We had a wonderful December full of lots of Christmas activities and fun! I had most all of our presents bought before December started, so it was nice to focus on having fun instead of stressing (Amazon Prime was totally worth it for us this year!). We didn't get pictures of everything, as I haven't been as good at taking my camera along and actually using it too, but we got enough to overwhelm a blog post, so I guess that's good enough!
My parents hosted the annual Ellis Family Ornament Party this year. Their new social room is beautiful and perfect for parties. The kids liked decorating stockings and it was fun to see everyone and catch up. A whole bunch of my mom's family lives in the Salt Lake area, but somehow it ends up that I only see most of them twice a year. It's a lot of fun when we can get together!
Of course there was lots of yummy food, and a fun visit from Santa. Violet was a little apprehensive, and Luke was just very curious... couldn't stop looking at Santa! Cora is the perfect age to visit Santa and was so excited to see him and talk to him about Christmas.
We were lucky to get tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert this year. Pata was out of town, but Shad, Jen, Kissie, Kevin, and I got to go. It was a really nice show, I always love the decorations and the messages shared.
On Christmas Eve Eve, we took a family trip to see the elves at Gardner Village. We've seen the witches for a few years now, but this was the first time to see the Christmas decorations. They were so cute! We'll definitely do this one again.
See a few extra carolers in there??
We took an evening trip to Thanksgiving Point to see the drive through light display. It was a lot of fun, I think the kids really liked it. We did it in our pajamas though, so we didn't stop to see the reindeer then too. But we went back another day to visit them. I believe this is Dasher and Dancer. Cora and Violet really wanted to tough one, but I think only Cora was brave enough to actually do it.
Of course, it didn't hurt that we stopped inside for 30 cents icecream cones afterward. The kids might have thought that was almost as fun.
A few years ago, one of my wonderful neighbors made us a set of laminated nativity figures with magnets on them. Each one has a scripture on the back to read the story of Christ's birth. I've been wanting to make them myself ever since, and this year was the year. 24 sets! Good thing I started 2 months early! It was a fun neighbor gift to deliver. We also delivered some chocolates and fancy cupcake liners to neighbors, teachers, and friends. The kids loved jumping in and out of the car to do the drop-offs, and they especially loved answering the door to see what yummy treats our friends brought by. We are so grateful to live by great friends!
I really wanted to take the kids to a live nativity, but I couldn't find any information on the great one we've gone to the last couple of years. My mom gave us a coupon to go to This is the Place Candle light Christmas, so it was fun to try that out. It was SO COLD that night. Brrrr.... The live nativity was very much on a small scale. But the other things were fun too, I think my kids might like it better when they are a bit older though. It was all about seeing how the pioneers celebrated Christmas, maybe a harder concept for a 3 and 5 year old to appreciate. Riding the train was probably the biggest hit, and they all loved the puppet show too. Here's Luke concentrating hard on it!
I was planning on skipping visiting Father Christmas, but when we there on the way out there was no line and he was such a great looking Santa! We stopped for a quick picture.
The kids wrote letters to Santa. I loved this form letter, but sadly I can't find the link to it anymore. I may have to copy the idea and make my own for next year.
Here's Cora's...
Violet's....
and Luke's.... Do you think Santa can read toddler scribblese?
We visited Temple Square several times in December. We didn't actually get out to see the lights at night until Christmas Day, but we did see them on at dusk...
... and went to a handful of Christmas concerts at the JSMB. I just love the free concerts there in the winter! I love letting my kids see people perform beautiful music for free in a kid-friendly environment. Wonderful! My favorite was a bell choir concert, we saw a children's string concert and an elementary school concert too. For all of the concerts we attended, we met either my mom or dad or both there, so that was even more fun for the kids. They always love seeing Kissie and Pata, Luke even can say Kissie and Pata now too.. when he wants to.
Violet's preschool did lots of fun Christmas things in December. I got to go help them make gingerbread houses one day, and they had their Christmas performance on the last class of December. Here's Violet saying her part for one of the little poems "C is for candy cane a yummy Christmas treat!".
At the end they did a little nativity scene, here's Violet being Mary.
I also got to help at Cora's kindergarten Christmas party-- they had so much fun! But I forgot my camera. They also got to build gingerbread houses, listen to the Polar Express, drink hot chocolate, and do some Christmas crafts.
We also made Christmas cookies, did Christmas crafts, and made Christmas cards. The girls and I went to see Arthur Christmas and we loved it! We drove around to see neighborhood lights, and drank lots of hot chocolate. We went to a fun sing-a-long party at a neighbor's house and received emailed personalized videos from Santa to both Cora and Violet. Each Monday we learned a new Christmas song and reviewed the nativity story for Family Home Evening with our magnet figures, nativity dress-ups, flannel board figures, or Little People nativity set. December was full and fun!
