Christmas

A fun part of being a parent during the holidays is that you get to attend all those events that you probably wouldn't childless...well, we didn't anyway.  It has been so much fun to bring the season to life as much as possible for Ruby and Owen.  And man, were they into it!  Chip and I also love traditions, so I think we are trying out all kinds of things to see which ones will stick around as family traditions for the holiday season.

Let's see...first we hit a gingerbread house competition and display.  This one will probably not stick, nor was it the best thing to attend with two high energy toddlers who like to touch EVERYTHING.  We managed to get out without taking down any finely crafted structures.  Thank goodness for the "decorate your own gingerbread cookie" part, which involved lots of touching and eating, of course.  

And, this outing inspired us to build our own gingerbread house....from a kit...I know, so cheating...but trust me, it wasn't happening any other way this year.  It took all the energy I had to keep them focused on putting homes together and not eating them entirely along the way.  Actually, Ruby was not that hard to keep on task, but Owen has a real sweet tooth.  Hmmm...wonder where he gets that?

Oh yes, people...not just a house...a ginger VILLAGE. :)

 Here are some fun pictures of Ruby and Owen making wrapping paper for some of our gifts.  This was really fun- something I am sure we will do again in years to come.

 We joined Chris, Erika, Finn, and Nola as well as Team Kirby in SLC for the first Christmas German Festival.  We took the picture by the sign for Oma.  It was great.  Hope it continues next year and maybe Oma can come with us.  Highlights were the guy in lederhosen playing the accordian and bells and the train ride around the park to see the lights.

 Here are all the little hooligans waiting for the train. :)

 We finally got in an official day (well, morning...okay about an hour!) of skiing in on the resort at PCMR.  We rode the magic carpet, had some hot chocolate, and headed home in good spirits.  Success.

 Zoo Lights- another tradition I am sure we will continue.  The zoo did an amazing job of lighting up their grounds and it was really fun to explore this place we are quite familiar with during the day, during the night.  The animals were way more active than I would have imagined.  Ruby, Owen, Greta, and Graham had a blast...and so did the adults!  Side bonus- Santa is there (with his reindeer of course) and it was way more mellow and fun to see him there than going to the mall or something.  

 Not that we got a good picture with him (as opposed to the adorable one of the Kirbys'!), but still. It will be fun to look back on.

So, on the eve of Christmas, we had pizzas with Nana and Papa as well as the SLC DuRoss'.  It was really fun to spend so much time with so much family this holiday.  After the kids went to bed, we brought up the gifts and this was the scene.  So fun.

And this is them in the morning.  I don't think they knew what to make of it at first, but soon they got the idea that today was it...the big day...and they LOVED it. :)

Ruby playing with some dolls that Nana and Papa got them (most gifts were to both of them, but it has been so interesting to watch them gravitate to certain ones and pretty much claim them as theirs. Trains- Owen, Dolls- Ruby...so typical.)

Dad and Ruby on our Christmas day walk around the neighborhood.  Ruby is wearing an adorable scarf that my mom knit...for me!  It barely made it out of the wrapping paper and Ruby was trying it on, enamored.  I couldn't take it away- it matches her hat too well...and went perfectly with her little black dress for our evening affairs too!

These three are buds.  So cute.

Chris and Erika made an incredible dinner of salmon caught by their neighbor along with a million other delicious sides.  

Bye, bye!  I guess that is the end of this Christmas season.  I am more sad than relieved this year.  I am such a nerd- totally already looking forward to pulling out the fun music, lights, and activities for next year.