December 15-21, 2025

Katie said bus, yes, and please. She is getting better at walking and has started doing it without my prompting. She is getting better and catching her balance, changing direction, and pacing herself.
Mary can do a somersault, she learned that in dance class. Dad: Will you hold my hand? Mary: I’m sleeping!; Mom: Will you grab that for me? Mary: I don’t think so, I’m so tired.; (Puts a blanket and pillow on the floor in the kitchen) Mary: "This is a good bed for me." (Proceeds to pretend to go to sleep); Mary: You spoiled a perfect Christmas, mom!

Monday I spent the whole day cleaning the house. We took a break at noon to go to Walgreens. We finally sold the stain sprayer then picked up our Christmas cards. We came home and I addressed and mailed the cards. I did some meal prep by making chicken rolls and cooking some bacon for my lunches and breakfast. Dad came home from work and brought home some treats. I taught violin that night to Alex and Daisy. Our secret santa gifted us a stuffed animal chicken and a full charcuterie board for the third day of Christmas (3 French hens).
Tuesday Mary had dance. Katie was tired that morning but I couldn't put her down for a nap until after dance. She fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep while Jessica and I talked and Addie and Mary danced. After that I took piano music to Henry Hardman's house to accompany my violin students at the recital, I was so grateful he agreed to do it! Mary and I read books and played while Katie slept. Katie woke up and joined us for a couple more books. Dad came home early and we had a charcuterie dinner. Paula and I went over to Arielle's house before she went out of town and gave her a little Christmas gift. Our secret santa gave us a bird ornament, a wood bird caller, a book on birds, and a card game for the fourth day of Christmas (4 calling birds).
Wednesday we had a playdate with our friends at the park. Lindsay didn't stay too long because she didn't want to be out in the wind. ShaLay, Jessica, and I stayed for a few hours. Penelope came by for a little bit too. Our secret santa came early this day and dropped off 5 maple donuts for the fifth day of Christmas (5 golden rings). I went to mutual and took a few of the youth around to carol to members of our ward.
Thursday I got up early to make cookies for our Christmas party at the church, after the exercise class. I also tried to make muffins for the girls but they turned out gross. We had fun playing at the church with our friends. We picked up our groceries on our way home. The house was kind of a mess so I couldn't move on with my projects. So Katie took a nap and I cleaned up. I prepped some chicken cordon bleu's and make rice crispy treats with m&ms. I packed those up cute, as well as the leftover cookies from that morning and some chocolate kisses and mini books for Christmas gifts to pass out to our friends. I got it all in the other room (to hide from Dad). Our secret santa brought us a beautiful casserole dish, 18 organic eggs, and a loaf of brioche bread with a recipe for baked French toast for the sixth day of Christmas (6 geese a-laying). Paula and I visited Jessica Allen that night and gave her a little Christmas gift. We went to the "smiley face house" on the way back for the girls to see the lights matched with Christmas music. Dad got home a little later after a 12-hour shift.
Friday I bathed the girls first thing and showered. We cleaned the house and packed a lunch. We went to Walmart to get some brown sugar for the French toast recipe. After that we went to the library and did story time. I got my library book that they ordered for me, I'm so excited to read it! After that Katie fell asleep in the car and Mary was super patient while I went around and delivered the Christmas treats I had made. Dad got home early and actually beat us home. We got back around 1 pm. He had gotten up at 3 and went to work at 4:30 am, so he was really tired. He watched a movie with the girls while I got us some treats from Grocery Outlet and got us lunch at Mexican Food. I went to practice the staff song that night. It went well! The guitarist said they are doing some Phantom of the Opera music and asked if I wanted to participate. I told them that I'm open to it. Our secret santa brought us a swan pool float and a $100 gift card to Walmart for the seventh day of Christmas (7 swans a-swimming). Dad came up with some goals to get on top of his mental and physical health in the new year and we found a support group and a potential therapist. I finished reading A River Enchanted on kindle.
Saturday Sam and Sabby got married in Utah. At home we made the French toast recipe, it was good but a little too sweet, I'll use less sugar next time. We went to Walmart as a family to get a thank you gift together for our secret santa. We got McDonalds for lunch then I got ready and taught violin to Daisy and Lizzy. Alex got the flu and had to miss the recital. After class I went to the middle school and practiced the song again with the other music teachers. The song is Carol of the Bells. The recital went well. Daisy played so beautifully. Lizzy was nervous and lost her spot but I got her back on track. I love the vibe of Fernley Performing Arts, that we just want the kids to have fun learning music and dance. I want them to feel good about their performance but also want to work hard to do better next time. I think the staff number went well, it was fun to collaborate with the other teachers, I've never done anything like that before - a musical number that hasn't been totally written out. After the music recital ended and before the dance recital started, a little kid pulled the fire alarm. I felt bad for Nicole to have to deal with that on top of everything. I got home and we took the girls to look at Christmas lights. Our secret santa gave us a dozen mini Crumbl cookies (normal sized cookies) and fancy organic milk in glass bottles (2% and chocolate) for the eighth day of Christmas (8 maids-a-milking).
Sunday morning I showered and got the girls bathed and ready for church. I prepped the backpack and Dad and the girls dropped me off at church for ward council. Nicole came in a little late and looked upset. I don't know if it had to do with the dance recital the night before or not. After the ward council I practiced singing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with Lindsay, Penelope, and Sarah Johnson. Christa came a little later. We sang last in the meeting before Bishop Hoopes closed the meeting. I thought it sounded good. Dad brought the girls. It was really nice to be together as a family in church for Christmas. After church we drove to Fallon and got some yummy pizza. We went to Walmart and got 7-up and cranberry juice to make our own Sprite Cranberry at home and also to help Mary, she complained of having stomach pain. We had the Christensen ornament exchange party on zoom after church. Even Dad came and joined for a minute. We watched movies and I deep cleaned the house in the afternoon. It was so dirty and I wanted to get a head start on my Monday cleaning. Our secret Santa brought us two boxes of pirouette cookies, a book about a dancing giraffe, and a coupon for two months of free dance classes at Fernley Performing Arts. The coupon made Dad think the gifts are from the Hardman's.