The month of December is filled with so many fun activities that uplift the spirit and bring Christmas cheer. Here are a few that we have enjoyed this month:
Yesterday JARED (and the kids) set up this mini town (more people, animals and buildings were added after this picture) with 2 train sets, the kids' Little People toys and a Bertie the Bus set. Jared's favorite part was connecting the bus track with the Racing Ramps Garage, so the bus did 360s on it route around town. It provided many hours of enjoyment (and a good break from studying for finals).
On Tuesday night we attended the Men's BYU Basketball game. We arrived early to get free T-shirts (Nathan refused to wear his since he didn't want to cover his "Y Cougar shit") and cheered the cougars on. The kids' favorite parts are the pregame hype and running and climbing on the bleachers during the game.
We attended the Living Nativity at the Provo Tabernacle again this year. It is put on by a local stake and they do an excellent job. Nathan wasn't up for sitting through it, so Jared took him out to see the animals (pictured below), run around and eventually go to get ice cream. Why did he have so much time to kill? Because Brielle INSISTED on watching ALL THREE showings that evening. We went to the 6:30 showing in order to get the kids to bed at a decent hour, but the announcer made the mistake of stating that another showing would start in 10 minutes at the end of each showing. When Brielle heard that, she refused to leave. By the end she knew which direction to look before each scene started. The most special part was that Mary and Joseph would bring Baby Jesus for us to see since we were sitting on the 2nd row. There was a sweet spirit there and it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas.
Outside there was a camel, donkey (pictured), goat and sheep for the kids to meet and pet.
Briellie in front of the beautiful tabernacle as we wait for Dad and Nathan to get back from the "ice cream shop" to pick us up.
Every Tuesday morning we join other MBA spouses and their children at a local rest home to sing children's songs and read stories with the residents. This month we have been doing fun Christmas songs.
Nathan the reindeer
The rest home singers (plus some) gathered at the Tanner building to bring Christmas treats and cheer to their dads during a class break. So fun!
Jared's solution when Nathan needed a drink but "can't reach!!"
Brielle has been our official Christmas decorator this year. She decorated (then UNdecorated and REdecorated) the Christmas tree...bows and all. And she LOVED unwrapping most of my nativities (I collect them...that is my favorite part too!) and setting them up. I was touched by her arrangement of the characters. In each setting, Baby Jesus was in the center and all the other figures formed a tight circle around Him so each person could see Baby Jesus. I love seeing the world and the gospel through the eyes of my children. I learn so much. I pray that we can all focus that intently on putting Christ in the center of our lives during this Christmas season and all year long.
Yesterday JARED (and the kids) set up this mini town (more people, animals and buildings were added after this picture) with 2 train sets, the kids' Little People toys and a Bertie the Bus set. Jared's favorite part was connecting the bus track with the Racing Ramps Garage, so the bus did 360s on it route around town. It provided many hours of enjoyment (and a good break from studying for finals).On Tuesday night we attended the Men's BYU Basketball game. We arrived early to get free T-shirts (Nathan refused to wear his since he didn't want to cover his "Y Cougar shit") and cheered the cougars on. The kids' favorite parts are the pregame hype and running and climbing on the bleachers during the game.
We attended the Living Nativity at the Provo Tabernacle again this year. It is put on by a local stake and they do an excellent job. Nathan wasn't up for sitting through it, so Jared took him out to see the animals (pictured below), run around and eventually go to get ice cream. Why did he have so much time to kill? Because Brielle INSISTED on watching ALL THREE showings that evening. We went to the 6:30 showing in order to get the kids to bed at a decent hour, but the announcer made the mistake of stating that another showing would start in 10 minutes at the end of each showing. When Brielle heard that, she refused to leave. By the end she knew which direction to look before each scene started. The most special part was that Mary and Joseph would bring Baby Jesus for us to see since we were sitting on the 2nd row. There was a sweet spirit there and it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas.
