December 2011

December was crazy.

The way it is every year.

Jeff had a birthday on the 6th and we had a nice dinner out with his family and then back to our house for Soda Pop Cake.  We had left ALL the kids and cousins home with a sitter so the house was loud and crazy.  I will blame the lack of pictures on that craziness.

In addition to Jeff's birthday, there are 4 other Gardner birthdays in December.

Now add in Ward Christmas functions and work holiday celebrations, Christmas eve, and Christmas.

That's a lot of parties.

I was in charge of our Ward Christmas Party again this year.

I stayed up late many nights, painting, gluing and cutting the nativity display we had for that night.

My mom and sister were able to come over and help a few times with was greatly appreciated.

Here's how it turned out:

Later on in the month we had the 2nd Annual Gardner Talent Show

There were stories....

....sequins dresses.....

baton twirlers.....

....snapshot snatching...

....a beautiful bassoon and trumpet couple....

....upcoming writers for hip-hop artists....

.... and showing off drawings.

On Christmas Eve we joined with Jeff's extended family for food and some more fun. 

We were all told to bring a gift to wrap for a local shelter in need.

Although they really wanted to keep some of the gifts for themselves, they really enjoyed being part of the wrapping crew.  

As promised, Todd, here's the montage of photos you so gracefully posed for:

And here's Todd displaying our new Gardner shirts that get made each year.  On the back was our names and the number indicating when we came into the family.

Really cute!  The front says "Gardner Grasshogs".

I still haven't figured out where that came from.

The traditional nativity began and Griffin decided on the angel title this year.

(I haven't figured out where that came from either.)

Kai was acting shy, for some reason, and didn't want to take part in the nativity until good 'ol Todd offered to be a sheep with him.

Kai said, "I look like that because I was saying, 'Baahh'."

Then there was Trey.

The humble shepherd who ended up with scraps for his costume.

Just a towel.

Barely sitting on his head.

And he was happy as could be.

 Christmas morning.

I love Trey picking his nose in this picture:

Kai and Treyson discovered that 3 of Santa's reindeer did NOT eat their carrots.

Shame shame, I know your name.

It was a Chrismas full of wands, books, scooters, stickers, legos, Angry Birds, 

and smiles.

I hope your Christmas was as jolly as ours!