Christmas Time

Here's a run down of some of our holiday preparations.  First of all we made a Christmas tree for family night with all of the traditions and expectations that we had for the holiday season.  On the ornaments, we wrote the activity we hoped to do.  Then as we got to them, we'd color them in.  It was really fun and I think I liked it better than the countdown we usually do because it went past Christmas to New Years and so the after Christmas let-down wasn't so bad with more things to look forward to.  I also liked that some of our ornaments/activities were simple and free like "sleep by the Christmas tree" and "make toffee."

Some of the things we did were:

SPEND TIME WITH COUSINS.  We had a ball decorating gingerbread houses and having a waffle party one day at their house (both of which were also on our tree ornament activities list). 

Then one day we went sledding and out to Denny's with them.  My kids think Denny's is the coolest place because their kid menus have pictures and they have good milkshakes.  Plus, they can order breakfast, lunch or dinner no matter what time it is.  It's crazy!

We tried to build a snowman but the snow was too powdery.  

We had lots of Christmas movies with popcorn...

Bowls of homemade soups and chili.

Reading Christmas books...

Singing Christmas songs at the top of our lungs.  Apparently Let it Go is now one of our songs...

Christmas hats...

Dancing with Santa...

Decorating the Christmas tree... This year Doug was down and so we had to do it ourselves. I think I need to update my ornaments though.  

A few outings included the Living Nativity with live animals and all.  It was quite a production by the Huntsman Cancer Society.  

Two trips to temple square lights.  One with the youth and one with our family.  

I bought two new decorations this year which both broke within the first week and I returned them.  "We just can't have nice thangs" as Jeff Foxworthy says.  

They did enjoy them for a few days though.  Here is Olaf who talks and sings.  Louis thought it was his baby. The  second toy was a jack in the box that broke...

We also got a quick visit with Grandpa who was in town for a day which was not enough but good to see him.