Christmas 2016

After weeks of preparations and fun, Christmas was finally here.  The girls were excited to celebrate with family and fun.  Children truly bring a unique magic of Christmas that embodies the true spirit of Christmas: love, giving, and family.  We spent Christmas Eve with the Handy family.  All the Who's gathered for a Grinch Christmas party.  The girls loved the games with cousins and opening presents. We came home to put cookies out for Santa, review the Christmas story, and hope for a good night's rest. 

Christmas morning we awoke to 6 inches of snow!!!  With Christmas on Sunday, we decided to head to church with the Peterson's at 9 am and then Santa would come while we were away.  Upon our return, the girls were so excited to see Christmas presents under the tree.  In fact, I hadn't yet come in before a present was already unwrapped by Lily.  They loved the new toys and could hardly wait to play with them.  Logan loved all the paper!!!  We spent the day together enjoying Christmas while it continued to snow outside- brr!  We had planned on going up to Layton with the Yates, but it was just too snowy.  We missed them!

Making Cookies

The girls love to make cookies!  Emily always insists on being the "maker."  She loves to dump the ingredients in the mixer.  Lily loves to watch the mixer and be the taste tester.  I love their smiles and sweet conversation as we share this time together.  It reminds me of moments I shared making cookies with my mom.  Although the cookies are a sweet treat, their smiles and fun are sweeter.

Spirit of Christmas

 It has been fun to see Emily engage in the festivities of Christmas.  She understands more of what Christmas is all about.  Nelson and I tried to help keep the spirit of Christ in Christmas with her.  We talked about the meaning of Christmas often and shared thoughts about Christ's birth during FHE.  Emily loves celebrating birthdays, so we emphasized Christmas as Jesus' birthday.  We had fun making a present for Jesus one FHE.  The girls drew pictures about things they could do to give to Jesus: sharing and playing nicely.  I loved watching them pretend with the present later that week.  This picture captures sweet Emily carrying the present for Jesus with the nativity baby Jesus inside.  From this FHE activity, Emily also got into the fun of drawing.  These two pictures are her originals.  She is becoming such a smart, talented little girl.

 This is a picture of our house, with our family in front, and flowers at the bottom.

This is a picture of baby Jesus' manager with the animals outside and the stars above.

A Trip to See Santa

We enjoyed a fun adventure to South Towne Mall to see Santa.  Each of the kids had a different reaction for him.  For weeks Emily has been asking to go see Santa, so I thought she would be thrilled to sit on his lap.  However, as we walked into the Santa display, Emily immediately said she didn't want to sit on his lap.  Lily however was brave and did!  She even talked to him a little bit.  Logan was cute and just stared in awe.  Emily finally sat by Santa on my lap and told him she wanted a "Princess Sticker Book" and "Minnie and Daisy."  I told her Santa may not bring a sticker book because he doesn't make them at the North Pole.  Emily thought for a minute and then said, "Santa will buy from Costco."  I couldn't help but laugh and said, "Santa doesn't buy his toys he makes them."  I know she will love Santa's special gift on Christmas even if it isn't a sticker book!

After seeing Santa, Grandpa and Nana treated the girls to ice cream and a ride on the train with Sissa.  I loved watching them smile with delight on the train ride.  They were cute princesses to wave at all the people in the mall.  The sparkle in their eyes captured the fun of Christmas. 

Sweet Slumber

Sweet Lily can't decide if she is going to take naps or not.  We just play it by ear everyday.  I think the choice is really if she feels she won't miss out on too much fun with Emily.  They are best of friends.  If she hasn't had a nap, Lily is asleep in minutes!  I love this sweet, spunky little girl!

Logan 8 Months

These photos capture the emerging personality of Logan.  He is sweet, silly, and oh so loving.  We love him so very much and our grateful he is part of our family. It is exciting to see Logan learn and grow, and hope to catch each moment with him.

• Loves to play with his toes!  He has learned to pull off his socks and find his feet.  Logan can even put his toes in his mouth.
• Logan is a talker!  He jabbers to himself sounds of b, d, and m.  He also squeals with delight when the TV turns on, at the vacuum and blow dryer, and when going outside. 
• Logan still loves bath time.  After dinner he can hardly wait to get undressed.  He loves to be in just his diaper and kicks vigorously with excitement as he waits to get in the tub.  Logan has learned to even sit up in the tub, but prefers to splash and kick in the water.
• He enjoys being outside when he can, even with cold temperatures.
• Logan loves to be with his sisters!  He squeals with delight as they greet each other every morning.
• Logan loves to eat fruits, mush, crackers, yogurt, peas, and cereal.  He is learning to use his pincher grip.
• Logan is a busy boy!!! He tries to grab anything he can and has to have his hands busy always!
• His favorite toys are those that make noise and move - which includes the vacuum!

All Boy Logan

Logan is such a little boy.  He loves things that move: the vacuum, cars, trains, and trucks.  He also loves to watch his sisters move about as they dance and sing.  I love that he is finding his voices as he squeals in delight and babbles with glee.  He tries so hard to keep up with the girls, that most days I can only get him to take one nap.  Logan loves to explore his toys, especially those that make noise.  I loves watching him wonder with his chubby cheeks and pursed lips.  He is such a fun loving boy and I can't imagine life without him.