Christmas Crafts, Parties and more!

We have been so excited for our first Christmas back in America and in the cold!  But where was the snow? We were all hoping and praying it would be a white Christmas.

Our first event of the official Christmas season was our ward Christmas party.  They got a great Santa and Mrs. Claus to come.  The kids loved it!

 Will wasn't so sure about this guy.  But he did get a candy cane.

 Then the kids got to do lots of great crafts to take home. The ward put on a lovely program and I only put this picture in because if you look at the far right of the stage, there's the little Will rascal!  He was certain he was supposed to be part of every performance!

 Once again, we were nativity-less!  And when I went to go find one, all the stores I went to were out. Now I'm sure I could have kept searching and found one, but when you have to drag kids around two stores wears you out!  So I found this cute foam one that the kids got to make and it was so fun!  So we called it good for this year.  One day, I'm going to have a huge nativity collection, because I love them.  But that will have to wait for one day. :)

 This little pill was so cranky this day and the only place she wouldn't cry was in the sink.  She looks pretty happy there!  And Sofie was perfect sink size!

 She seriously played there for like an hour!

 So, of course, her little buddy had to join her!

 We had a few ornaments that Cory and I saved when we moved to Australia, but we definitely needed more to decorate our tree.  So we tried our hand at salt dough ornaments.  It was fun, but I think we didn't do them completely right.  But they worked for this year! :)

 Will has become quite the craft lover.  What can you expect being surrounded by girls!  But he is very manly about his crafting!

 Lily arranged this little nativity they made for like the millionth time since Will kept trying to throw all the pieces in the tree.  And when she had finished this time around she declared that this was the best way to set it up.  I came over to see what this best way was and I was touched by the profound meaning I got from her nativity arrangement.  All the people were facing the Savior.  I agree, Lily, a Christ centered life is the best way!

 Here the kids are at the mall Santa Claus.

 These little ride on things are also at the mall.

 Love that big girl Sofie!

We had a great start to the holiday season.