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Aside from Jingles' activities, we had a few other things going on to round out all of our festivities. December is such a party month... always so full of so many fun things to do and we made the most of it this year!

-We carried on our traditions of opening a Christmas storybook every night to read and also got our chocolate advent calendars from Grandma Dickson to open.
-dec 3: I had a "girls craft night" with a few friends. We had dinner and desserts and everyone brought a craft or project to work on, or just came to hang out. I made a cute felt ball wreath.
-dec 8: Paul and I got to participate in Vivint's Sub for Santa. We got money to shop for a few little boys then wrapped all our gifts to be delivered at an elementary school. It was really fun to help with.

-Dec 13: Vivint.solar Company Christmas party... they rented out 7 peaks ice arena and had hot chocolate and donuts. Lots of fun! We also went to dinner beforehand. We have such a unique blessing of working with some of our closest friends, I love it!
-dec 14: We worked on our gingerbread house but afterward made my Grandma's traditional fudge! I also made my Grandma Pelton's rice pudding this year, which was a first for me. I love our yummy Christmas foods.
-Dec 16: Caitlin's Christmas dance class performance. They danced to "Suzie Snowflake" and it was adorable. Caitlin got to have quite the little fan group there: daddy, Aunt Rebekah and Great Grandma and Grandpa Goulding (and me and her brothers of course). Perhaps even more adorable than her dance was when Paul brought her special flowers afterward and she was so happy. She carried around her little basket of flowers the rest of the day.



-Dec 18: We got some light snow... its been a very warm and dry winter! This was a nice little dusting to get our hope us for a white christmas!

-dec 19: We held our ugly sweater party. We ate appetizers and treats and did a white elephant exchange and then played a very exciting game of "Left/Center/Right" and of course admired everyone's sweaters!

-dec 20: I took Caitlin to see the Nutcracker Ballet with a few of her friends and it was wonderful. She loved every minute and sat on my lap the whole time and of course asked me a million questions and told me the play by play of everything happening. I loved it and I am determined to have her be in the Nutcracker one day.

-dec 22: Paul and I took the older two ice skating (Maverick went to my grandparents') They did amazing! They help themselves really well on the ice and both even skated a little on their own. We were pleasantly surprised. Caitlin was the most excited to go but quiet early and Nolan could have skated for hours!

-dec 26: We finally got some good snow over Christmas so the day after we got to play! We took the RZR out and hooked up the tow rope and the sled and pulled the kids (and us!) through the streets. It was a blast. We also went over to the Bailey's and sledded down their backyard hills.



-dec 27: We went rock climbing in Provo with Mike and Bailey and the Gottfredsons. I was shocked at how well Caitlin did.. she climbed almost all the way up to the top a few times. Nolan liked to climb a little and then let go and dangle by the harness. It was a lot of fun with our little monkeys. Maverick watched from the front pack and Paul and I got in a few climbs as well. Afterward we had a BBQ at our house for lunch.


-dec 29: We went to "color me mine" where Caitlin painted a little Hello Kitty jewelry box, Nolan worked on a puppy and I did a little plaque for Maverick's bedroom door with his footprint on it.

-dec 31: We spent New Year's Eve Day Truck shopping with Paul. Then that night we met the Reed Family at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake. We had dinner together and then took the kids to the pool! They were in heaven! They swam for awhile then we went up to our rooms and we had planned to put the kids own with a movie in one room but we all ended up congregating in the same room. We brought lots of treats and snacks and watched some movie, played some games and before we knew it.. it was midnight! Happy 2015! Caitlin and Nolan stayed up until 1 AM those little party animals. We payed for it the next day but got some sleep then had buffet breakfast and hit the pool again before returning home. It was so much fun!!  


-We did battle sickness over the entire break... started with taking Nolan to the doctor the Monday before Christmas then I was back with Maverick the Monday after... both with croup. Caitlin, Paul and I got everything else in between and we were all sorts of runny noses, itchy throats and coughs the whole while. Luckily none of this kept us from having fun!

 -We also did a lot of bike riding in the basement. The kids are getting good at their vehicles... we are excited to use them outside eventually! But for now we are glad we still have a mostly unfinished basement!