More December

Cookie making took place on two different days - one day to roll and cut the dough and another to decorate. Joseph gets the award for the most sprinkles consumed on a cookie in a single day. 

 
Bailey had a party on Tuesday, December 21st. She invited a group of  her close friends, and they did Christmas-themed activities all day long.  They made elaborate gingerbread houses, ate tons of pizza and treats, took pictures outside (brrrrr), played games, and opened gifts. We loved having them here!

 

On the 23rd of December Aubrey invited all the girls in her school class to our house for a Christmas party.  It was a fun, wild time, with lots of cookie decorating, dancing to "Let's Dance", singing on the karaoke machine, and a contest to make the best holiday dress out of toilet paper and crepe paper.

Just a sample of the mess we were left with!

 

 This awesome "Singing Machine" was our gift from Grandma and Grandpa Springer.  We love it!

In between the two parties Dan had a surgery on his eyes, so he was in recuperation mode for Christmas week. He had a terrible time with the anesthesia and discovered that he has allergies to certain medications.

Brandon came home from college on the 18th of December. We loved spending time with him, and he was incredibly thoughtful to family members and helpful around the house. He had just received some good news - he applied to the Media Arts major at BYU and was admitted, which is rare for a pre-mission freshman (although he has enough credits to be a junior in college). In order to apply for admission, he had to create an original movie, write essays, and be interviewed. He is very excited!  Brandon took the video he created and also submitted it to a contest at BYU.  He won the contest and will receive $500!  Lauren made him a "lava cake" to celebrate all the good news.