Wow, what a month!

  On December 10th, we had a dinner at our home for the Stake Presidency and wives...I was too busy that night to take any pictures.  On the 13th, Amanda put on an awesome Christmas party at her new house.  The next morning, Dean flew out to Phoenix to spend the week with Braden and keep Braden company on the drive home.  I had to stay home for our Special Needs Nativity Night, which was on Dec 15th, and our ward party on the 16th.  Dean and Braden made it to our house just in time for Caitlyn's annual "Sweaters and Nog" party on the 17th.  The next day, the 18th, (Krista's birthday) was our stake Bishop's Room and Choirside.  (kind of a big deal for Dean).  Monday, the 19th, Grandma Ellis had us over for Braden's birthday.  Kind of a funny story here.....

  I got a call from Doug Carlisle of the Boy Scouts of America telling me Dean was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award.  They want to let the recipient know before the local scout leaders and stake presidents get notified, which would be on December 26th.  Mr. Carlisle  told me this is a big deal, and it would be appropriate to have all our kids, and whatever other family members present, and he would come to our house and let Dean know, and give Dean the official letter and instructions regarding the award.  Oh, and all this was to be kept a secret from Dean.  Really?!  How was I supposed to know who he would want there that evening?  How was I supposed to fit one more party in the week before Christmas?!  So I came up with this story that I needed to do another birthday dinner for Braden, and invite both sets of grandparents.

  Our "birthday party" for Braden, was going to be on Wed, Dec. 21st.  Everyone except Dean knew why we were really having the dinner.  It was a little awkward, enough so that Dean asked me to cancel my party because we had already had a party at Grandma's and things were just getting too busy!  Sorry, Dean, really not a option.  Then that morning, there was a crisis in the stake requiring Dean's attention and he would be needed in the evening too.  Somehow, I needed Dean to be here for when the big announcement was going to happen.  So as to not ruin the surprise, I begged him not to leave as long as his parents were here. I told him as soon as his parents left, I was fine with him leaving to handle the stake matter.  His parents, like I said, were in on the surprise, so after dinner, they stayed knowing Mr. Carlisle would soon be arriving.  Dean was getting really nervous, and nobody seemed to be anxious to leave our house....except Dean!

A very surprised Dean, and Doug Carlisle from the BSA

 Yay!  No more secrets from Deaner!

 Ej, Dean, and Mr. Carlisle

 All our kids, and both sets of Parents were able to make it

 We finally had something work out....carolers showed up with perfect timing!  That was a total surprise for all of us....and no, I didn't have any figgy pudding for them!

 Dean and his parents

Me and Dean with my parents

Dean had to hurry off, but now things made a little more sense to him, and no, his parents aren't scary.  I wouldn't have any problem with them being here without Dean here!  (It was the only thing I could think of with such short notice!)

We didn't have anything we needed to be to the next night, but then on Friday, the 23rd, we had the big Jenson party here.  Saturday, Christmas Eve we were able to go to Dean's parents house, and then home for the Dean and Erika family party.  Christmas, was great, with breakfast at Amanda's house, and another one at Kami's house, then a visit to Krista's house, and then home for a yummy Christmas dinner with our kids and my parents.  (Those blog posts to come shortly!)