wishing all our loved ones a very merry Christmas!

downtown

it is our family tradition to take trax downtown to see the lights at temple square. this year we added going to the grand america hotel to see their window displays. the addition did not disappoint.

 on our way downtown. 

side story: todd forgot to scan his i.d. card to ride trax (you can get a ticket for not scanning it) and jumped off at a random stop to do so. i was in charge of continually pushing the button to open the door. however, it closed after the third or fourth time pushing it. i was left alone on the train unsure of where i was going and how to get there. we only have one cell phone, and todd had it, so i prepared to get off the train at the next stop, praying todd would think the same thing and meet me there. as i began pushing the stroller out the door, todd came jumping in! he apparently realized he wouldn't make it to our train car in time, so got in another one. you can't imagine my relief seeing him- i was sure our night would be ruined before it had even begun! 

 we went to the grand america first. the window displays were a story that you follow along throughout the hotel (they even had it published into a book as well). we were given a scavenger hunt, of sorts, to find a hidden star in each display. at the end, we all received a delicious cookie from their bakery. it was a fun activity i hope the grand america will continue next year.

 one of the "pages" (window displays)

 after that, we headed over to temple square to see the beautiful lights. (as you can see, the stranger that took this photo thought it was equally important getting the pavement as the temple- i guarantee you when i took his family's photo, i got the temple spires!)

 it is amazing how beautiful the lights are

inside the joseph smith building

it was such a fun night! i think next year, we might make it a two evening adventure, so we can really enjoy each spot. the end of the night bonus was seeing cousins at the bookstore on our way to trax. so, we got to ride home with ellie's "cousin friends" tyler and brayden. it definitely made the trip home faster and less painful for our tired children. thanks kathy and scott!

fun with the newmans

Christmas tradition: matching pajamas from grandma and grandpa!

playing "santa" with cousins matthew and josh

all in the sleigh together

i'm trying to be good, santa!

i love that my girls hold hands. they hold hands to dance together, to walk through the house together, and they hold hands in the car. it is seriously cute stuff.
as we drove home the other night, abby began to fuss. i asked ellie what the problem was. she said that abby wanted to hold hands, but that her hands were cold, so ellie didn't want to. i reminded ellie that it was important to be a good big sister and make good choices. i also slipped in that santa was watching.
a few moments later i hear ellie saying quietly, "i'm holding abby's hand, santa, but it's cold!"
way to go, sport.

last weekend, we had our good friends the evers over for dinner and a trip to gardner village to see the elves.

 ellie liked hanging out with "easton and the brothers."

 couldn't get all four to look at the same time

 watching the elves baking for Christmas

 there were some fun window displays

 rockin' out

watching elves play music

 after taking a few photos, jackson took his hood off, posed and said, "here, take another now."

the nice list. and upon closer inspection, you will notice...

 the names of ellie, todd, and abby, but nowhere was there jeanette (on naughty or nice)

  

 she was actually still and smiling long enough for me to take a photo!!!

under the careful (and spooky) watch of an elf

housekeeping

 i love that ellie insists on wearing that red hat whenever she picks up her bubble gun

 ellie teaching abby how to dust

 on to the piano

music time after the housework is complete

"abby's turn!"

my kids love taking baths. it is always sad when they get out, so we take turns who gets out first. and that child also gets to choose which washcloth to use. the other day it was ellie's turn to get out first, thus she got to choose which washcloth she wanted. i was holding both out for her to choose from and she kept saying, "abby can choose first." she was being so nice, letting abby choose, but i kept telling her she got to choose. finally, abby just grabbed one. ellie exclaimed, "abby chose first, abby's turn to get out!" ellie is getting a little too smart.

we've tried getting abby out of the bath chair, but she doesn't like not having it. this way she can focus on her splashing.