Almost Christmas!

I wanted to quick write a blog update before the craziness of Christmas sets in! What have we been up to this past month?

First, Gabe had his science fair (yes he did one in third grade too… why do they have them do it two years in a  row? I'm not really sure…) But this year we did an easy experiment that tested "Are dogs' and cats' mouths really cleaner than humans'?" Josh actually came up with the idea. We had Kitty lick a piece of bread, and Piper lick a piece of bread, and Gabe lick a piece of bread, and then had one that NO ONE licked. We put them all in plastic baggies and watched them over the course of three weeks. Kitty's grew mold the fastest! Ewww… But hers and Piper's both got waaaay moldier than the other two. Therefore, do NOT let your pet kiss you. Gross.

What else? Avery finished up her Fall BYUI semester of preschool. In some form of paperwork error or sheer carelessness, somehow her application was "lost" for the Winter semester, so she may or may not be having a place again starting in January. Stinkin' people over there. We can't all be an organized and perfect as me. ;) We are hoping she gets in since she is "first one the waiting list" (they say) but who knows. Maybe she will be home with me on M,W, and F mornings. She will still go to the Burton one across the street though on Tues and Thurs. She also finished her little gymnastics class and even got a little "gold medal" on the last day. If she doesn't end up doing the M,W, F preschool again I may sign her up for a regular weekly gymnastics class. She tried dance for a few months, but I ultimately decided she wasn't quite ready for it and pulled her out in November. She just stood there half the time so I figured I would save myself the $30 a month! But I DO plan to try it again with her next Fall! A highlight for Avery as well was going to ride on the city Carousel for one night that Santa was there. She LOVES the carousel but it has been closed since labor day for the winter. So she was completely elated to actually be able to go ride it again for one night! (She couldn't have cared less about the Santa part)

What can I say about Caleb? He is still our little funny Caleb with his Eeyore attitude sometimes. He is so picked on. (sarcasm) His second grade class did their yearly "Wizard of Oz" Christmas play (it's kind of weird…) and the funniest part was that he was cast by the teacher as Toto. He is the biggest kid in the second grade and yet he was playing the little dog. haha

We have had a TON of snow the past week so the kids have really enjoyed that. They have been off of school since last Friday (today is Wednesday) and they are already bored I think. My Etsy shop has been closed since the 14th so I am pretty bored too! haha But I am enjoying the free time! It has been another successful year! Our goal is to get our house paid off as soon as possible. ;) Josh is still at the police department and people seem to be dropping like flies (quitting…. not dying thankfully…) so maybe he will move up faster in the ranks than we had originally planned on! hahaha He talks about quitting too, but in all reality he is probably a "lifer." I always tell him he's the future chief. ;)

Tonight we are going to the Ashton church for Josh's family's little Christmas shin-dig. We will do a white elephant exchange for the adults and then a separate kid gift exchange. We are also doing breakfast for dinner. It's hard adjusting to other family's weird traditions but oh well. ;) At least my mom sent us her Christmas cookies in the mail! Maybe some day we will go back home to Wisconsin again for Christmas!  Or, if I had my way, to Hawaii…. ;)

Okay, here are some pictures of the past month!