So, this holiday season has pretty much pooped me out.  I had all of these grand intentions for enjoying the small things with my family this Christmas season, and instead I burned out fast.  I even put up an advent calender and filled it with something Christmas-y to do every day, and we are about 15 days behind.  When I pull out a paper that says "Be someone's secret santa" I think to myself, man, you should have just put 'tell someone  "Merry Christmas" today,' because that is about all the energy that I have left.  Wah, wah, bah humbug, I know!  But I have a good excuse, I promise.
At any rate, I got put in charge of the Ward Christmas party.  Which I enjoyed doing and I dare say it was a smashing success.  I had A LOT of help, shout out to my peeps, (Steffanie, Liisa, Elizabeth, Heather, LaRee, and so, so, so many more people)  I hope I can get some more pictures because some of the coolest features I have no pictures of.

we had a Santa's Workshop.  I bought fake snow which was a huge hit with the kids.  They also made letters for santa and deposited them in the mailbox we had by Santa's chair.

 We had a photo booth.

 and an ugly sweater contest with a sorry number of participants.  I participated, and I didn't even have a sweater.  But these pictures do remind me how unfair skinny jeans are to women's thighs and I vote to outlaw them.

 and apparently we never learned it is rude to point.

 Since I was in charge, I forced Don to participate by buying him a mock sweater vest from Wal Mart.

 The applause o-meter won in 2nd place.

 Like I said, I sorry showing for the ugly sweater contest.  We should have just had an ugly jean contest and us women with hips could have all gotten up there in our tapered leg jeans.

 The kids put on the annual nativity and the "choir" was pretty cute.

 We hung snowflakes from wire which looks much less impressive in this picture than it did in real life.  I thought we had a real creative idea.  But with the invention of Pinterest, there is not such thing as creativity anymore.  I laughed when I saw on facebook that my friend put on an almost identical ward party.

 Chloe told me after the party that santa clause looked like Brother Morris.  Man. she is getting too smart.  must find a way to dumb her down.  Furthermore, I am sad.  She has switched to jeans over skirts and leggings.  And it makes her look way too old.  And also she puts her hair in a ponytail every day which also makes her look way too old.  I poo poo this.

 And somehow Macie got 2 lollipops, despite that she only met with Santa once.

I hope I can find some pictures with the food because it was a sight to behold. We had cranberry beef brisket (my friend's Mom made it, she used to do catering), garlic mashed potatoes and gravy (farmed out to some ladies in my ward), homemade rolls and honey butter (thanks to Steffanie and her Mom who also did the brisket), a mixed greens salad with cranberries and bacon, corn, and Texas Sheetcake (supplied by a few ladies in my ward) and ice cream. The food was amazing.  Steffani and her Mom were my life savers.

A side story:
Steffanie and I went to Restaurant Depot to buy food for the party and this crazy couple walked by:



My eyes got big and I tried to inconspicuously get my friend's attention, but I guess I was obvious because the lady turned around and said to me, "It's okay. you can look at us!!"
I was a little terrified.  If you watch the show, you will see why.

In other news, Macie told me I have a big bum.  Unfortunately I am the only one in the family with a big bum, as Don did not receive the same compliment.  He has a "Liddle" bum.

Also I found Macie yesterday, standing behind my music stand waving her arms and singing like a music conductor.  So I forgive her for the big bum comment.