Busy

We have been pretty busy here at our house lately. We've been trying to beat the winter blues by going to Pump it Up, Jr and Munchkin Playland lots. Peyton finished up her term of gymnastics, and on the last day they let the parents sit in class and watch. It was so cute to see her in a class environment. I got the "all-clear" to exercise, so I've been spending as much time as I can manage at the gym. Peyton went to her first no-mom party; at her friend Michael's house, from church. They decorated gingerbread houses. His mom told me that she tasted every candy, and if she didn't like the taste, she wouldn't put it on the house. She also told me that she tried to eat the icing out of the tube. My girlfriend gave us a gingerbread house to do for family home evening, so Jade and Peyton decorated it together. The girl was on sugar-

overload. We did our annual family Christmas service project, which was a really gratifying experience. We tried really hard to explain to Peyton what we were doing, but she still didn't quite get the point. Oh well, maybe next year! Peyton's preschool has winter break, so on the last day before the break, the parents were invited to the class for a special "holiday" program. They opened the door for the parents, and all the kids were sitting in their spots with these cute reindeer-antler-handprint hats and then the teacher counted to 3 and the kids all sang "Jingle Bells" and rang little bell bracelets. They gave us presents they had made for us in class (which Peyton immediately informed me I wasn't allowed to open until Christmas). Then we got to do a little snowflake Christmas ornament craft with them and had a snack. It was so cute. Jade made Peyton's day by surprising her and showing up to the class. She was so happy he came. Jade, Piper and I went to our friends' Christmas party- it was a white elephant gift

exchange. There were some hilarious gifts. My favorites included Chaz Bono's autobiography (with a letter about how inspirational the book was during my brother-in-law's gender reassignment process as a gag), "Oops, you just touched your genitals" hand sanitizer, and 6 gifts that my brothers-in-law wrapped and signed Jade's name on with absolutely hilarious notes about how great Jade is. Our Primary kids sang in Sacrament meeting for a missionary farewell, and since Peyton has been coming in to Primary for 2 weeks (to get adjusted for January, when she graduates to Primary) she knew the song. She really wanted to go with the big kids to sing on the stand, so I let her. It was SO cute! She didn't know very many of the words, but she totally sang the parts she did know. She was so grown up! Other than that, we've just been getting ready for Christmas, and trying really hard not to get too caught up in all the hustle of it all.

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Peyton's most recent projects

Munchkin Playland (also known as "sit and eat while kids run around like crazy")

Gymnastics

With Coach Mo

Jade had a Young Men's activity where one of the members of our ward brought in his original Book of Mormon. There were only 5,000 printed, and they estimate there are less than 500 left today. Jade got to hold it and look through it.

Little reindeer

Piper dressed in her cute little Christmas outfit for the party, and I couldn't resist a photo-op

I LOVE little girls in Christmas dresses!!