Beginning of December 2010

On December 1st Tony, Buddy and I went to the Parade of Trees in Salt Lake to meet up with Faith's third grade, who were singing there. First we enjoyed the trees. Here are the kids next to what they dubbed "Creepy Santa" - a singing, hip swaying robot.

Christian loved this dinosaur tree and toy extravaganza,

but his favorite one was this snowman tree with an umbrella bottomed "fountain" that continually sprayed out tiny, styrofoam pellet snow.

The singing was amazing! Here's the news story about why they were there.

After the school kids left to return to school, we took Buddy over to the activity area where he was encased by a giant bubble, made lots of crafts, "fished" for a treat. It was so fun! I definately want to take both kids and spend more time next year.

We also bought a selection of cute felt pouches that held treats and toys. Everything is very reasonably priced and ALL of the money goes to Primary Children's Hospital!

The next night, the kids sang at the school for family and freinds, especially the ones who couldn't make it the day before.

I loved this song! Too bad the kids got a little sidetracked by the big guy's surprise appearance to sing their best.

This time while Christian had my camera he took some pics of our Christmas decor:

family room tree

front living room tree

bonus room loft banister

And lately he is obsessed with looking "cool"!?

On the 3rd the kids had a sleepover at Braeggers' and we met up with them the next day at the movie theater to see "Tangled." We all TOTALLY LOVED IT!

On the evening of the 4th we went to "Journey to Bethlehem" at the Mountain View Baptist Church in Layton. It was a bit drizzly, but it wasn't too cold and we really enjoyed ourselves. The last time we went, Faith was only two! We really want to start going every year.

Later that week we met up with Tony's family at the Ogden Christmas Park. We love looking in the little buildings

and visiting the big guy!

I have to give some explanation about Buddy's leopard print hat--he picked it out. Tony and I tried talking him into black or blue or any other color, but he just wasn't having it. I decided that if he loved it, he should have it. And a lady at the Journey to Bethlehem thought he was a girl. And Tony wasn't so happy with my decision. The end.  :)   Also, while we're on the subject of hats, the darling one Faith's wearing was made for me by Porter, one of my cute preschool students. His mom was making a bunch for Young Women's and he wanted to make one for "Miss Emily." Such a wonderful gift! Christian has worn it on occasion, too. Maybe someday I'll acutally get to wear it.

Faith has been doing so well with her piano lessons! Her teacher told me that she has been progressing faster than any student she has ever had. I told her that was great to hear, and she said "No, I don't think you understand--I'm not just being nice because I enjoy teaching her, she's truly the fastest learner I've ever seen!" We're so proud of her. She truly has a gift for it and is even pretty good at practicing without whining, which I never perfected :)

Sometime in late November, Christian came across the program from Grandpa Mitchell's funeral that he had kept. He immediately cut the photos out, drew a picture (unexplicably of a monster holding scriptures), taped it them on a piece of yarn and hung the garland on the wall in his room. There's definately some otherworldly connection between the two of them, because Christian never really got to know Grandpa very well in this life. Cute!

On the 11th our ward had a Christmas breakfast with a fun program where Santa told children about the meaning of Christmas. Afterward the kids got to sit on his lap.

That afternoon Faith wanted a picture with her fuzzy girl.