Christmas Treats with Grandma Musil

One of the activities Pam had planned for us is to make Christmas treats.  Nichole ended up only doing the dough this day and then the cookie decorating was saved for when the rest of the family was at Pam's house to help decorate them.  We all just hung out while the dough and the other treats were being made.

This has become my new favorite picture of Tyler and Ella.  It is just perfect.

I really like this picture because although Tyler is sick of me taking pictures and is hiding from me I can still see what remains of the treat making in the background.

This is a cute moment between father and son.  Nate and Tyler are so much a like.  They both really like to play on computers, they both really like music, They both like to be outside, and they both like adventure.

While things were wrapping up elsewhere I snuck to the back room to see what Nichole and Ella were up to.  I found Nichole playing the piano, trying to teach Ella a new song.  I am glad that I was able to capture this moment before I put my camera away.

December activities for Ella

All of us had a great December but it seems like Ella had a much busier one then the rest of us.  At the ward Christmas party Ella got to sing for the parents with the primary kids.  

 And she got to meet Santa too, although she didn't want to sit on his lap or tell him what she wanted for Christmas.  She was kind enough to let us get a picture of her with him.

 Right before Christmas Break Ella's school does ice skating as their gym activity twice a week.  She doesn't exactly enjoy ice skating but she does but for quite the effort.  I'm proud of her for that.

The night that we left for Utah Ella had her first Piano Concert.  To say that she was nervous would be an understatement.  She kept telling me how nervous she was and that her tummy wasn't feeling very good.  I guess she gets her nervous nausea gene from her mom.  Poor girl.  She did an excellent job at her recital especially when you consider that she only had attended 5 lessons before hand.

Ginger Bread houses

Every year we make Gingerbread houses the first Monday following Thanksgiving.  I bought this awesome mold I may have said that last year.  But it makes making the houses and assembling them so much easier.  Every year Nate and I get faster and faster at assembling them.  One year we will be able to get them all done in under an hour I know it.  This year it was just the Murphy's and us.  Natalie didn't want to do a house again this year.  Everyone had fun anyway.  I took most of these pictures but Nichole and Natalie both helped with picture taking.

 I love Ruby's face in this picture!

 Tyler actually turned his gingerbread house into a project for his science class.  He was explaining plant mitosis.  He was quite clever making it work into a gingerbread house.  When he took it to school he got to share the gingerbread house with the kids in his class.

This is how Nate and Natalie spent their time.  They did enjoy our company though so that was nice.  Sorry the coloring on this picture wasn't that great so I just turned it into a Black and White one!

 These two ate more candy then they put on their house!

Natalie was kind enough to do a selfie while she had the camera 

 Everyone with their masterpieces!  This has got to be one of my favorite family traditions.  Especially now that the kids are older and can do the decorating themselves.  I am not running around from house to house helping out.  I always have a great time on Gingerbread house making day!