We did lots of fun Christmas activities in December. We started out December 1st by going to Scrooge at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse. This was Buddy's first time and Faith's third (although her first time she didn't sit through much of it. Tony ended up leaving and driving her around while Tam & I enjoyed the musical!). Here are the kids with Jacob Marley.
On the 9th we went to Journey to Bethlehem. It was cold, and we basically butted in line in order for the kids to hang out with Sarah's kids (we waited in line and in their chapel for over an hour and this saved us another 45 minutes) but we really enjoyed it. We love making the "journey" and being harassed by Roman soldiers, finally arriving to see the Christ child.
On the 13th Faith had a Christmas ballroom recital at the school. All of her grandparents & her Tammy came to see her!
December 18th we pulled the kids out of school for a winter "staycation" and rode the rails into the big city!
We started off by taking the kids to a music & laser show at the planetarium. The kids had been jealous of Tony & my experience with this type of show from our anniversary date, so we decided to treat them. This one was set to Christmas music and was really fun.
Of course, while we were there we had to visit Mars,
and the Moon!
We did a bit of shopping at the Gateway, then took the kids to eat at Tucanos. Christian LOVED collecting all the meat from the swords with his tongs and they ate pretty well. Good thing since the place is a bit pricey for us!
A bit more shopping, and then we went to see The Hobbit in IMAX. We loved it, and Christian managed to sit through three hours of movie with no peep breaks! A Christmas miracle!!
After the movie, we had to run to catch Trax or risk missing our Frontrunner connection. We were a bit worried that we had missed it and would be either jogging several miles or spending over an hour in the cold night waiting for the next one, but luckily Trax was just a bit late and we made it home, safe and sound.
After school on the 19th we went to Boondocks for some bowling,
ate at Chuck-a-rama and then drove through the lights at Thanksgiving point.
We warmed up by the fire,
visited the reindeer,
and watched part of a cool ice carving demonstration.
On the 20th we picked up the kids a bit early from school and went to Station Park in Farmington. We watched the awesome fountain,
did some shopping, ate at Panda Express and then went ice skating for the first time! Tony wanted to keep his body undamaged, so he didn't try it, but I held the side wall as I made two passes around the small oval and the kids skated for hours. Luckily there is a small glass building nearby where Tony and I watched while keeping warm.
Faith wanted this cute Rudolf bun in her hair for her school Christmas party on the 21st.
I took most of the day off work and Tony & I volunteered at Christian's kindergarten Polar Express party.
Right after school we went to Salt Lake and saw My Big Fat Utah Christmas at the Desert Star Playhouse. The kids and I loved it, but it was not what Tony was expecting and he absolutely HATED it! Their plays are very silly, full of crazy songs, lots of slapstick humor and pokes at the LDS lifestyle. At least most of us enjoyed ourselves!
After the show, we went to This is the Place park for their "Candlelight Christmas" event.
We got to see more reindeer,
and the kids got a "visit with St. Nicholas."
They had some fun activities like writing a letter to St. Nicholas and then burning it in the fire so the ashes can carry on the wind--all the way to the North Pole,
and making a beaded candy cane.
We got to enjoy the most amazing group of carolers! I was very tempted to just follow them all around the village.
It was very quiet and dark, with the windows being lit by candlelight. It was so peaceful and really helped us bask in the spirit of Christmas. The most special time of the night was when we visited the live nativity. The baby representing baby Jesus was only two weeks old! They were really out in the stable with the animals nearby.
This is our first visit at Christmastime, and we all agreed that it would be a new family tradition to visit every year. We absolutely loved it!
We stopped by the planetarium before heading out of Salt Lake because the kids hadn't stopped talking about some Airzooka guns (which just shoot a big poof of air) which they'd seen on sale there. They won't be a surprise gift, but a good one! Buddy just had to get a picture of himself in the Hoberman expanding sphere toy :)
We finished up the evening with some delicious nuggets.
On the 22nd we did our holiday baking and put together some plates for the neighbors. We have such a fun time with this! I love how the kids' Santa cookies turned out. I didn't even help with those beyond mixing the dough!
Our "melting snowman s'mores" were a bit of a fail, so they did not get dumped on shared with the neighbors.
Tony got more free clear wrap from Temkin, a producer of plastic bags and such that he delivers to at work. The kids loaded up the goodies in their wagon and made some special deliveries!
Earlier in the month, the kids decorated a gingerbread house,
and made these darling gingerbread trees at the sleepover with Tammy.
On September 1st Faith turned 11 years old and we celebrated the following Sunday on the 4th. She designed and created a beautiful cake based on the movie Brave. (not sure why Buddy's sporting chocolate frosting war paint)
Unfortunately, this cake barely made it to my parents' house intact and suffered irreparable damage shortly after arrival. It was baked in two loaf pans and held together and on top of a round cake with almond bark. Not steady enough for a 20 minute car journey! But it was still awesome and a great effort on Faith's part.
She got lots of fun gifts! I can't believe this girl is so grown up already :(
On the 13th the kids gave an impromptu performance of their dancing skills!
On the 15th we decided to go to Phantom at Davis High. I thought we'd better go before the last few days it was showing to make sure we got tickets. When we got there, EVERY ticket through the end of the run was already sold out! There was quite a line of people hoping for unclaimed tickets and we would have to wait for an hour without any guarantee of seeing the show. The kids decided they wanted to wait, even though the gentleman at the counter was not very hopeful for us. Well, we got some of the last tickets and we even got to sit together! We were on the right side about halfway back in three seats with an open space next to it (wheelchair accessable seating) and it was wonderful!
Both kids loved the show!!
On the 19th Faith went with Tammy, Tina & Lana to Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2. Buddy and I waited to see it with Tony that Saturday, but Faith is a super fan!
November 22nd was Thanksgiving. We ate two wonderful dinners and had lots of fun with family at each house.
On the 23rd, Mom took the girls (+ Buddy for the first time because he had been dying to go the last few years) to the Nutcracker Ballet.
She made beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy ornaments for the girls,
and got Christian a manly Nutcracker.
On the 29th we kept Buddy out of school & Tony out of work and went as a family to see Faith's ballroom dance performance at the Festival of the Trees. My mom & dad and Tammy came, too. After the the dancing, we looked at lots of trees and gingerbread houses. Tammy spoiled the kids with goodies and we enjoyed some fresh scones.
(this pic was taken by Christian of his favorite tree. LEGO themed, of course!)
We got the kids some tickets and they got to be inside the bubbles and make some crafts.
After the festival, we ate at Chick-fil-A and walked through the temple lights. It was such a nice night, the kids wouldn't keep their coats on! (of course, I was wearing two coats and still froze)
