Christmas Time

Christmas time is always a big and exciting time of the year. We loved all of the activities like putting up the decorations, Christmas Tree, and Ward Christmas Party. Funny story...We went to the wrong ward Christmas Party. We had just moved in Thanksgiving Day. We had missed a Sunday due to sickness, so I didn't know that it was supposed to be at the Stake Center. I had signed up for a Breakfast Casserole...and brought it! But we didn't realize until after the Primary put on the play and they said the ward's name that we were at the wrong place. By then we had already eaten! Oh well, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We didn't know anyone yet and so strange faces was a norm.

It snowed before Christmas and the kids loved playing in the snow in the back yard. We made some sugar cookies and delivered them to our neighbors Christmas Eve, but no one answered. We were trying to keep up with the Hebdon tradition. We were unable to go to Arimo as planned due to both kids having really bad diarrhea. We were afraid we couldn't make the 5 plus hour drive without some accidents. We were very sad, but it was nice being together. This was the first Christmas Joe had off for a couple of years.

For Christmas Eve we read the Nativity while we acted out the parts. JoJo really wanted to be the shepherd, Addie wanted to be Mary and an Angel, and Daddy was Joseph, Mommy was the Wiseman. This is a tradition that we try to do every year. And it helps us to remember Christ and his birth. We also watched the Living Scripture's " A King is Born". The kids enjoyed watching that. I think as they get older and begin to understand various concepts this will be a tradition that they will hopefully remember and feel gratitude for our many blessings.

Santa Claus brought both kids a bike. Addie had blue and JoJo had green. They LOVED their bikes! We gave them a Catching Fish Game, Candy Land, clothes, matching"Minion" Jammies, and some movies. Grandma Sally and Uncle Phil got JoJo a set of cars and 3 dinosaur that you could build or take a part with a screw driver. They gave Addie Peppa Pig set of wooden puzzles and a package of fingernail polish. She loves to get her "snowpies" painted. That's what she calls them, I don't know why. Grandma and Grandpa Hebdon gave them Christmas Eve jammies. Addie's were "Frozen" and JoJo's were "Cars".

Addie as Mary

Addie as Mary, Daddy as Joseph, and JoJo as the Shepard, Mommy (not pictured, Wise man)

Addie also wanted to be the Angel

We made sugar cookies and decorated them.

The kids loved decorating the Gingerbread House.

Ward Activity Santa, last minute JoJo got shy and wanted mommy to help him.

Addie still is too shy to see Santa, but looks so cute!

JoJo patiently waiting in line and trying on an Elf  Hat.

The Bare's had us for Christmas and gave us a Little People Nativity. They loved it and the music.

They really loved putting up the Christmas Tree. This was the first time I let them help decorate it. They actually did a pretty good job. I had to spread things out a little bit and Daddy helped with the higher branches.

JoJo as the Shepard

Addie with Frozen Jammies.

They LOVED the lights and decorations.

Addie's 4th birthday

Our baby girl turned 4, and she was so excited!! We asked her multiple times what kind of a cake she wanted, and she chose "Moana". So that is what we did. I have seen a few styles that I liked and decided to combine a few. I also used a different frosting recipe....so it started to lean a bit...but with some dals, it didn't fall over until the next day! Too funny...

We wanted to invites some family over. Grandma Sally and Uncle Phil came and brought her a "Spirit" style horse and doll. Great Uncle Randy and Aunt Kathy (whom I didn't get a picture of) brought her the pants that she is wearing and a white kitty sweatshirt. We got her "My Little Pony" Jammies (shirt is what she is wearing), a Moana figurine set that we used for her cake, a few movies. Grandma and Grandpa Hebdon gave her Rainbow Dash doll from "My Little Pony". JoJo gave her Mrs. Potato Head.

Addie with Rainbow Dash Doll

We invited our family to come after church for the Moana Birthday party. We had Tomatoa (crab) crescent chicken sandwiches, Heart of Te Fiti sugar cookies, nuts and raisinettes, and a variety of fruit.

Addie and Grandma Sally

Uncle Phil, Daddy, JoJo, Addie, and Grandma Sally

Birthday Decorations

We sure love Addie and are grateful she is in our family. She is so thoughtful and caring. She is often thinking of JoJo and making sure that if she gets a treat, that JoJo does too. She plays well with others at the playgrounds and includes kids of all ages and genders. She has a big heart. She loves her new room and often jumps off the window seat...despite her parents asking her not too. She jumps on her bed and has bent the frame...but she is just so active and loves to be doing things. She doesn't play with toys that well, but likes to be running, jumping, and singing all of the time. She definitely keeps us going.

Around October-November Addie started to potty train well, meaning poopoo. This has been an ongoing battle....but she finally was able to figure things out and want to go potty like a big girl. She likes to get treats for her reward, especially popsicles. We went swimming at the Rec Center and celebrated her big decision. Yah!!