Temple Square

Merry Christmas a few days late! We have had a great Christmas this year, and we hope you all have too. We have just stayed around here and enjoyed family and parties and all that. Tonight we went up to Temple Square with my mom and had fun looking at the lights. We always say we are going to go but haven't gone since Luke was small. It was worth it. Liam said he wanted to see the "big Jesus" (Christus statue) and we all enjoyed ourselves despite the cold.

Makin' Cookies

One of my favorite things to do (okay EAT) at Christmas time is make sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting. And of course the kids love to help. Grace and I got to spend some time together a few days ago and create our masterpieces.
Cooking up a masterpiece Silly Grace The finished product

More Fashion Statements by Liam

What can I say? The kid has style.

Snow Babies

Well we have had wonderful weather this winter, I cannot complain. Especially compared to last year. When it finally snowed the kids couldn't wait to get out in it.

Gingerbread Mania

Okay I admit I have been a blogging slacker....but in my defense I have been taking photos, just doing nothing with them. About a week ago we made our annual gingerbread house. The kids love it, Liam was eating the candy as fast as he could. He is a total candy baby, we were dragging him off the counter every two seconds. Sometimes he has too much energy.

Then last night for Family Home Evening we made gingerbread men from the dough that Grandma Linny so kindly left us. They were delicious and fun!

And last but not least, here are some really cute gingerbread houses that my cousins put together. If you click on the photos you can see the one bear ice fishing and the hot dog roast in the second photo. So cute.

Busy Day

This morning we got a call from a neighbor telling us that Santa was up at the information center in our neighborhood- but only for 15 more minutes! So we actually threw on our clothes and raced up there. He was the best Santa, and he even made balloon animals for the kids.

Grace was a little reluctant but in the end she really liked it.

Luke and Santa

Liam and Santa - by far the happiest to sit on Santa's lap. Liam kept giving him hugs.
After Santa, Grace and I went to Brenda's baby shower. It was fun to have some girl time and see all the cute baby gifts.

A Small Miracle

“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”
Albert Einstein

Is any miracle small? I guess it depends on how you look at it. Just this last week, we have witnessed a true miracle, at least at our house. Liam has decided that he wants to use the potty. And he is. He has been dry for about a week now, I am completely amazed and flabergasted - is that how you spell it? I just can't believe it, I am so happy. Hooray for Liam!!!

Putting Up the Tree

This year we got a new tree, only because I threw away last year's in disgust, only to discover this year that I wished I had kept it because DANG trees are expensive. Oh well....we love our new tree, it only has three parts to it and the lights are already on it. We are gettin' fancy.

Liam is always singing...I think he was in the Christmas spirit when we were decorating the tree...always cute.