New Do's

Braddock had been growing out his hair and was hoping to get a perm like Tanner.  Tanner wasn't as excited about having a twin, but he didn't get a say in the matter.  Grandma was nice enough to squeeze us in before Christmas, and she let me come along for the ride so I could learn how to do perms too.  She did Braddock's and I worked on Tanner and I just followed her lead.  Since their hair isn't very long, it worked perfectly to use one perm for both of them, and we managed to achieve their desired looks, even though Tanner was sure I was doing an awful job.  Hahaha!  He's a joy.  Braddock was super excited to debut his new look at school the next day, and I got messages from his teacher as soon as he got to school about his darling new look.  He came home and reported that everyone loved it and that they all said he looked more popular, and like he should have his own YouTube channel.  Hahaha!  I guess those are complements these days.

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

Winter Semi-Formal

The same day as the Ward Christmas Party and Natalie Atkinson's Bday Party, was Hopewell's Winter Semi Formal, and guess who was in charge!?  Yep, Dean!  So that meant I was definitely tagging along.  Dean had to be there early and I had to go pick up Bridger from the birthday party at the bowling alley in my formal attire.  Haha!  So picture taking didn't happen before we left like I had hoped.  These cell phone pictures were the only ones we got, and I'm resisting the urge to focus on my covid-gut and focus on how grateful I am for an amazing eternal date who loves me gut and all! ;) This guy does it all and he does it all so well.  They pulled off a fun dance and despite my distaste for the dress styles and dance moves, it was a great evening out with good food and fun co-workers.  I love getting a peek into Dean's work world and I'm grateful I got to go.  It was great to see Savannah Bolinger, not sure she was quite as thrilled to have her Young Women's President spying on her, but she was always sweet about it!  Haha!  The weirdest part was seeing all of Tanner's friends at the dance.  We can't be old enough to have a High Schooler, but he makes sure to remind us how OLD we are constantly, so it's starting to sink in!  

And just so we don't forget one day when this all blows over....yes, we are still in a pandemic.  Yes, everyone was required to wear masks, and yes it was a giant pain getting the students to leave them on.  Crazy times we live in!

Ward Christmas Party

The Young Men and Young Women were recruited to help with decorations this year.  So we put in a lot of work making and then putting up decorations all along the cultural hall walls.  The boys were asked to put together a musical number and to be Shepards and sheep for the program as well.  Tanner ended up sick that week so he missed out, but Dean jumped in to play his part on the bells, and they pulled it off quite nicely.  We all gathered Saturday morning for breakfast, a musical program, and a nativity program too.  At the end of the party Santa even showed up to say hello.  It was great to see so many people there, we even had to hurry and pull out a few more tables thanks to the great turn out.  We sure love our Ward and all these people we get to worship with each week.

They played "Away in a Manger" and we all sang along...

The Young Men and Young Women put together these mountains, and stars, and a bunch of homes from Jerusalem...

These cuties made some sweet Shepards and sheep.  Natalie and Bridger got their "baaaa-ing" down pat!

Getting Festive

Someone at the elementary school had the crazy idea of doing dress up days for every, dang day in December.  I think they were trying to get all the Mom's committed to the local psych ward before Christmas arrived.  As if we didn't have enough to worry about in December.  Luckily the boys didn't insist on dressing up every day, but they did managed to squeeze in a few memorable ones....

I got a message from Braddock’s teacher that in true Nelson boy style he would be coming home from school with a box she was trying to throw away. I’m raising hoarders over here! But his box came in handy for “dress like a present day”! These two cuties are definitely a gift! When we put Bridger’s outfit on the night before he said, “Am I *really* wearing this to school!? It looks like a giant diaper!” It looked much better with his clothes the next morning than with his pj’s the night before so we went with it. Love these two!

Christmas PJ Day

Dress Like a Cowboy Day

When it’s dress like an elf day at school, you dig through old Halloween costumes and throw on your older brother’s Link costume complete with boots that are at least 6 sizes too big on you. But you don’t let the big size hold you back, you use them to stuff your afternoon snack in. They hold granola bars perfectly! #ohbraddock

Gingerbread Houses 2021

I think this might be the boys most beloved Christmas tradition.  They look forward to it every year and even mock up their houses in Cad beforehand to make sure it was perfection.  Hahaha!  I played more of an icing making, garbage clean-up role, but Bridger let me jump in to help decorate which is my favorite part anyway.  We over-bought on candy, because apparently the building is the part the boys prefer.  But I'm sure it will get nibbled at between now and Christmas.  Sure love making memories with these guys!

Bridger's                         Braddock's                         Landon's                     Tanner's

Landon's Christmas Chorus Concert

When Landon went in to try out for the musical and the director questioned why he wasn't in Chorus, Landon immediately went and joined.  He's really enjoyed getting to sing AND play the trumpet this year.  Thanks to Covid we haven't had any in-person concerts for well over a year, so it was a delight to go and watch Landon perform.  They all sang their little hearts out through their masks and it was a fun, festive night.  Bridger was sitting by me and apparently has yet to grow out of the youngest child syndrome and demanded my attention through most of the concert.  I'm sure the recording I was taking picked up more of his whining than it did of Landon's singing, but I guess we'll have an accurate memory recorded for posterity.  Hahaha!  And Dean was there to watch, but he was also running all the sound too.  He's put in over 40 hours in the past two weeks running the stage for concerts this year.  He is a rockstar and I'm not sure how he does it all! 

Thanks for helping to put us in the Christmas Spirit Landon.  We loved it!

Landon's cheering section.....they offered to get one with me too, but Bridger had had it, and therefore I had had it!  Hahaha!  But I was definitely there too. ;)

Young Women Christmas Party

This year we kept things simple and just bought kits to decorate Gingerbread Houses together.  And of course there was hot chocolate.  What's a Christmas Party without hot chocolate!?  We missed a LOT of girls who didn't make it out, but we made the house kits double as their Christmas gift this year and made sure to deliver them to everyone.  Despite the rough ride of Covid, and the lack of people who come out since it hit, I'm still so grateful for the things I learn from these girls.  Their lives are hard.  They face challenges each day I never dreamed of.  Our world is rough, and yet they're doing it the best that they know how, and I hope they're starting to learn that with the help of their Savior they've got this!  Merry Christmas Girls!  We sure love you!

Delaney's was definitely the most meticulous.  She's an artist for sure!

Ava comes pretty regularly with Addison and we're so happy to have her, even if she doesn't like being in my pictures! ;)

The whole decorating crew!

Lights

No matter how old they get and no matter how many times we've driven through these same lights, everyone still seems so excited to go each year.  For FHE we warmed up our hot cocoa and loaded up the van for our annual Christmas light drive.  There were actually quite a few new things this year and we soaked it all in.  Grateful for traditions and a chance to get in the Christmas Spirit.

This Santa reminded us of Grandpa Hilton.