Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year.  We started out the season by riding Trax downtown to see the lights at Temple Square.  Sophie loves riding the train.  She was so excited and asked if she could ride the train for days afterward.  We also made gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies.

Grandma bought Aspen a cute elf costume because my dad and I think Aspen looks like an elf.  Her ears stick out a little bit and make her look just like a little Christmas elf--the cutest Christmas elf ever.

Sophie was finally old enough to kind-of understand what was going on.  In preparation for Christmas I tried to focus on the birth of Jesus.  So whenever I asked whose birthday Christmas was celebrating, Sophie would say, "Jesus' birthday".  We also had an advent calendar that showed Santa descending down the chimney.  Every morning Sophie would wake up and say, "Santa's down the chimney, it's Christmas" and I would have to explain that he wasn't all the way down the chimney yet.  I also brain-washed Sophie into saying she wanted a bike whenever I would ask her what she wanted Santa to bring her.

Sophie and Aspen were both completely spoiled.  Sophie got lots of games, puzzles, and dress ups.  I finally finished Aspen's twin size bedspread/quilt and some decorations for her bedroom (on Christmas Eve).  Aspen got a table and chair set.  And Sophie got a new bike.

On Christmas morning we asked Sophie if she thought Santa had come.  She said, "No, I didn't see him".  We tried to explain that Santa comes when she is sleeping and that she wasn't supposed to see him.  We said Santa probably came because Sophie was a good girl.  And she said, "No, I didn't eat my sandwich".  So even though we run a tight ship around here about what is considered being a good girl, Santa did in fact come and bring Sophie a bike.  Aspen had a ton of fun playing (i.e. eating) the wrapping paper all morning.

After our own family Christmas gift opening we went over to the Gardiner's for more presents.  Sophie got a cute "Super Sophie" costume and ran around all morning saying "I can save the day".  We were also able to Skype with Jason in Missouri on his mission.  He seemed pretty much the same, and had a good attitude.

Aspen had a blowout right when we got to my parent's house.  Since I knew Grandma was going to give Aspen some new outfits for Christmas, we decided to leave her in her diaper for a few minutes until she opened some of her new clothes.

Then Isaac had to go work for a few hours, so the Lloyd's came down to our house for Christmas dinner.  I am not a good host because I stress out about everything.  But after the chaos of having too many people in too small of a house for a few hours, we had a great Christmas.  Lacey made a cute puppet show for Sophie and Aspen.  Now whenever Sophie has a puppet on her hand she says, "Hi There" in a really weird voice.  (Not sure where that came from, but it's really funny.)  Grandma Karla made all the granddaughters matching skirts and shirts.  Everything was really nice.

I have had a great time celebrating the holidays with my little family.  It is so much fun to watch my girls (mostly Sophie now) have fun and experience everything for the first time.  The holidays seem so much more magical again.  Merry Christmas everyone.