Christmas checklist: Done

Well, since it's the Christmas season, we've been making sure that we get all of our Christmas-related activities checked off the list :) I'm now ready for the part where I just bake and relax until Christmas. I can't believe that it's only 9 days away! This year has flown by. December itself always goes by so fast to me.

Ogden Christmas Village: Check

 Definitely a success! Addie LOVED it, it was pretty warm outside for December, and we had some family join us to make it even more fun.

 She pulled me from house to house, looking in all the windows.

She liked this one where they were baking treats...hmm wonder why ;)

Standard family snapshot at the Christmas Village

 Showing Ashley and Ian all the things inside the house

Visit Santa: Check

 She was so quiet and shy with him, but she smiled for the picture (not at this camera) and finally told him she wanted a little Ariel. (it's the only little dress up princess she's lacking)

I was informed a few days later, she wants a Yoda instead.

Gingerbread Houses: Check

Due to my obsession/stalking of gingerbread marshmallows, we decided to make them out of gingerbread rice krispy treats. Delicious! I recommend adding twice the normal amount of cereal to the recipe, however, because ours all ended up collapsing.

 Frosting makes Addie very happy

 She did a good job of putting spice drops on the house and using her own little frosting bag

 Look how into it she is...such concentration. It was fun to watch her.

 Our little house, made mostly by Addie

Ash and Ian surprised Dawn for her birthday so they were in town and got to join in the fun too

 Their cute little house, complete with chocolate shingles on the roof....which later caved in

Tyson came up to visit and joined in the fun and helped Whit with her house

Temple Square: CHECK

My friend Amanda and I had this grand plan months ago to go see the lights at Temple Square with the kids, and ride the frontrunner downtown. You know, a whole Christmas adventure experience.

So off we went! Max and Addie were wild on the way down and we thought we may be in for it.

After we grabbed some dinner at gateway (which, btw gateway- get some decent places there to eat semi-quickly, okay?) we jumped back on the trax and went up to "see the lights".

Um, what we saw? A MILLION people....and some snow....and yes some lights on trees that the kids didn't really care about. We'd forgotten the whole aspect of going on a weeknight- Mutual.

It was still fun, but we had to rush because we didn't want to miss the 7:57 train back. 

 Baby Connor thought this whole scene was a bit too wild and decided to sleep through it.

He seriously was an angel the whole time! We gave him the gold star of the evening.

I always love to see the beautiful temple, even if it's surrounded by mayhem.

 quick self-snapshot of the family to prove we were there.

The cute VanOrden family

 note Connor is still asleep

Addie loved this part, as did I

 So pretty.

Then....we missed the train....literally watched it pulling away as our trax pulled up.

Uh....now what? Back onto the trax for a hot chocolate run!

We got back on the frontrunner with plenty of time to spare and tucked Addie into bed at 10pm.

So there you have it! Lots of fun Christmas fun, memories and  a few traditions in the making! I really do love Christmas time, especially now that we have a child (children soon). It makes it all that much more magical. I hope that you're all having a wonderful holiday season full of your own traditions.