This Santa has hairy legs

A friend called and said she was doing the annual Polar Express party here in Logan and her Santa had flaked the day before the event, and how did Anthony feel about being Santa??

After a little poking, prodding, arm twisting and "it's for a good cause" talk he agreed.

He had no idea how to be Santa and was really nervous. That whole day he would suddenly say "Merry Christmas!!" or "Ho, ho ho!!" At first I thought he was just being silly, but he got really embarrassed and told me he was so nervous... and was practicing.

The next night it was about time to go and I went into our room to get him and he was watching a youtube video on how to be Santa. The last pointer was, when a kid asked for something expensive or big to say, "we'll see what we can do about that" instead of agreeing in case that gift was not given.

We went to the center and he began dressing in the provided Santa suit.

Anthony has really big calves and the boots wouldn't go further than this.

Can you imagine sitting on Santa's lap and a good two inches of dark hairy leg was sticking out??

Luckily they had another suit which fit much better. And it looked AWESOME because it was corduroy!!

We got the call for him to come out and he looked at me and said "I don't want to do this anymore!" Good thing he's a trooper. He marched on out, jingling the big wreath of bells and calling out "Ho, ho ho! Merry Christmas!!"

Santa read the story "The Polar Express," kids sat on his lap and told him all about what they wanted for Christmas (you wouldn't believe how many asked for a Wii), and gave out little gifts to each kid. It was so cute to listen to him say "we'll see what we can do about that" when a kid asked for something.

There were cookies and hot chocolate afterwards and there were also cutouts for photos. Of course we just had to have our photo taken :)

Sorry, I took the video sideways.

I got a edjumacation!!

My second to last semester is over! AND I got a 4.0!!!

My practicum instructor came to my practicum site and had a meeting with my supervisors and they evaluated my performance. I just received an e-mail copy of that evaluation.

There were quite a few questions & answers but I'll just share the most important part.

"OVERALL RATING OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE.

Far Exceeded Expectations

Alisha's overall performance exceeds expectations. She is an active part of the team and feels free to offer input and suggestions. She has taken on the responsibility of managing the volunteer program and has attended trainings to better understand her duties. Alisha would like more direct patient/clinical experience and we feel she will be able to take on these additional opportunities and will work to have her more involved in patient care."

Anthony & I went to Village Inn to celebrate how well we did this semester over early morning hot chocolate.

Anthony passed his Praxis and will be student teaching at Mountain Crest in the Spring. He's also been getting audition dates for the 8 grad schools he applied for. He's going to be a travelin man here quick. I'm SO proud of him and his goals and accomplishments.

Yum, yum, yum!!!

For this month's family get together (other than the Christmas party and Christmas), my sisters and their families came over to my apartment for a sushi night!

I taught the girls how to make sushi and they excelled!!!

Isn't it pretty!?!?!?!? And so yummy looking!

Then everyone dished up

And enjoyed.... except for those few pieces that had WAY too much wasabi (which caused the rest of us great enjoyment as we watched the discomfort of the person eating it)

Then the guys watched the football game

The kids watched a movie

and they girls sat in the kitchen and talked... I'd say it was a perfect Mills night :)

And then, just because I think it's too adorable not to share, here are Ian and Isaac :D

So this is where I spent most of the Christmas Holiday,

The Lindbeck house in SLC.

Isn't it SO cute!

I spent Christmas morning with:

Weston and his mom, Shauna,

Casey, Weston's brother

and Fritz, Weston's dad

Then we went downtown and visited Grandma!!!

Then we had dinner at Weston's house with his mom's family. This is Heather, Weston's cousin/best friend. You'd never guess she's 38 would you?

This is Kaylie, a little cousin who became my friend after dinner.

Then we had a special visitor: Mrs. Clause!!!

Then we came here to see the lights and feel the spirit of Christmas.

It was a great day!!!

Mills Family Christmas Party '10

December is one of my favorite times of year. I like the snow and Christmas and all that, but more importantly ALL my family gets together for our annual Christmas Party!!

We enjoyed sledding down the hill by the house. One of my favorite winter past times is seeing who can make it the farthest down the driveway. Run-ins with the stairs have been associated with this activity.

Making snow angels in the field behind the house. A lot of deer had already been back there, but it was completely free of human tracks.

Snowball fights

Various crafting prep

Someone is always eating at Mom & Dad's house. Something about the house and the environment just makes people hungry!!

Also, there is invariably someone sleeping

Caroling prep

Hot Chocolate after caroling

You want some?

Santa's visit

Look past Kathy, Annie, Mom & Michelle and really look how many people are filling the deck. That's right... EVERYONE!!!

We ran out of clean silverware (again, always eating) so Kayla had to use a big serving fork and Richelle had to use a spoon.

Poor Mom, she gets so tired during these big events and whenever she sits down she usually falls right asleep.

The nativity

Of course people had to take pictures of the newest baby.

I just couldn't help myself when I saw this wig. This is what Elvis would have looked like as a blonde.

The snow was REALLY coming down when it was time to go.

I'm grateful for the Mills family. I'm glad we're all close and can, more or less, stand spending an entire weekend with one another. I'm grateful for Mom & Dad raising us in the gospel, and that we could celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, during the Christmas season together.

I love you all.