The Terrific Brunson Team: December and January

The rest of December was just packed full of fun. Exhausting fun. Reagan had her first choir concert.

She did great and thankfully for these kids, it was less than 45 minutes.

Gigi was in town to babysit and got to attend the concert and Daryn's holiday program the next day.

Daryn and the other first graders did great and were so adorable!

Lance and I were dressed up fancy because we left straight from school to participate in our stake's Day in the Temple!

We spent the entire day there and did every ordinance. I did all the work for one person, from baptism through sealing. We've never done anything like that before and it was an incredible experience.

Lance's mom watched the kids all day. We came home and picked up the girls and took them to the Festival of Trees. One of my favorite traditions, and I hate to admit it but it was a lot easier without Blade there. He's in kind of a hard stage...

We had such a great time with the girls though.

And we missed that squishy adorable snow monster face.

Some days we just do yoga at home and read in laundry baskets.

And by we, I mean the kids.

We visited Station Park and Lance took the kids out on the little ice rink. I couldn't believe how well Reagan did. She is really growing up. Daryn was much improved from the last time she tried also.

Gingerbread houses!

I showed the kids a line rider nutcracker video I saw posted on Facebook and they were obsessed. They sat there and watched over and over again. Blade especially thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread (which he is also a big fan of).

"Mom it's so funny!!!"

Speaking of funny... this kid is such a troublesome goof.

We did lots of Christmas cookie baking and Maddie was a great helper. She scooped out all my pistachio cookies!

And we made a decorated ninjabread cookies froma kit we got last year.

Daryn is loving karate and passed her first belt test to get her yellow stripe belt. The ceremony was ...long... and right at dinner time. We did not make it until the end.

Chick-Fil-A breakfast with Santa. A continuing favorite and all of the children were totally digging cow Santa and cow elf. Blade kept chasing them around the restaurant.

This is also when Blade decided that Santa was his new BFF.

Best Santa ever.

Stop are you serious?? He's such a heartbreaker!

Maddie had her first little dance recital with her preschool dance class. They did the same dance twice to "Mr. Grinch".

There was a lot of standing still and nose picking (not just by her) but also some cute dancing.

She may not perform super well but she loves her dance class!

Two of Blade's favorite things: Legos and ringing the doorbell. He does it over and over and just laughs his head off.

Reagan and Daryn had their piano recital and both did wonderful. They each memorized one of their two songs. Reagan worked hard to learn "Where Are You, Christmas?" but got nervous and had a few rough patches.

We're so proud of all their hard work!

Flowers for them (and Maddie for her dance recital) afterwards.

Maddie had a little showcase for her cooking class and Santa was there, too!

Reagan recently read the first Harry Potter book and had her sisters playing Quidditch outside with her.

Just before we left on vacation, Lance took Reagan and Daryn to see Grace in the Park City Nutcracker.

They're her biggest littlest fans!

When we got back from traveling for the holidays, Maddie was so excited for her first day of Primary. She's so big! Blade did not do so great when we forced him into nursery, but he did much better today.

We're loving all our new family time on Sunday with 9 am church and a change in callings for Lance.

I took Blade on a walk the other day and we stopped at a railroad crossing to watch a freight train go by. He peeked out the whole time from behind his hands.