I did turn the big 4-0 after all.  We spent our time touring around the city by cable car and bus. Austin, armed with his map, got us to every bus stop and trolley pick up, and it was so nice!

We went to Chinatown and spent a few hours at the shops!  The boys bought lots of cool trinkets and some, ahem....fireworks.  Just the little stuff, like sparklers, the little ash snakes that ooze out when you light them, and the flower that spins and sprays sparks, and then has a surprising ka-boom at the end.  The cute little Asian woman in the store says "You have to try these."  I asked what they do, and she said "they go whooosh then pow."  Yes they did.  Too much fun we had on New Years Eve in our nice little Saugus neighborhood.  Glad nobody called the police on our ka-booms and pows.

Cable Car riding.

Views of the Golden Gate!

Clam chowder in a bread bowl while exploring Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39!  We did so much more, and just had a great time together as a family.  I love the city!

But for now, back to reality....school, work, diet and exercise that has been neglected!  Wishing you all God's blessings as we start the coming year.  May it be full of much grace to love God and love others more.