We had so much fun incorporating the church’s #lighttheworld campaign into our advent activities this year. It was refreshing and eye opening to focus on different types of service each day. I was especially impressed with Halle who really went above and beyond. She made and delivered pictures of Jesus for her brothers, drew Baby Dory pictures for Claire, Max, and Jane, and wrote a sweet thank you note to our house cleaners, among other things. Josh shoveled the driveway of a neighbor after a snowstorm and had such a great attitude all month long.

We started our #lighttheworld with our annual food packing event. When Rusty left TapInfluence earlier this year we decided to form our own family foundation. This has been a dream of ours for awhile and we are so excited to get started. Here I am signing the paperwork.

We were thrilled to team up with the Larson’s foundation, Guardian of Angels, to host this event for Colorado Feeding Kids. The church was kind enough to let us use the Cultural hall to pack the food. Colorado Feeding Kids brought all the supplies and we provided the funds and the volunteers. We feel so grateful to live in a community where people help without hesitation. We had almost 100 volunteers and together we packaged just over 20,000 meals! The director said that we packed in a record breaking time. It is so heartwarming to watch families work together side by side to get the work done.

My friend April encouraged me through her own experience she shared on Instagram to donate blood. It was my first time and I had a great experience! I’d gladly do it again.

Once again, we participated in our favorite school tradition, Black Rock Gives Back. I helped weigh and record food donations and the boys loved going shopping for their food to donate. It was a record breaking year with the school donating 6,941 lbs to the Erie Food Bank.

We left candy canes and jokes on cars in the King Soopers parking lot. It was freezing and we didn’t last more than 10 minutes, but hopefully we left some Christmas cheer.

We tied a BYU lap Blanket for Great Gandpa Miller so he can stay warm and cozy while watching all the BYU sports.

We found out that the Salvation Army had a serious shortage of toys this year. They put out a call for help the week before Christmas. We talked with the kids and told them we’d double whatever donation they would like to make. They blew us away with their generosity, each of them donating $20 or more. We had fun shopping for the toys at Costco.

It was our 2nd year volunteering with the Colfax Community Network. They changed the volunteer age this year so just Rusty and I went and left the kids at home. The Toys, Schriners, Maddoxes, Brasiers and Becks volunteered with us. Rusty and I were assigned to help greet people as they arrived. We offered them hot chocolate and cookies and helped them to the correct registration line. It had snowed heavily the night before and the temperature was frigid. It felt little there were less participants than last year and we wondered if the weather kept people away. The day was long but we were glad to be of service. We loved seeing the excitement of kids and parents both as they arrived and as they left with full bellies, gifts, stockings, hats and gloves.

I put together a fun treasure hunt for the kids that ended with them finding some new pajamas under the Christmas teee.

We had some selfish advent fun this season as well.

It was Blake’s turn to put the Star on the tree. He didn’t want help from anyone.

Late start morning was filled with Christmas donuts from Krispie Kreme and watching The Santa Clause.

We made Snowflake Quesadillas.

We cheered Halle on as she played her clarinet at the Erie Country Christmas Parade.

We played Christmas Bingo with Rowberrys. I had a baby Dory stuffy for the grand prize and things got competitive!

We had our annual Picnic Fondue under the tree and played Christmas “Would you Rather” while we ate.

After dinner we headed to Josh and Halle’s Christmas recital. They are both improving so much and had great performances.

We played the Saran Wrap game for FHE. This was a fun one and I’m sure it will make it into our advent activities again 🙂

Sarah, Velma and I took the girls to see the Nutcracker. I’m so glad we went. There is something pretty magical about girls at the ballet at Christmastime. I love watching their faces light up. This year I especially loved watching Halle crane to see down into the orchestra pit to watch the clarinet players.