We jumped into December by making all sorts of yummy treats! Lots of sweet treats and lots of sweet girls. These Young Women from our ward each brought their favorite recipe and taught everyone how to make it. The sister missionaries came to help too.
I love doing home school with these guys. Some days are challenging, but it has been such a blessing to have this time together. Reading together in front of the fire in jammies instead of running for the bus. Love it.
Brett was certain that he had a special recipe for making grapes. I let him show me how it was done. Sugar, orange slices, a whole apple, cheese, Chex, and honey. I can share the recipe if anyone is interested :-). I am so inspired by this kid's confidence and creativity!
Brenden and Bryce both participate in the Sprinboro Strings program. Brenden plays cello in the high school orchestra and Bryce plays bass in the 7th/8th grade orchestra and in the 8th grade orchestra. They had an awesome performance this month, and I was reminded of how amazing their conductor Mrs. Benedict is at challenging them and helping their skills improve. They rock!
Brinnley and I celebrated our birthday together for the 12th time this year. That first year when I got to hold her for the first time was the best birthday gift ever! This year we did lunch at Noodles, went shopping, and got Chineese takeout. We saw Big Hero 6 the night before and had ice cream cake the night after...that was three days of extended celebration. Our Elf on the Shelf LG even joined in on the fun.
The middle three kids and I went and blew glass ornaments for the tree this year at a place called Neusole in Cincinnati. It was an amazing experience to learn how it was done and to try it first hand. We went with our neighbors who home school as well. It's pretty cool to compare the science of making suckers with the science of making glass.
Our friend Randy from Pioneer Village took us to the Cincinnati Museum Center (our friend Shelby came with us too). They have an Omnimax Theater, a History Museum, and a Natural History and Science Museum. They also have an exhibit upstairs that shows what the building was built for in 1930s--a giant train station. It was awesome, and we discovered what a passion Brett has for trains and escalators alike :-). The Holiday Junction train exhibit was especially cool. It's a model train world where you can send your cell phone on a ride on the train while recording and get a video of the miniature world. Loved it!
Brooke and Brinnley both had their piano recital this month as well. They both take lessons from JoAnne Gurr in our ward. We didn't get good pictures of the actual event, but Brinnley performed her piece--Carol of the Bells--on the Eddington's grand piano and it was AMAZING! They both love playing the piano and have done very well with it this year.
Our friends the Eddingtons hosted a Christmas sing-along that was such a meaningful part of our pre-Christmas celebration this year. We are going to miss them so much when they move to Utah!
The kids love to sleep in by the tree on "Christmas Adam" (the night before Christmas Eve, ha ha). Brenden loves his comfortable bed too much now, But Brett joined in on the tradition this year.
We celebrated Christmas Eve with our traditional Mexican Fiesta and Nativity Program. Our friend Randy joined us and was a great sport as our head shepherd! I loved Brinnley's addition of the donkey made from a rolly-chair and the stuffed lion and Bryce's addition of the Mario Brothers star above the manger. This year the wise men didn't have any of Aunt Candice's fudge to bring to the baby Jesus. That was almost reason to forego the celebration all together :-) but we made due with the Clawson's Oreo truffles.
Brooke took her place in Gwilliam family history tradition this year by memorizing her Great Great Grandmother Virginia Snow Christensen Keeler's poem "Old Santa Claus." That's no easy task! She performed it with impressive drama at our Christmas Eve Program and earned a silver dollar, just like Grandpa Ray used to give the grandchildren who memorized it decades ago.
This is our "First Gift of Christmas" that we did the first FHE of December. It contained letters of what each of us wanted to give the Savior this Christmas season. We opened it and read our letters as a family before going to bed Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning at our house--the sheet tradition :-). I won't explain it here, but they all love it just like I did as a kid!
Brinnley's jelly-bean-art nativity. I love it!!!
Caving in Kentucky with 8 other families in our ward. They loved it...and they got very dirty! Todd tried to eat a bat. That's how I heard it.
The 3-year-olds caving in our basement in Ohio. Equally as adventurous, not as much mud. No bats were eaten, but quite a few fruit snacks were consumed that day!
Jungle Jims International Market with the Elders and Caroline (aka Mermaid). Elder Sorrensen wanted to go one last time before he goes home in a couple weeks. We were happy to serve! We love this place. Come to Ohio and we will take you there!
"No Manners Dinner" at the Ford's house on New Year's Eve with some other families in the ward. Imagine eating off of a cookie sheet with a ladle and drinking out of an ice cube tray. Everyone had their own theme for what their place setting was. Totally fun!
We finished the year with a PJ party, both Night at the Museum movies, sparkling cider, and silly string. The boys were too cool to join us :-). They opted for the teen party at the Porters with games and waffles.
It was a wonderful, eventful month, We are so grateful for the chance to celebrate the Savior and His birth and spend time with family and friends.
2014 was a wonderful, eventful year. We are so grateful for the Lord's had in our lives and for our home here in Ohio--both the house and the people that we love here that make it home!
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