The Hap, Hap, Happiest Christmas Since Bing Crosby Danced With...

Christmas celebrations are now in full force around here. Though it did take us awhile to get a tree and put up decorations, we are finally on a countdown to the day when Jolly Ole' Saint Nick will be breaking and entering to do some reverse thievery. Some of the things we have done so far are:

*Attended the First Presidency Christmas Devotional with Hydee's family.
*Enjoyed the first real snow of the season despite it being freezing cold and having to drive to work extra early
*Put beautiful icicle lights on the outside of our house and wrapped our railings with the colored ones
*Attended my work Christmas party
*Picked out, purchased and set up a real snow covered Christmas tree.
*Attended the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert with guests Natalie Cole and David McCullough (author of 1776 and John Adams)


*Decorated gingerbread houses with Tyler, Chelsea, Henry, Jack, Ella & Cole

{finished products}

*Addressed Christmas cards (still haven't quite sent them)
*Put up decorations--even though several of them broke as I lost my balance and dropped the cheap Sterilite container
*Finished putting up decorations once I had cooled off
*Bought scented pine cones which make everything smell oh so nice

*Attended Henry's Christmas program

We are still looking forward to other of our favorite traditions in the next couple of weeks...
*Watching Elf and Christmas Vacation
*Playing Monopoly on Christmas day
*Reading Christmas stories
*Going to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square
*Bundling up to go sledding
*Snuggling up by the fire and drinking hot chocolate made from the Cocoa-motion machine (a necessity for every cold winter's night)
*Putting ornaments on the Christmas tree
*Laying our stockings out for Santa to come
*Putting out carrots for reindeer & gluten-free cookies for Santa...what if he has Celiac's too? Better safe than sorry...
*Attending our family Christmas party (which is always entertaining in one way or another)
*Reading Luke 2 together on Christmas Eve