December part 2

December is always busy with friends and games. To add to our list Emma got her drivers permit. It is wild that I will have two drivers now. 

Benjamin and I were off to CA for the last tournament down there this season and Navy hopped in last minute. We stayed with Richard and Sheryl. They are the best hosts who we always love to see. They took us out to dinner and in the elevator on the way back to the car- we were headed to do some Christmas shopping- we got STUCK! 

It was horrible. We were in there for over an hour. The temperature got hotter by the minute and we were all dripping sweat. There were 5 of us and 9 total in the elevator so no room at all. The permit expired 4 years ago. The operator on the intercom lied to us saying he had called the fire department. He did not till the very end because he didn’t want to get in trouble, which he did. The fire men were so great and helpful for us, but that guy was in trouble and being lectured to shut down all of them because of how he handled everything. I have never had a fear of elevators before but that is definitely a valid fear. Very grateful none of us were hurt. As soon as the doors shut they opened about 2 inches but then would shut again. It just stopped working. We were on the bottom level so didn’t drop either. The alarm was going off the entire time though which added to the misery. 

Benjamin played amazing and had a great weekend. We did some team bonding and I had fun with Navy and the other parents. We loved seeing the giant tree and ice skating rink in downtown LA by where we played. All things Christmas make me happy! 

Jake and I got to go to a Knight’s game with Taliah and Ben. Our team had a rough night, but it was so fun cheering and being together. We all even made it on to the jumbo-tron.

I went to a couple different girls nights and got to decorate sugar cookies. I always love being around fun women, in the midst of the busy Christmas season. Noah had his first Christmas choir concert. He had to stand strict straight with a pretty on top of them choir teacher for those middle school boys. They sang great and it was a good performance. 

Our ward party did a shadow nativity scene to a Christ

Version of Hallelujah. It was absolutely beautiful and so spiritual. Benjamin was part of the stable and Navy was a shepherd. Navy was even in tears with how strong she felt the spirit and the gratitude she was feeling for our savior. An amazing way to remember the true reason for the season. 

We had an early Christmas celebration at Jeff and Melissa’s so we could have most of the cousins together. They did a cousin gift exchange. Melissa had it all set up with gingerbread house competition and sugar cookie decorating. Hailey and Emma did some flour game and had us all laughing. Benjamin and Umi got in the hot tub and penny and Emma’s gingerbread house was the upside down complete with Vecna. All the kids laughed all night. It was one of the best Bierstedt Christmas’s.