Dates, treats, and Christmas

Ok, so here goes a quick up date of the last few weeks of us getting ready for Christmas!

The first thing that got December started for us, was that Malia, David, and I all decided to go on a triple group date- with the catch that we got to pick each other's dates (and not tell the person who we picked until it got close to the day of the date)! Well, Malia picked David's date soon and easily, I got ahold of Malia's date pretty easily and he was excited to go. But my date proved to be a little more challenging than David originally thought. When it comes down to it, everyone I could go out with is either on a mission, or away at college! So after David's first and failed attempt to get someone for me ( turns out he has a girlfriend.....can't see that going over well! ;) he pretty much gave up. Luckily Dad was able to talk to a family friend, and bishop of the single's ward, and they found someone for me to go with.

If you think it sounds crazy already, it gets better!

Malia and my dates were meeting us at our house at 6:30, then we were all going to hop in the suburban and go get David's date. Well, we ended up babysitting for two different families in our ward, at the same time, at our house. So it gets to be 6:00 and everyone's hungry so Mom and Dad cook up some pancakes and sausage for the masses. All together there were five extra kids, the six of us, and of course Jordon. Then the parents of some of the kids got here, so we invited them to stay and eat with us, and we got to see their new baby!

Not long after they got here, so did my date. The house now has 16 people in it and is getting noiser by the second. Then Malia's date shows up....17! But I loved it. There were kids running around yelling, a huge stack of dishes leftover in the kitchen, and our friends from our ward.

Anyway, we all left to go get David's date, got to her house and......she'd forgotten and wasn't home!!! We gave David a hard time about 5th wheelin' it all night on our dates. But he happily offered to chaufer for the night (not to mention he wanted to go mini golfing). Afterwords, we came home and played "Apples to Apples" with our dates, and had hot fudge cake with them,our family, and the other kids we were still babysitting, and their parents. We had a good time, and I was so glad to have friends from our ward there throughout the night, too, it was a blast!

Don't mess with these hunrgy boys!!
Who wants more pancakes?


Another fun thing we've done this month was to go out to Grandma's to do our annual candy making day. Joni came, too, and we all spent the day in the kitchen whipping up (and sampling) some sweet treats!

All together we made, bon-bons, fudge, orange cookies, choc. covered pretzels, and mint truffles.
Not to mention Grandma and her awesome sugar cookies. I'd told Mom that I wanted to take some cookies to our dance class, and the people I visit teach. Well, Grandma found out, so while we were at her house she said she had some sugar cookies to send with me. She asked if
10 dozen would be enough! I told her that was plenty (and some) plus I didn't want to use them all up if she needed some. But she assured me she had time to make more, "Plus," she said, "I still have 11 dozen." Holy cow! She's been busy!


And here's our little Christmas tree that we've had since....I think forever! It already looks like Santa's stopped by ever since Grandma brought over presents for us. She's always so thoughtful and spoils us WAAAY too much!! Just one more reason we love her!

Dad's made treats, probably almost everyday for the last week (at least that's how it feels!) He's done several batches of English toffee, almond and peanut clusters, Baklava, cinnamon rolls, and tons of food besides that. He loves baking, and we love eating, so it works out well!

This has been alot of fun getting ready for Christmas-buying, making, and wrapping presents, visiting friends and family, and spending time together. It's one of the best times of the year! Merry Christmas!!!!