The Johnsons: December

This December, David and I had so many wonderful opportunities and events. At the beginning of the month I had Young Women in Excellence. I was able to find the coolest theme on sugardoodle.com---"The PURSEuit of Excellence." The main speaker talked about what types of characteristics the girls need to "carry in their purses" with them throughout their lives to become women of excellence. At the end of the night the girls each got a purse with nine things in it, one thing for each young women's value. Because I thought they turned out cute...but mostly because it took me and the rest of the young women's presidency about three weeks to come up with all of these...here are the nine things we put in the purses:

Faith: White tissues to take to the temple

Divine Nature: Cosmetic mirror
Individual Worth: Chocolate coins because they are worth more than gold
Knowledge: Poem
Choice and Accountability: Gum---"Chews" the right
Good Works: Gloves "helping hands"
Integrity: Strength of Youth Pamphlet
Virtue: Ring pop "a virtuous women's worth is far above rubies"

A couple of weeks later, David and I hosted the young men/young women's Christmas party at our house. We had so much fun!! We played white elephant and there were so many hilarious gifts that were given. I ended up with a plunger, an etch-a-sketch, and a Power Puff Girls game. Here's a picture of some of my young women at the party. I love them!

Also in the month of December David became an official waiter at PF Chang's. He's been working as a backwait there while also working part-time at his old job, Cold Stone Creamery. Now he finally quit Cold Stone and is just working at PF Chang's. He really enjoys it and I'm so happy that he was able to get into a much better job.

Here's an extra picture of David acting silly. He's holding a portion of the painters tape we have used so far on the house. Seven rolls and counting....

During the month of December we got a wonderful surprise--SNOW! While it is somewhat unusual for Greensboro to get snow at all, it is even more surprising to get it in December (January is usually the coldest month here). Even more surprising still was to get 4-6 inches of snow. EVERYTHING shut down. We didn't even have church on Sunday even though the snow fall was on Friday! David and I celebrated the snow by building our first fire in our fireplace. Here are some shots out the front and back door.

David and I spent Christmas Eve at his sister's house. For those events and hilarious pictures go to her blog. David's mom spent the night with us and then on Christmas morning David's sister and her family came over. We just relaxed and had a good time together eating and talking and trying to ensure that none of the children got irrevocably injured.

The table for our Christmas luncheon (David's mom let us borrow her china and tablecloth)--

I learned how to make snowflakes like this from a girl at work. Pretty, huh?

My family always has chocolate milk in a green pitcher. I tried to keep the tradition alive in my own way--

David's mom fulfilled his childhood dream by getting him a "baby's first Christmas ornament" from 1985. Better late than never!

We got David's mom and sister Twilight Sweetharts because they are obsessed with the series! We got one of them the Edward box and the other the Jacob box....can you guess who got which? ;)

We got Cameron coal...haha! We are hilarious!

David and I in front of our Christmas tree...I don't like this picture but I knew it would make my mother happy to see my smiling face, so, here it is.