Jessie LaFond, cousin to the Naylor family, Natalie Larson, and Hunter get all dressed up for the New Year's Eve Dance! The bi-stake dance with the Olathe Stake lasted until 1 PM. After breakfast was served, Hunter helped clean up and arrived home at 2 PM! Needless to say, exhaustion set in the next day!
Jessica's brothers enjoyed this rare moment when they got to see Jessica practice her gymnastics skills. She is loving learning new tricks and stunts with the 2 others girls in her class.
During one's LDS full-time mission, contact with family and friends is restricted to letters only and limited phone calls. For the next 2 holiday season's, Brandon will only be able to call for one hour on Christmas day. Although this deeply saddens me to not have our family unit together, I know Brandon will be well-loved and cared for on these significant holidays. I am grateful to make this sacrifice so he can concentrate on teaching investigators and in return be enriched learning the principle of service and sharing.
Although we considered this a quiet Christmas with just my parents and sister's family, we allowed Brandon and "the boys" time to really do whatever they wanted--including staying up until all hours of the night and sleeping in until noon. Mostly they were intrigued by their new video games and movies and the outside temperatures were certainly not appealing so A LOT of screen time was enjoyed. Brad worked throughout the holidays so entertaining them certainly was easy with these activities.
Brandon also will not be able to see his friends for 2 years so much of his holiday break was consumed with spending time with them. They all will be 2 years older and wiser when he returns so I simply allowed him his space to develop these relationships.
Kansas City Crown Center and the Hyatt Regency is a festive backdrop for the annual Children's Mercy holiday event which we have attended for 16 years! New this year was an animated video set to holiday music and cartoon characters imposed with participant's head bobbing to the music. I stood in line for one and half hours to have a 3 minute experience! It was worth the laugh for my family.
Jessica's kindergarten class and their teachers gather in their PJ's for a 5 hour party with crafts, pizza, soda and The Polar Express! Christmas shopping time for Mom! Thank you teachers!!!!!
Elementary holiday parties are always fun and festive! Jessica's friend McKinley--the two help each other win the snowball fight!
Carson and Hunter performed in band concerts this holiday season with their school bands. These always bring in the true spirit of the holiday season and I am so grateful that my children have chosen to participate in these activities!
6th Grade Band at OTMS--Carson plays the trumpet for the Winter holiday concert!
Performing at Mrs. Silferburg's Toon Shop holiday recital!
Jolly Old St. Nicolas, lean your ear this way.............. Church Christmas Breakfast! ...and a visit from Br. and Sister Wagnon...
Peter and Anna Bagley • Danica Gille • Natalie Larson • Chaz Soubie • Lifferth family • Scheffer family
