December 2015

December 1st Nick woke up with a very high fever and sore throat.  He was home for the next three days with increasing symptoms which eventually landed us in the doctor's office.  He still had the fever and the sore throat, but had also developed very goopy, red eyes.  The doctor did a quick strep and it came back negative.  In the end it was decided he had a virus that looked a lot like strep and pink eye, but was not.  Nick was relieved because he had a project due in school and didn't want to miss any more days.  He was cleared to go back.  

December 4th, the Highland Creek Harmonizers performed at the tree lighting ceremony.  It was a bit cold, but well worth braving the chill to hear the kids sing and watch the lights come on in the park.  

Naomi in the middle of the pack.

December 5th was the ward Christmas party, "A Night in Bethlehem".  Nick and I started the day off early by delivering the costumes to the church along with a few of the decorations we had.  We helped for a bit in putting up the lights and then took off to get Nick some new pants.  He had grown over night and all his pants were too short.  Back at home we made cookies for the party and got ourselves ready for the night.

It was a fun party and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  The program was wonderful and really brought the spirit of the season.  I love our ward!!

The gymnasium was transformed into Bethlehem for the night.  There were booths offering different food to eat as well as stations with crafts for the kids.  

Naomi dressed as a little girl would be at the time Jesus was born.  

 

The Elders were the Roman soldiers who stood at the door and collected the taxes (of canned food items).  Two of my Beehives (Kaylie and Journey) made the costumes as part of their Divine Nature projects for their Personal Progress.  The costumes turned out great.  

Jeremy got into the action.  

Sara, me and Barbara.  You can't see an orange wedge and not do this.

Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. 

December 6th, the Panthers beat the Saints.  12-0.  Keep pounding!

December 8th, Steve was in the doctor's office getting medicine for his bronchitis.  We should feel lucky that he hasn't gotten sick earlier.  We are traditionally on our second round of bronchitis by now.  Once the meds kicked in he stared feeling better very quickly. 

That night was the Highland Creek Elementary Winter Musical, "The Grumps of Ring-A-Ding Town."   The 4th grade practiced for two months for this night and the excitement was palpable.  They put on an amazing show!  Everyone sang and smiled and knew their lines.  

Snowmageddon!

Naomi took on a few extra lines at the last minute due to the other person being sick.  She did a great job.  

"We're GRUMPY!"  This was my favorite song in the whole play. 

Maddie, Naomi and Kaleigh

Victoria and Naomi

December 9th was a busy day.  We had a quick family dinner complete with the wonderful cake Steve baked for me, before we headed out the door to the youth activities for the night.  The Young Women did a sensory Christmas. We were each blindfolded and given different items to feel, smell, taste while music in the background took us through the life of Christ.  It was an amazing activity.  The blindfold made you focus on the music and the item in your hands.  Some of the items included straw, a star, a baby to hold, bread, a fish net and a nail.  Christmas isn't just about the birth of a baby, it is a celebration of the life of Christ.  This activity really made that concept into a reality for me. I love the inspired programs of the church.  

Blowing out my candles.

December 10th I got to sub in one of Nick's classes.  I love being with the kids all day.  They make me laugh.  When we got home, the kids helped me fix pizza for dinner as well as bake up 5 dozen cookies for the LNC Staff Cookie Walk the next day.  We all went to bed exhausted.  

December 11th, Naomi was home sick.  So far, just Jeremy and I have escaped the sickness fairy.  Let's hope it stays that way.  I got all the Christmas lights up that day while Naomi slept and got better.  When Naomi saw the light later that day it inspired her to start singing.  "He sees you when you're sleeping.  He knows when you're awake.  He knows... (pause)  That is creepy.  Santa is just a jolly stalker who everybody loves!"  She cracks me up.  

Steve the shopping elf.  We managed to fit in a little Christmas shopping in between all the various activities.  

Naomi caught this sunset while we were out grocery shopping.  She immediately shared it with her Aunt Dianna who loves to take pictures of sunsets as well. 

Grandpa Weenig sent this picture he had drawn to Naomi.  They share a love of art.  

December 13th, the Young Women sang in the Christmas program and they sounded great.  This is worth noting because all of them said they could not sing.  I beg to differ!!

December 14th through the 18th was a whirl wind of activities.  The high school was only in for a half day and so I was in charge of early carpool since my carpool buddy was still at work during that time.  I also volunteered at the middle school in the afternoon in the library.  Wednesday, the 16th, the youth went caroling at a local nursing home.  They stayed and chatted with the residents before heading back to the church for refreshments.

On the 17th, our modem died while the kids were trying to get their homework done.  We ran out and got a new one that night so the kids could get their homework submitted before Winter Break.  

Friday the 18th, I got to go help with the 4th grade Winter Party.  My station was the dance floor.  I got to watch the kids have a great time dancing while making sure no one got hurt.  It was so much fun.  

Naomi and Mrs. Rowan busting a move.  I think they are doing The Waddle. 

Friday the 18th to Saturday the 19th Steve and the boys went camping with the scout troop.  It was the coldest night of the year so far.  The low had been 42 all week long, but that night it got down into the teens.  Brrrrr!  Naomi and I stayed nice and warm at home.  We cleaned out and reorganized her room.  We got her a new set of shelves to hold all her books.  When we were done she was amazed at how much more space she had in her room.  Hopefully this will inspire her to keep her room clean and organized. 

