Busy-ness - 'Tis the Season!

Boy, it's been a busy week! I love that Christmas time is filled with lots of activities - things to do, places to go, people to see - but it sure can be busy! Throw a birthday in the mix, and it can be exhausting! But that's one of the things that makes this season so exciting and exhilirating - and another reason why the quietness of January is so welcome!

Here's a recap of our week last week (not including Quentin working fixing the roof, preschool, Young Womens, playing, shopping, cooking, wrapping, planning, etc. etc.):

Kiera had a piano recital. She had a Christmas solo and a Christmas duet (which I played with her.) For a month, she really struggled with these pieces - they were pretty tough! At one point she was in tears saying she just couldn't do it. Her teacher encouraged her to keep trying and to practice each piece as much as she could. Her teacher said if she couldn't get it a week before the recital, she had another easier piece Kiera could play. When Kiera told me this, my first reaction was relief. I thought, "Oh, let's just go with the easier piece because this other one is just creating too much stress!" But I am proud of Kiera - instead of taking the easier one, she felt more determined to "conquer" the harder piece. After lots and lots of practice - and a few more tears! - she did it. She was able to play both pieces perfectly! I could tell she was proud of herself and felt like she had accomplished something huge!


Friday night we met Corbin and Nikki and their kids at the Gingerbread House Festival at the Gateway. We had dinner at the food court, saw lots of gingerbread houses, visited Santa, rode Trax to Temple Square, checked out the Deseret Book window, and quickly looked at the lights on Temple Square (it was bitterly cold!) What a fun night!




On Saturday we went to the ward Christmas breakfast. I thought it was really well-done. Good food, good friends, and a great turn-out! After breakfast some of the Primary kids sang some songs - and in walked Santa! The look on the kids' faces was priceless! Then the kids got to visit with Santa, who gave them a small candy cane and a bag of "reindeer food."






Last night we went to Ben and Jen's for our annual Johnson Christmas party. LOTS of good food, nickel bingo (Makenna won over $7!), the cousin gift exchange, and the adult gift exchange. Ben and Jen really know how to host a great get-together! It's always so much fun, and Ben keeps us laughing!



Grandma with her 10 (soon to be 11!) "Greats!"