A Family Tradition

We've been going to see the Ogden City Christmas Village ever since I can remember.  Even when I was a little girl.  And now, my parents and siblings get together and take our children to see the Village every year before Christmas.  There are so many lights, and it is so magical.  It's one of my favorite Family Traditions.  

One of my favorites!

Look at all of these sweet little faces.  Cousins are the BEST!  

 Most of the group!

My girls just love to be outside.  Doesn't matter how cold it is.  It seems like we are always the last ones to leave.  This year, my girls asked me, even before we went, if we could stay as long as we wanted.  Of course I said yes!  We didn't get home from the lights until 10:30pm.  Long after everyone else took off, we were still walking through the lights and Villages.  Slow, relaxed, not chasing cousins.  I got some of my best family pictures when it was just our little family.  I love how my girls love to be outdoors.  They will play out in the snow for hours on end.  Until all of their snow clothes are soaking wet, and they have to come in.  

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the Pizza before, and a night to remember!  

And thanks to our awesome family for all the cousin fun!  

December so far

December is such a Magical Month!  We already celebrated Elle's Birthday,  and Chris' is tomorrow.

I love the lights, the snow, the decorations, etc... But I really love the family time.  

I love how even when we don't see family all the time, we usually make time to visit and spend time together at this time of year.  Everyone is more giving, and we all seem to want to help each other more this time of year.  It must be the spirit of Christ.  After all, it is HIS Birthday!

Last week, we went to the Festival of Trees.  

Again, it is ultimately a fund raiser for Primary Children's Medical Center.

We haven't been able to go for the past two years, and I have missed it.  This year, Chris' sister who is teaching dance again, took her students to dance at the Festival Thursday night.  So we were able to meet up with grandma Bump Bump, Chris' sisters Julie and Maurene, and some cousins and nieces for a fun night.  We walked through the trees and went down EVERY isle.  Oh, I was in heaven.  The tree's were beautiful.  Every kind of decoration imaginable.  We walked through the isles of quilts, and wreaths.  And even the Gingerbread Houses were amazing!!  

I took so many pictures.  And then we watched the dancers.  And, we were supposed to go eat with Chris' family afterward, but Elle would not leave without seeing Santa.  The line was so long, that we had to tell them to go without us.  I just felt like this was a good time for the girls to see Santa.  He did not disappoint.  And I got to take my own picture of the girls with Santa at no charge!  Bonus!

A bit sad that we missed eating out with the family though.  Guess we'll have to make some more plans to spend time with them again soon.

So here are just a few of my absolute favorites of the night!   

 My favorite I think.  Look at the old Television and toys!

Origami Birds, for Nicholas :)

And Chris' absolute favorite!  The tree was green and flocked only on the tips.  It was amazing.  There were lanterns lit with candles and the ornaments were made with burlap fabric.  It was just so amazing.  Wish I had gotten a closeup.  We might have to duplicate this someday :)

This was just cool.  The entire tree was made up of those plastic rings that hold pop cans together.  How they did this, I do not know.  Brilliant for what they wanted to achieve.

Tap Pros!

Santa!!  

I think we seriously waited almost an hour to see him.

And last night, we went to see the Layton City Christmas Lights.  

We've started our own little family tradition.  I think this is the 3rd year we've gone.

It's one of our favorite activities.  

Yeah, it's been extremely cold lately.  But the girls were bundled in their snow suits.  Even Ruby.

I think Ruby had on like 4 layers, including snow clothes!

  And they stayed toasty warm, as we were out walking around the lights.  I love that it's right here in our own little town of Layton.  Kind of our own thing.  

We are definitely enjoying December so far....

Elle's 6th Birthday

Elle's Birthday weekend was a long time in getting here if you ask her.  

She was looking forward to her party for days...  It was almost too much to bear.

I realized that I am slacking lately.  I didn't even get a picture of Chris or Ruby at Elle's party, so I've posted a picture I took the day before of them out in the backyard.

And here are Bree and I.  Getting things ready for the party.

I can make a tasty cake, but as for decorating it, well....lets just say, if I can buy stuff to put on it, we're good.  Anything more than that, and you've lost me :)

 

And what's a Birthday without presents?  

 

The Birthday girl!  

Elle 6 years old...

 

We had a small dinner of BBQ Hamburgers and invited grandma and grandpa to come over.

Then some cake and Ice Cream.  A few presents, and some good quality time together!

 

Elle has been asking for Buzz.  I think it was her favorite gift of the night.  Now Woody has a friend.

 

I can't believe how fast my littles are growing.  Time seems to be going faster and faster these days.

I begged Elle not to grow, or have a Birthday, but she told me no, she couldn't do that.  

Well, I tried!  

I sure do love my girls.

Happy 6th Birthday Elle.  I love you!!