December 20, the Panthers beat the Giants (barely!)  14-0.  Keep pounding!!  That night I also introduced the kids to a childhood tradition of mine.  I found a copy of the Baryshnikov/Kirkland version of The Nutcracker.  We watched it as a family.  The kids really enjoyed it.  

December 21st I took a road trip with the kids.  Jeremy drove us to the church cannery in Greensboro to get more wheat.  They loved the adventure and helping load 500 pounds of wheat into the truck.  I have great helpers.  The reimbursement check finally arrived from the bank for the overpayment on the truck.  We are officially through with all that mess.  YEAH!!!  Chapter closed.  

December 22nd we ran errands in the morning and got the meet Khristen and her mom in the evening.   He wanted to get her a Napoleon hat as a Christmas gift.  I wasn't so sure,but he insisted it is what she wanted.  He said it was the perfect gift for her.  OK?!?  She LOVED it!!  He wore it to school on the last day before Winter Break.  Now she was coming over to bring him his gift.  I had only met her briefly in the halls at school and liked her, but getting to talk with her a little longer was even better.  Jeremy was right.  The Napoleon hat completely fits her personality.  She is very fun-loving and open and smart!   Jeremy and Khristen are so funny together.  We laughed a lot while she and her mom were over. 

Khristen and Jeremy (He is wearing his NANOWRIMO winner t-shirt)

Christmas Eve day we spent the day baking and getting ready for Christmas.  That evening, after dinner, we took a drive to see some of the lights in the neighborhood and then went to visit Mr. Kev and wish him a Merry Christmas or as Jeremy has creatively rephrased it "A festal Christmas and a convivial New Year!"  Back at home the kids helped get things cleaned up for Santa.  Jeremy offered to take the garbage out.  Since the day had been so warm, we had the screen door open to let in some fresh air.  Jeremy remembered to open it on the way out, but on the way back in...  We got a good laugh over that one.  After handing out the Christmas jammies we all went to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.  

This is my Christmas present from Steve.  He and the boys installed it on Christmas Eve before dinner.  I love it!!!

Christmas morning we all woke up and ran downstairs to see what Santa brought.  It was a fun and relaxed morning of discovering all the treasures under the tree.  The following pictures tell about the morning better than words.  

"Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba
Sithi uhm ingonyama."
Naomi got a copy of "The Lion King" from her cousin, Nate. Her childhood is now complete. 

Jeremy tossing the tissue paper.  We had a lot of fun opening our presents.  

PERFECT.  A light up frisbee from cousin Morgan.  

Shopping money.  

Naomi got in on the spirit of unwrapping. 

Laura sent me a snowflake she crocheted for me  (hard to see against my white shirt).  I am also wearing the wreath she made so many years ago.

Cousin Katie encouraging Jeremy's desire to attend the U for college.  Love it.

The highlight of the day.  Nick thought he was only getting money towards a bike for Christmas.  We sent him on a treasure hunt.  In each envelope was a little bit of cash that led him to the next clue.  The last clue had a string attached to it and he was instructed to follow the string, which we wove all through the yard.  When it eventually got to the garage, Nick got so excited when he saw his new bike that he took off running down the street.  I was having so much fun watching him I forgot to get it on video. It was hilarious.  The picture above is of him halfway down the block and still going strong.  

One happy (and completely surprised) boy!!

How do you keep a Cannon entertained and mesmerized?  Put money in a locked maze box.  

They loved it and immediately went to work on unlocking the box.  

10 minutes later...still going.  

Steve's new toy, a pop-up work bench. 

We had a big breakfast after opening all our presents.  Everyone said it was the best Christmas ever.  They all got exactly what they wanted.  You know about Nick's bike and my front door - Jeremy got his laptop computer, finally.  Naomi got her bluetooth keyboard for her tablet and some Soul Republic head phones.  Steve got a new workbench and tools.  Yup!  Great day for everyone.

We relaxed most of the day and geared up again for a dinner with all the trimmings.  Once the turkey was in the oven we set up the slack line Santa brought the family.  Nick tried it out and found it was much harder than it looked.   I tried it out as well.  Although it was only two feet off the ground it felt a lot higher when you lost your balance and had to bail.  It was fun.  We will get the hang of it soon.  All in all we enjoyed our day and spent time together doing what ever we wanted.

Steve is caramelizing the brown sugar coating on the ham.  Yummy!

December 26th was just another day to do whatever.  Steve and Jeremy replaced the screen on the door.  That was the second time in two months that someone had tried to walk through the screen.  This time it tore a little bit.  We had two other screens that were also ripped and they fixed those as well.  

Jeremy is really good at this.  

Nick going out for his umpteenth bike ride.  Still smiling.  

We went to see the new "Star Wars" movie on the 26th.  It was amazing.  Khristen and Nick were already on a high from the movie when they saw the advertisement for Deadpool.  It is going to be a year of movies!

December 28th we spent the day cleaning up the house and shopping in preparation for the New Year's party (which will be it's own blog!!!!  Awesome!).  By the end of the night we were all a little tired and very silly.  This is what happens when silly meets leftover Jell-o.  Enjoy.  https://youtu.be/PTv_QwVlTJs

WHEW!!!  I did it.  At least one blog for each month in 2015.  Goal accomplished!  Stay tuned for more exciting adventures in the lives of the Carolina Cannons!!