Advent: Days 19-22.

Well, boo, I got behind! These days have been full and good (for the most part, at least:). Here are some highlights...

The snow has been amazingly beautiful lately. The twins are old enough to independently get all their gear on and head outside for hours and, I must say, it's awesome!! We have had such cosy times reading inside with hot chocolate while its snows or in the evening by candlelight...lovely!

Here they are making sugar cookies with baker extraordinaire (and next door neighbor), Laura. Sam loves to talk about the time she made the most amazing peach pie EVER from our peach tree's pears. I honestly think he'll remember that pie always:) 

Jubilee and I had fun making some Christmas play-doh together while the big kids were outside one afternoon. 

Boy she's growing up so much lately. I really need to post a video of her soon. Cute little firecracker!

Thursday evening Joel took the big kids to the yearly candlelight vigil in Pioneer Park, paying tribute to the homeless in SLC that died in 2013. It really made an impact on the kids this year, and we have had many discussions since about how we can love the homeless population well. Thankfully, their daddy is an excellent example of how to do just that. 

We had a "manners party" with the Cox's on Friday. Now, as you may have noticed, we do a lot with the Cox's, but I must say this is one of my favorite things we've done! Aviana (age 8) has wanted to have a tea party and Emily (age 30, hehe) saw an idea on the Playful Learning blog about doing a Manners Party, so they combined the two! Joel has often said how thankful he is that his mom did such a good job of teaching them manners and how he feels comfortable at any table because of it. What a gift! So, we read some books about manners, had some good discussions, played manners charades and then all the kids went outside, knocked on the door,  and Aviana greeted them and welcomed then to her party. She was a fabulous host and, really, they were all pretty adorable. 

Definitely a "I love homeschooling" moment for sure:). 

Next up was the Winter Solstice celebration at Red Butte Gardens. Wonderful and beautiful and I'm so glad we went again!

After taking a beautiful family photo of the Cox's, I asked if she'd take one of us. Jubilee would not budge from this spot in the snow, so we just all gathered around her. Though this is a terrible angle for mama, Amelia isn't looking up, you can't see Oliver, and Jubilee isn't even sitting up- it's one of those family photos for the memory books:) ahahaha. 

Here's a better one:) 

Today has been full church (our turn with toddlers- i love seeing joel surrounded by a pack of them- it's adorable), of frantically packing, packing, and, well, packing. Whew, this holiday traveling is no joke! I do love seeing packages all ready to go:) 

And I do love these quiet evening moments...

Goodnight all! Jen