Dec. 5 - St. Nickolas Day.....Eve to Dec. 9 - Red Bag Project

e had a very busy month of December and I wanted to catch up before we got too far into the new year.  Two of the most important things that happened were Christmas, of course - a time to remember the Savior's birth, and Max turned 12!  A big birthday!  He had the opportunity to receive the Priesthood and is now able to serve the sacrament on Sundays.

The next few posts will be about our December.


Dec. 5 - We celebrated St. Nickolas Day Eve.  When I was growing up, my mother always tried to do some celebration for that day, but when Max was born on Dec. 6, I found it difficult to try to celebrate both - almost like having a birthday on Christmas (my grandfather - is sad about being born on Dec. 25 and he's 94!)  So, luckily, we met and have become fast friends with the Marshalls.  Svenja is from Germany and said that they always celebrated on St. Nick Eve!  I was so glad to hear it and we decided to celebrate this year together.  Our friend, who served his mission in Germany, Keith Knickerbocker, played St. Nick.

 

Dec. 6 - Max is in an auditioned choir.  On this day, his birthday, he traveled around the school district to many different elementary schools and sung.  They ended at the Legends (it was about 5 degrees outside).
Here are some of his pictures and videos:

On Monday, the 9th, The All City Children's Chorus performed their Christmas concert.



Dec. 8 - We put up our Christmas tree, per tradition, to the sounds of The Muppet Christmas Carol.  It is truly my favorite version - the next one after it being the one with George C. Scott and then the musical with the song "Thank You Very Much!".

Dec. 9 - The kids and I participated in a service for Christmas called The Red Bag Project.  Basically, individuals in lots of companies get together to purchase gifts for children who are in need of Christmas presents.  Then they ship all those gifts with labels, in red bags, to our church building.  Volunteers, including us and tons of missionaries, organize the bags by labels and line them up in the cultural hall (gym).  Once they are organized and all bags are accounted for, they are then shipped to new trucks that take the bags to their designated places where the families can pick them up.  The items are wrapped and specific according to what the child actually asked for or needed.  Sometimes the bags are ripped and there is a "hospital" to fix those that need it.  It's been fun every year I've done it, but it was especially fun to bring Max and Elise and let them participate in giving to others!