December 2019

December has been a great month!  Each week was packed with good fun!  Here's what we have been up to.

Week 1

 I was able to chaperone for Sheri's class field trip to see the musical "Matilda" at the high school.  It was fun to meet her other school friends and enjoy talking along the way.  We found this pretty leaf along the path.

Sterling was able to participate in CSU Fresno Jazz Festival with his Jazz band.  I was able to help drive/chaperone for the day.  It was so cool to see Sterling in his element, watch them perform for the judges, and observe them in a master class setting.  Sterling is gaining an understanding of the fundamentals of Jazz music and often enjoys listening to it as he goes to sleep at night.  I also enjoyed hearing all the kids improvise in their solos and hearing the guest band that was very talented!

Here is their first song (shortened clip)

Here is his solo in the first song

Here is their third song (shortened clip)

Sterling has been able to keep his grades high this semester, as have all the kids.

This is a fun drawing Christian made of a submarine underwater scene.

Eve participated in the Turlock Christmas parade with her marching band.  It was a warm night and it was so fun to see them marching by! 

Here she is with her friend, Diego who is also in our ward.

Christian got to go to a friend's birthday party where they got to see all kinds of reptiles and critters.  He was brave.

For our ward Christmas party we decorated cookies as a family.  Sheri also loves to have her friend, Holland come over and we enjoyed decorating with her.  Actually, they saved me with all the running around I was doing that day!

Here is Sterling with his fellow Deacons dressed up for the Nativity songs.  They have a good time together!

We got our live Christmas tree Monday Dec 2nd and finished decorating it by the end of the week,  I love the scent of a fresh pine tree!  Thanks to Matt for finding really cool lights that twinkled in different patterns and had very small wires.  They looked so nice!

Week 2

During the second week of December the youth in our ward got to volunteer at Turlock Together assembling boxes for food kits to go out to those in need.  Everyone had a great time!  I really enjoy these youth!

The boys took turns pulling each other down the lines, They always find ways to inject humor into life. :)

Christian had a Christmas musical program at school. He really enjoyed learning Feliz Navidad and Mele Kalikimaka.  Here he is in All I want for Christmas is My 2 Front Teeth and Mele Kalikiamaka.

Max and Christian

Max, Christian, and Cole

Christian and his teacher, Mrs. Vink

The same day Eve had her winter concert. She played beautifully!

We had camera/battery issues, so sorry no videos or close ups!

This weekend we had dress rehearsals and the show (A Christmas Carol) for dance.  I love it when Matt tends Christian and I come home to this.

Here are some of the photos from our photo shoot in November

It was wonderful to see the girls on stage again!  They have great stage presence and they felt inspired to continue pursuing this passion of theirs!  Here they are with the Harris girls (Allison is Such an amazing friend to Eve)! 

 I'm still kicking myself for not recording their dress rehearsal (camera batteries not charged again - Let's hope I learn this time to prepare better!)  Love these girls!

Week 3
 Amidst all the shows and concerts, daily life continues.  Here is Sheri at the dentist. :)

Sterling had his winter concert.  He performed with the Mariachi, Jazz, and Symphonic Band.

Another fun thing that the kids have done with church and school friends is ice skating.  They really have some fun groups of friends!

Sterling got to decorate gingerbread houses with his church friends.

Christian made this for me. :)

I made cranberry orange bread for the young women in my ward and for neighbors.  I loved using the fresh oranges from my tree!  Matt also made an awesome potpourri mix that we simmered on the stove using cinnamon and orange peels.  He has also been making orange juice and lemonade.

Even in December our yard gives beauty that we like to bring inside.

Week 4

This week started off with a special Sacrament Meeting.  Each of the organizations shared a musical number.  I organized and played for the YW - Away in a Manger.  It was a great arrangement and I was glad to feature some of the girls in quartet, duet, violin, and flute groups.  Eve played her flute.  She did a lovely job and I think that it definitely elevated the piece nicely.

Sterling conducted the YM and did a very enthusiastic and clear job! :)  Matt and the other kids sang with their respective organizations as well.  The meeting was really uplifting and centered on Christ!  We were fortunate enough to somewhat match in our Christmas clothes (thanks to Matt's last minute trip for ties on Saturday evening) so we got pictures. 

I included this because I always loved seeing the picture of my dad dipping my mom in a kiss.  I hope my kids can look back with fondness as well.  :)

In the evening we got to deliver bread to neighbors, visit Roberta, and look awesome Christmas lights.

Roberta recently got pneumonia and was in the hospital.  Here we were able to visit her in the rehab center.  We sure feel love from her.  We are grateful that she is regaining her strength and cognitive function.

On Christmas Eve we went to Pinnacles National Park.  It was only a couple hours from our house.  We were surprised at its beauty and fun exploring options.

Check out this huge pine cone we found!  It was 2-3 lbs!

Christmas morning we enjoyed reading and singing the Nativity story.  We also enjoyed our traditional stockings, pastry wreath, and presents.  We also got some nice visits from neighbors and Eve's friend, Roco.  We enjoyed playing games in the afternoon and evening.

I got new Christmas plates! :)

We had a delicious jumbo shrimp dinner with potatoes and asparagus!

After Christmas we all felt about like this.  :)  We enjoyed lots of relaxation time over winter break. 

Look what Matt did with his new power washer!  I love this guy!

Week 5 (half of a week) looked like this.

On New Year's Eve we went to Monterrey for the Aquarium again.  It was so neat!

We got to see the divers feed the fish in the Kelp Forest, including small sharks.

This picture is a bit dark, but you see what a great view we had of this octopus!

Afterwards we went to Monterrey's First Night event and got dinner.

We drove home and arrived before midnight so that we could ring in the new year with music, cookies, sparkling juice and of course kisses!  

We are so grateful for the abundance of blessings we have been given this year!  We know that this year has been a year of growth with the added challenge of moving states.  However, we are grateful that the Lord has strengthened us and helped us to truly THRIVE!  We look forward to another fabulous year in 2020!