December Joys

December came really fast after Thanksgiving. The 1st of the month we made our gingerbread house! I never seem to remember how long it takes to make one from start to finish, dough to frosting. Gingerbread baking is definitely a December smell. Love that cinnamon and clove! I wonder if our apartment neighbors ever have their noses pressed up against their walls wondering where those delicious smells are coming from. I am now master of my oven, after much trial and error, so no gingerbread was burned in the process this year. I put a little battery-powered tea candle inside that flickers and lights up the stained sugar glass windows so it looks like there's a real fire burning in an imaginary gingerbread house fireplace inside. Totally cool!

This first week of December we got snow almost every day. Just a little bit, though. Maybe 4 inches total. I was so disappointed because we had several activities cancelled due to the weather. I shake my fist at those icy roads.

I was so glad I got to spend the past few days in California. My very best friend was married in Redlands, CA.

I also got to see three of my grandparents. I loved playing games with my family. I really enjoyed the 75 degree weather.

Even though I wished I didn't have to leave, I'm glad to be back home. Brett's youngest brother Cade is staying with us until Christmas. He's eleven and spends the day working on his multiplication tables and reads off his Kindle while I work at the office. He is also reading to our ward primary children to earn his Scout reading badge.

Brett is happy to be done with exams and is now on an academic break. He passed all his classes and even raised his GPA. He is enjoying working more on his student assistant research job for Nucor.