Christmas happenings

We've been able to do lots of festive things this month!

Lights at temple square with the Morris fam

Miss Belle

 Ashton striking a pose

Jackson had zero interest in having his picture taken that night.

Jackson and his buddy Dax at a neighborhood gingerbread house party.

 

Making our annual family gingerbread house. I decided to simplify this year and bought a gingerbread house kit from bountiful baskets. I highly recommend it-- still homemade, just not by me! :)

Bode's new favorite thing. One of those mesh food holder things. He LOVES it.

Try not to be too jealous of our gingerbread decorating skills. This year's is a beaut!

It wouldn't be Christmas for the Whittington side of the family without breakfast at the Little America coffee shop in Salt Lake. My parents stay there every year and this year we were able to spend a night there also. We all (minus Thomas and Megan) were able to go to the Motab Christmas concert either Friday or Saturday. I always look forward to the concert and enjoyed it again this year.

Jackson and Sean sleeping in 

Breakfast! 

Swimming in what I still consider one of the best hotel pools ever.

We walked over to the Grand America and checked out their holiday window displays. They have a fun game for the kids that goes along with the displays and at the end they each get a sticker and cookie from the sweet shop.  The kids (and adults) all loved this one in the new Jou Jou toy shop window. It's one of those ball maze type things-- very impressive and on sale for a mere $10,000!

Life-sized gingerbread house

Sean's parents are visiting for Christmas and we were lucky enough to have them stay with us for a few nights. It was great to spend some time with them and the boys were so excited to have them here.

A few random pictures

I call this hat the "Better Off Dead Hat" because it reminds me of Ricky. :)

Bode fell asleep on me awhile back and Sean snapped this picture. 

 

I love this sweet little face.

Christmas has been a lot of fun this year with Jackson. He is really into it and is loving everything-- reading the Christmas story, nativities, the music, lights, Santa, Christmas movies, sweets, etc. His favorite songs are "Sleigh Ride" (instrumental version) or "the horsey song" as he calls it and "Jingle Bells." His lyrics often include, "Jingle bells, poo poo smells…" hmmm… wonder who taught him that? He's asked Santa for a train set this year and is pretty excited about it. Naturally, his favorite movie is "Express" (Polar Express). He's also a big fan of "Mickey's Christmas Carol" and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." He calls our stockings "costumes" for some reason and I've given up trying to keep the tree looking nice. He loves moving the ornaments around and we even found a big stash of bells inside the hole in our bedroom door (you know, the hole he punched in our door with his forehead eight months ago…). Along with all of the fun, we've made a big effort to teach him about Christ and explain to him He is the whole reason we celebrate Christmas and get to do all of these fun things. In his prayer a few nights ago he said, "Please bless Jesus and Santa will come to my house." :) 

I think we're ready for Christmas!