Sunday, December 30, 2012

Christmas Pajamas

Clara and Ashlyn opened their new Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve.  Clara was super excited for her new Minnie Mouse pajamas, because she had some other Minnie Mouse pajamas that were her favorite pajamas, but were getting to small for her.  Ashlyn also loved her Dora the Explorer pajamas.




Gittins Christmas Party

We spent Christmas Eve with the Gittins family. Each year, our family gets bigger and louder, but the parties are always fun!

We made homemade pizza for Chrismas Eve dinner -- philly cheese steak pizza, chicken alfredo pizza, bbq chicken pizza, and combination pizza.









Grandma Gittins made each grandchild a hooded towel.  I think Ashlyn looked like a Jedi knight in hers.

Clara's Christmas Dance Recital

Clara had her Christmas dance recital, and did a fantastic job!  We almost missed the first of the recital because we went to the wrong place for the recital, but luckily we made it to the right place just in time.  Clara had two dances.  She danced to "Frosty the Snowman" and "Over the River and Through the Woods."  It was really fun to see her perform so well the dances she had been practicing for the last few months.  After the recital, we went to a flower shop and let her pick out her own flowers.


Santa Claus

One night we went to Layton and visited Santa Claus, then took a hay ride through the park to look at Christmas lights.  Ashlyn was really taken by Santa, and had to sit on his lap twice.  Ashlyn told Santa that she wanted a princess dress and crown.  Clara told Santa that she wanted a toy octopus (no idea where that came from) and a My Little Pony castle.




Ashlyn writing her letter to Santa.  While she was "writing," she kept repeating out loud "Dear Santa, I love you very much."

Christmas Cookies

We tried to do one Christmas activity every night in December, such as watching a Christmas movie, going Christmas shopping, or looking at Christmas lights.  One night, we decorated Christmas cookies at Wendy and Chase's house.




Christmas Tree

Per tradition, we spent the first Family Home Evening of December putting up our Christmas tree and decorations.  Clara and Ashlyn loved it!  They were so disappointed when there were no more ornaments to put on the tree.




Nativity Displays

We started the Christmas season by going to a nativity display at the Kaysville tabernacle.  There were hundreds of different nativity scenes from numerous countries across the world.  They also had some puzzles and coloring for the kids, as well as music groups performing in the chapel.  We spent a lot of time looking at the nativity scenes, then listened to a bell choir.  It was a great night and a great way to begin the Christmas season with a focus on Christ.


This seashell nativity scene was Clara and Ashlyn's favorite.



Ashlyn was so proud of the fact that she got to hang her picture on the wall.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Anniversary Trip

We took an overnight trip to Park City to celebrate our 10th anniversary.  We spent the night at the Chateau, which was an amazing hotel.  We loved sitting by the fireplace and watching the snow fall.  We also enjoyed a delicious dinner at Chimayo.






Hogle Zoo

Each fall for the past few years, we have taken a day trip to Hogle Zoo.  This year was no different.  Some new exhibits were open, including the exhibits with seals and polar bears.

Clara and Ashlyn watching the seals swim.




The baby giraffe was Clara and Ashlyn's favorite


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Halloween

Clara as Little Red Riding Hood, and Ashlyn as a bumble bee (or as she called it, a "buzzing bee")

Playing in the Leaves

We have some big trees in our backyard, which makes for a lot of leaves in the fall.  Although it makes for a lot of work to rake up and bag the leaves, it also makes for a lot of fun to jump and play in the leaves.




Pumpkin Patch

As in past years, we went to the pumpkin patch to do the hay maze and pick out the perfect pumpkins to paint and carve.







Ashlyn's pumpkin

Clara's pumpkin

Jeff's pumpkin

Aubree's pumpkin