Merry & Bright

The Christmas Season 2012

 was filled with so many fun events and memories. 

*We did some Holiday Shopping at the new outlets.

*We made lots and lots of Rudolph Cupcakes. 


*The girls looked sweet in their matching Christmas Dresses the Sunday before Christmas. 

*I helped with Gracie's Pajama Christmas Party at her Preschool.

Jody and I had the opportunity to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert featuring Alfie Boe and Tom Brokaw.  Our friends the Jensens invited us, and it was an amazing night.  The Conference Center is always exquisitely decorated for Christmas, and the orchestra and choir sounded beyond perfect.  

We enjoyed Christmas Parties with Family.  Gracie adores my cousins Natalie and Courtney.  They are so sweet to her every time we get together.



Gracie and Courtney

Something I really like, that my side of the family does each year, is choosing some names off of the  2News Angel Tree.  A few years back, among my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, we decided rather than buy gifts for each other, we would spend that money on families who really could use some support during the Christmas Season.  During our Family Christmas Party, the kids get to share their experiences about shopping for and helping other children.  It's always really special to hear.  This year Gracie chose a little boy -- her same age -- off of the tree.  We picked him because he has some of the same interests as her.  She helped us pick out a blue (Gracie's favorite color and his too) coat, three shirts, some pants, underwear, a Thomas the Train set and some puzzles.   She told us she was happy she could help and that she thinks he would want to be her friend.  I bet so too.  I'm sure they would be great friends!  We also adopted an older gentleman this year from the Angel Tree.  It was really nice to shop for him and know he wouldn't be overlooked on Christmas Morning.

Christmas Eve was super magical.  We spent the evening at Grandma and Papa Tait's house.  We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.  How cool is that?  Santa had both Gracie and Nahla come up and help him sing some songs.  When it was time to sing  Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer, Santa had some plastic antlers for the girls to wear.  However, Gracie came prepared.  She stuck with her trusty pair of antlers from home -- the ones she has been wearing all Christmas season since July.  Gracie even got to wear a red blinking nose -- talk about a dream come true for a kid who LOVES Rudolph!!

Both Gracie and Sienna were fine to sit on Santa's lap.  Santa shared some notes from his "Nice List Book" about each of the girls...things that the elves had written down.  He reminded Sienna to work on her "inside voice" and Gracie to be extra kind to her younger sister.



Cousins: Nahla and Gracie in their New Christmas Slippers

Sienna loves the "Rocking Moose" at Grandma & Papa Tait's house.

On Christmas Morning the girls were excited to see that Santa had brought treasures while they slept.  Gracie wouldn't come out of her room until she got the "ok" from us...because in her words, "I don't want to ruin the surprise!"  How sweet is she!? The girls had so much fun going through their stockings. Grandma and Papa Tait came over to visit while the girls opened a few presents from under the tree.

Santa brought Sienna a plush "Lambie" from Disney Junior's Doc McStuffins. That is Sienna's favorite show. Santa also brought her a little Doc doll. Gracie was thrilled with her Hungry, Hungry Hippos Game, a purple "locker" with a real key and lock, and that sparkly pink reindeer she saw days before Christmas. I wouldn't buy it for her, even after she performed a song and dance in the store singing about WHY it needed a home at OUR house...Good Thing Santa Claus hears the wishes of little ones. She was SO excited to see it on Christmas Morning!!

It snowed on Christmas Eve, leaving fresh powder to play in on Christmas Day!!  The girls had a blast being pulled on a sled behind one of the neighbor's 4-wheelers. 
And Gracie perfected her Snow Angel Abilities. 

Later on Christmas Day we enjoyed a really yummy dinner with my parents and Michael.  We exchanged presents.  Grandma and Papa Wiscombe got Gracie an Art Easel with paints and markers.  They gave Sienna more "Little People" Princesses to go with her Castle.  

 

I love my parent's home at Christmas time.  My mom and dad decorate their home so beautifully.  Under the Christmas tree is a village my Grandma Wiscombe made.  The girls have a good time playing with that snow-covered village and exploring all of the other fun decorations at my parent's house. 

Before the New Year, we visited Downtown Salt Lake to see the Macy's Christmas Windows. Each display was completely made of candy. Gracie wouldn't leave her reindeer in the car. So they were able to enjoy the window display as well. If you haven't noticed..."Reindeer" have really been trending at our house.

The lights at Temple Square looked especially spectacular this year. The snow was gently falling as we walked around the Reflection Pond. It was truly a beautiful sight!