New Christmas Outfits...

Rylie's new Christmas Dress...

Bode's new Christmas Outfit...

My cute dudes...

A gingerbread village...

we LOVE peanut butter and kiss cookies, its a family tradition. This year for a family party we also made Reindeer cookies. If you need a idea for a treat, they were pretty fun to make. A little hard to get the antlers to stay in the warm cookie. Rudolph cookies, we even saved some to give to Santa.

And the Gingerbread Christmas Village... It was fun to decorate 5 little houses, versus one big one.

still more fun to come...

what a get away...

We were pretty lucky to get away for a few days and stay in SLC. We went with one of Mike's brother and his sister and their families. We had a blast and it was pretty hard to come home. I think this may have to become a new Christmas Tradition.

Temple Square was crazy with people, it kinda took away from the temple grounds, but we just had to look past the people to the lights.

Temple Square - Love my Family!
Bundled warm and tight in the stroller with their new build a bear "Bear" and "Monkey".

Gunner, Holly and Rylie all washing their new build a bears. It was fun for them to build their own bears. They are so happy with them and sleep with them at night.

Riding the Trax to downtown from the hotel. That is the way to travel for sure, Rylie loved it and Bode was so happy to not be strapped down.

Took a train ride at the South Towne Mall and did some Christmas Shopping.

This is why we were able to do some shopping at the mall, both kids took a good nap in the stroller after swimming all morning. Love this double stroller, its a life saver.

Jumping on the hotel beds, oh yes you can at a hotel. Jump all you want to.

We were loading the luggage and Rylie and Bode thought the luggage carrier was a jungle gym. It doesn't take much for us to be entertained.

Can't get enough of swimming at the hotel, we missed it a ton and it was great for the kids. Such a pleasant, relaxing, and precious time together weekend.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas....

Rylie has been taking Dance this year. She loves it! Well her first recital went off without a hitch, I think I was more nervous than she was. They danced to a Holly Jolly Christmas and it was adorable. Lots of Family came for the grand event and it meant a ton to her. Dad and her friend Maggie gave her flowers. What a night!

First time on stage.

Getting ready to go on stage

my monkey...

After Rylie's dance recital (post to come), Grandma Kay helped Bode into Grandpa Smith's boots. Check out those grins. Bode is such a happy, fun loving boy. He is into EVERYTHING, but such a sweet guy. He loves to give kisses and then run. He loves breakfast and is beyond happy in morning. He can't wait to get out of the crib. He loves to do whatever Rylie is doing. You should see this guy dance! Bode loves being outside, no matter the weather. I had to block both trees into corners to keep the little guy from tipping them over and destroying them. I replace the ornaments he can reach each day.

and trying to get downstairs as fast as he can.

busted!!

LOVE YOU, little MONKEY!

Seeing santa...

Oh the joy of seeing santa, Rylie was so excited to tell him her list... a dress up box, princess and the frog, snowwhite with pink dress and white on the shoulders, lipstick, and makeup and then she says that is all. Bode did great sitting on his lap until I turned around to get the camera and it was all done. But he sat there long enough for me to snap to a picture.

Our Christmas countdown, we got the idea from Curious George!

Gingerbread cookies...

Tis the Season for baking! Rylie and Bode both love Gingerbread cookies. They eat them up at Grandma Smith's house. Why not bake them? They turned out pretty good if you can stand the smell of Molasses, it made me a bit queezy. The kids eat them up though.

These two best of buds enjoyed putting a few decorations on them. Rylie and Hannah

And this guy is showing off how eats Chili, what a mess. Bode can say "cheese" and smile at the camera with his nose wrinkled.

Clarification, in my last post I said this household or something like that loves the snow. My husband wants me to clarify that he is not involved in the love snow statements and can't wait tell its a 100 degrees again. The end.

where is our snow going?

I am so bummed, we just went for a walk in 40 degree weather. I like the degrees, it is very nice outside, but so sad the snow is melting. My lawn is showing and I want more and more snow... Here we are having SNOW much fun!!

Bode's sleigh ride around the neighborhood

OH the joy of eating fresh snow... check out my little santa.
Rylie making tracks in the snow.

For FIVE years I have been asking MIKE to put lights on the house. In fact we bought the lights the first year we were in our home. Well each year there was excuses why it wasn't going to happen. Well this year, RYLIE says in her very nice voice "Daddy - please please, please, please make our house a princess house" Well show can't give into that, so this year folks, we have a PRINCESS house!

Getting the old Christmas Tree...

This has to be my favorite (okay one of my favorite) tradition. We all bundle up warm and cozy, this year it required snow shoes, and head up Strawberry canyon to find the perfect trees. Yes, two tree's!! This year we pulled the kids in the sleigh for awhile and then let them play while Mike found the perfect trees. He did an awesome job and we love them. They are decorated and we are loving the scent you can only get with a real tree. Bring on the holidays...