December Holiday Fun

The first of the many fun holiday preparations we did was decorating the house (Dec 1).  Elizabeth had fun getting everything out and looking at it all.  She especially liked dumping out the tree ornaments and crawling into their tube; it was pretty funny seeing her smashed in the tube. We had a tree this year in the corner and she did really good with it; she did not really touch it or pay attention to it (YAY)!  

 

Nana and Grandpa gave Elizabeth her Christmas present early, a Fisher Price Nativity.  She loved playing with it and putting all the characters together.  One cute experience was when watching Elizabeth, instead of putting the figures in the stable and arranged like a nativity 'should' be- she always put them crowded tightly around the baby Jesus. When I asked her why she did that, she looked at me, confused that I didn't know, and said, "It's Jesus." It was such a cute testimony of the spirit of Christmas!

Elizabeth also got to open a new Christmas book every couple of days. She loved reading the new books in her newly covered chair from Nana.

 On Friday December 5, we walked to Downtown Louisville for the Light Festival.  There was a parade with lights and Santa came (riding a firetruck) at the end.  It was really cold, and late, but such a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. 

 

Waving to Santa

 The next week (Dec 12) Elizabeth and I went to Denver to the Hammond's Candy Cane Festival.  We got to tour the candy factory (cool but a little tough with a toddler) and played some fun carnival games.  She got a big candy cane and loved it; I did not especially like the colored mess but it was fun seeing her so excited.

The next day was our Ward Christmas Party.  Ben was put in charge of this party and it turned out great; he is the king of delegation. At the end of the party we had a special visit from SANTA.  If you remember last year, Elizabeth was very scared of Santa, but this year she soaked in the fun and loved it.  The only thing on her list for Santa this year was Pizza (imagine that)! 

Elizabeth and Henry

 Crocs decided not to do a big Christmas Party this year and instead had an employee only Ugly Sweater Party at work.  Ben forgot about this until the night before, so the next day Elizabeth and I made him an ugly sweater.  He got a green sweater with homemade toddler ornaments all over it; it was perfectly ugly and adorable at the same time.  

 

 

 

 

 

Ben and I sang in the Ward Christmas Program in church on Sunday (Dec 21).  It was a beautiful program; with a string quartet, choir and flute numbers, primary and young women pieces, and a special women's choir (that I participated in).  I love the spirit that comes through music, especially Christmas music.  Elizabeth sat with some young women in the ward and got to wear her adorable new Sunday dress to church! 

Hiding from the Camera!

On Monday December 22, we went to our friends house (the Andersen's) so celebrate Festivus! Festivus is a fake holiday created from the 90s TV Sitcom, Seinfield. We had chinese food, watched the episode of Seinfield and had a white elephant gift exchange (we got a game and a "wreath-witherspoon").  They had a cat and Elizabeth LOVED it, she followed the cat around all evening. It was so fun being with our funny friends and celebrating the "Festivus for the Rest of Us."

 

 

 

 

 On Christmas Eve, one of our friends had a Jingle Jog 5k around a lake in Louisville.  We all dressed up (in our most festive gear) and walked the path with a reward of hot chocolate! It was fun to be up and out in the early morning and to do a fun family activity on Christmas Eve.  Elizabeth won the 'costume contest' with her Christmas tights and shorts (it was weird but super cute). That night we went with the Newson's to look at Christmas lights; we always go to one big house that has a long driveway and beautiful lights. As we go to the house the people, who were outside, invited us in to their party (we didn't go in because we had to get home to prepare for Santa )and they gave Elizabeth some candy canes.  It was so much fun and great to see the holiday spirit of giving.
  

 

We live in a beautiful place and loved spending the morning together as a family!!