December was such a fun month. From Christmas parties to family gatherings, we tried to make the most of every moment!
Some fun events this month included our church kids Christmas party. It was neat to watch the kids interact and play games that required team effort. Some games were so silly that you couldn't help but laugh. The girls particularly enjoyed several of the minute to win it games and all the candy!
The kids spent quite a bit of time this month in the kitchen. They decorated sugar cookies with Nana, made Rice Krispie treats for camp, put together a cheese ball for a family gathering, and enjoyed making their own mini-pies for breakfast on Christmas Day. There were also chocolate covered treats to make and more cookies to bake! The kids all love being creative in the kitchen.
We enjoyed many of the Christmas activities in our town this month. Riding the Christmas train is always a treat. This year we were blessed with a short line and mild weather. Watching the Christmas parade is something we have missed doing the last few years so we took advantage of the opportunity to attend this year. We loved listening to the bands and seeing the horses, floats, and dogs. We also did a scavenger hunt at the library, made crafts, and took some goofy pictures. The fun continued as we did our annual lights drive. This year our favorite houses did not disappoint!
Before we took a break from BSF and Grace Academy, we enjoyed times of fellowship and fun. The girls made Christmas decorations, cookies, and Pop tart houses.
Unfortunately, the kids were not able to perform their music pieces at the local assisted living home due to extreme cold and the threat of snow. Eli, Thad, and Eden were going to play the piano, cajon, and triangle as a trio. They played for us instead. The weather stayed in the freezing temps for several days. Thankfully, we we never lost power. We enjoyed fires, reading, and playing games indoors.
Christmas Eve we attended our church's candlelight service. It was such a blessing to hear Elijah read scripture, to worship with our family and friends, and to rejoice over the birth of our Savior!
Christmas morning we finished our advent devotions, opened gifts, and made individuals pies before heading to the Anderson's House. We laughed, ate, talked, played, and ate some more. A highlight of the day was the silly gift exchange. What a sweet time to be with all of Leigh Ann's family.
To end the year, we headed to Pinecrest Camp for our annual Rice Family Reunion. We missed a couple families who had to work but were so blessed to be together with the rest. It was such a sweet time of worship, singing, looking back, and thinking about the future. There was an abundance of food, games, conversation, and fun. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather and health.
As we look ahead, we are excited to see what God has in store for our family in 2023. As always, we are thankful for His love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness that has seen us through 2022!
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