Outside there was a camel, donkey (pictured), goat and sheep for the kids to meet and pet.Briellie in front of the beautiful tabernacle as we wait for Dad and Nathan to get back from the "ice cream shop" to pick us up. Every Tuesday morning we join other MBA spouses and their children at a local rest home to sing children's songs and read stories with the residents. This month we have been doing fun Christmas songs.
Nathan the reindeerThe rest home singers (plus some) gathered at the Tanner building to bring Christmas treats and cheer to their dads during a class break. So fun!Jared's solution when Nathan needed a drink but "can't reach!!"
Brielle has been our official Christmas decorator this year. She decorated (then UNdecorated and REdecorated) the Christmas tree...bows and all. And she LOVED unwrapping most of my nativities (I collect them...that is my favorite part too!) and setting them up. I was touched by her arrangement of the characters. In each setting, Baby Jesus was in the center and all the other figures formed a tight circle around Him so each person could see Baby Jesus. I love seeing the world and the gospel through the eyes of my children. I learn so much. I pray that we can all focus that intently on putting Christ in the center of our lives during this Christmas season and all year long.
Addie, Brielle and Mia
A nativity and floating lights in the pond in front of the temple. Breath-taking.
Our family...aren't those lights incredible!?!
The beautiful Rhinehart family
Heather and I used to either exercise or go to the temple together early every morning. Such good memories!
A rare picture of just Jared and I. Thanks Heather!
All of us! :)
In this 
Granddad and Granny
Lisa and Sean
Anderw, Emily 
Nathan, Jared, Kristen, and Brielle
Mom and Dad were able to come the Saturday before the reunion started, so we ENJOYED our time with them. On Monday night, they took us to Tucano's. SO, SO good!!
They took the kids and I to McDonalds for lunch on Tuesday. I really enjoyed talking with them while the kids had a blast playing on the toys.
Mom and Dad worked hard over the last few months typing up some of the stories from their life. Jared compiled their writings into a book and each family received a copy. We read excerpts from this book each night after the kids had gone to bed. The spirit was strong as we read of the faith that was displayed and the sacrifices that were made. That faith and those sacrifices have brought us to the privileged life that we each lead today. We read the following life stories:
Gathering for our evening activity...cuddling cozily on the couches. Mmmmm.
Sean starts off with a kiss from the 2 women in his life. 
The Delicious Pot Itself
Brielle wants some whipped topping. Aunt Lisa is all fun!
Enjoying the Tim Tam straw
The boys play Ticket to Ride while the girls get crafty. Fun for them!
Watch those teams create: Lisa & Nathan (Sean helped a bit too...mostly sharing Nathan's job...eating the candy) and Brielle & Jared (I got to help a bit too).
And Cheryl and Luke
Um, Dad, that frosting looks really yummy. Can I have some?
Sean, Lisa and Nathan's final creation
Cheryl and Luke finish theirs! Isn't it cute. We aren't sure which kid won the candy eating contest. Luke made a strong showing.
Nathan snitching from the final products.
Mom is snitching a taste of her delicious pineapple dessert. Yum!
Nathan and Lisa preparing the bananas for the fruit salad. (This is probably a good time to mention Nathan's crush on Lisa. He's gone over her. Who can blame him? Definitely not Sean!)
What can we say? The kid has good taste!
Dad was right there helping with every meal...even though it wasn't his responsibility. Thank you Dad!
Andrew shows some ingenuity in a method of getting the last bit of pancake batter out of the pan. Pretty impressive!
Enjoying the delicious Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pancakes that Cheryl and Andrew made. We ate like kings and queens THE WHOLE TIME: Pumpkin pancakes, lamb with mint sauce AND turkey with cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner, Cafe Rio tacos, and delicious eggs benedict with Dubliner cheese etc. etc. Can we say YUM!?!
Thanks to Lisa for the darling Thanksgiving paper plates. 
Happy Family
I'm impressed Mom!
Movie Time!
Handsome kid!
"Hiding...Y Cougar hat on"
Flying airplanes
Morning cuddles on the couch enjoying the beautiful view. Aaaah.
