20 December 2009 - Getting Ready for Christmas

Since my Christmas gift to Joanne was to finish the basement, I spent most of my week working on that. I also had to give and grade four finals, so this week was mostly about doing lots of work so that I can take a break for Christmas time. Not too much of a break though because tithing settlement still isn't done and there are several families in the ward who need help at Christmas time.

I got one coat of stain on the cabinets, and was able to start work on the tile floor.

Christmas time means baking, and that means Emily helping in the kitchen.
On the Saturday before Christmas each year, our ward sings Christmas carols outside the Giant Eagle grocery store and rings the bell for the Salvation Army. Madeline was happy to be the bell ringer.

This year we manned both entrances to the store, and competed with each other to see whose bucket would raise the most money. The bishop's side won ;-)

Emily is in front in this picture with her Christmas hymns notebook. It was freezing cold and snowing most of the day. We had a lot of fun, but we were glad when our two hour shift finished.

Merry Christmas to everyone. We hope you have a wonderful holiday.