Where did December go?

As usual the whole month of December slipped right out from under us. I can't believe it's over. We were so blessed to spend lots of time together as a family over the holiday. It was a rude awakening yesterday morning that Josh actually had to go back to work and that he's working every day this week. I guess I'm back on poopy diaper duty.

We were just having too much fun to take the time to post. So now it’s catch up time. Here’s our Christmas in a nutshell:

Christmas Concert at Temple Square:

Ever year we go to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert with the Gibbons. Josh's dad sings with the choir so we are able to get tickets.

Seeing the lights at temple square is always an added bonus to the trip.

Goodie Day:

Every year for as long as I can remember I have helped my mom make Christmas goodies. We make white chocolate covered pretzels, fudge, rolo pretzels, caramels, and cinnamon coated almonds. My mom made these little aprons for my sister and I when I was tiny. Now my apron fits Lydia and I wear the one made for my sister. My dad always hangs around really close so he can sample the treats as we finish. While he waits he keeps an eye on the birds coming to eat the birdseed in the backyard. Grandma B is always there to help to. She always sneaks a taste when she thinks nobody's looking:). Lydia was a good helper too, she was reorganizing my mom's tupperware and trying to put things in her pocket to get away with them.

Snow much fun:

We went sledding for Lydia's first time. We had so much fun, but it was too cold to stay very long.

I also introduced Lydie to Snowmen and snow angels. Our snowman fell down the day after we made it and she still tells me, "Snowman fall down." She didn't love making the snow angel, I probably should have given up before forcing her to move her arms and legs.

Christmas Eve:

We spent Christmas Eve with the Gibbons. Grandma & Grandpa Gibbons give new pajamas for all the grandkids. Ever since that night, Lydia is so excited to put her "jammies" on. She loves being the only girl cousin on that side.

Christmas morning:

We had to wake Lydia up because we had a time schedule to keep for visiting that day. She was excited about the Christmas Tree lights, but didn't really notice the gifts. The first thing she did was pull her new Elmo toothbrush out of her stocking. We couldn't get it away from her to open gifts. We didn't even get them all opened before we had to leave, so we finished that evening when we got home.

Lydia made a haul at Grandma & Grandpa Gibbons, they really spoil her.

My favorite gift was the new camera that Josh TOTALLY surprised me with. I took this picture with it. I am so excited to learn how to use it. Goodbye to fuzzy pictures and missed moments (because those are ALWAYS the camera's fault).
More Cousins:

Christmas day with the Slaters is a ZOO. There are so many cousins and so much going on that it's a little overwhelming. My favorite part is BRUNCH. My mom makes the best, best, best brunch you could ever imagine. It one of the things that the adults look forward to most at Christmas in my family.

Lydie also got some very nice presents from Grandma & Grandpa Slater. They gave her an arm chair that is just her size. When she opened it there was a dolly sitting on it. It's a Ragedy Anne doll and my mom made it-the whole thing. I was totally amazed. I don't even want to let her play with it because her Grandma made it. But Lydie loves it and I can't get it away from her. She also loves her new chair. She sits in it and reads books all by herself. Usually when I hear silence, I get ver nervous, but the last few times I've gone to check on her, she's just been sitting in her chair reading.
More awesome gifts:

Grandma & Grandpa Gibbons gave Lydie this little chair that sings songs and reads a book to her. She loves it, but she also loves to stand on it. She'll stand on it and look at me and say, "sit down!"

This is another toy from the Gibbons and Lydia does not go anywhere in the apartment without her "stroll-it." Usually it is empty because she doesn't feel like sharing her new toy with her baby doll.