CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!

We received a great Christmas blessing over the break :)
My director from work (Learning Dynamics) called and offered me more hours at work.  One of the teachers at our school is temporarily quitting because of physical problems with her feet.  So, my director offered me her afternoon class, which means I will now have double the hours (and double the $) and will work all day on MWF.

This is a temporary increase in hours for me at work:  it will last January-May 2012.
But this is a huge blessing to our family and gives us an opportunity to send Sam to NHA full time...all of the money will go to Sam's school.  This feels like the right thing to do and we are grateful for the opportunity.

Also grateful that we started out part home school because that was a very worth while and knowledge gaining experience...amazing how the Lord sends us just what we need at the right time.

We had a HAPPY CHRISTMAS!  
Karissa got a Kindle  Touch. Kelsi got a do-nut pan and a do-nut maker and a violin tuner.  She's going to bake and play!  Jacob got some fun games:  Lego games and speed stackers.  And Sam got a webkinz horse, which he named 'Cocoa' and a giant lego set (Pharo's Scorpian Pyramid)  He spent all day building it...all by himself...he did a great job!

Grandma and Grandpa Blake and Grandma Taylor came up for a delicious Christmas dinner that Bryan fixed for all of us. We enjoyed everyone's company.  Later played games and watched movies. Fun Times!

On Christmas Eve we had a dinner and program and Grandma Taylor's house.  Delicious food and then we sat down and Uncle Bruce read scriptures and we sang Christmas songs about the the birth of Jesus Christ.

Later that Christmas Eve night we read special letters from Grandpa Blake.  Then I read a Christmas story to the kids.

Gingerbread Houses with Grandma Taylor

One of the kids' favorite Christmas traditions is making gingerbread houses with Grandma Taylor.  This year we made them with Gavin and Colin as well.

Loads of Fun! And some great looking gingerbread houses!

Blake Christmas Party!

We had a great time at the Blake Christmas party this year.

'Must be Santa' song, games, delicious pavlova (made by Aunt Julie), and opening presents, and of course, the kids dressing up and acting out the Nativity. Sam was Joseph this year and Jacob was a camel...Kelsi a wise man...and Karissa a shepherd.