Christmas 2011

Santa Spoiled Us

 I guess we have been good! Sage received a xylophone, 123 Favorite Kids Songs CD, a fun push toy, links, jammies, a dress, a storytime rhymes book that sings to her, a sippy cup, and Baby Sign Books.She was also spoiled with a piggy that sings when she puts the coins in, bath toys, a singing star stacker (everything sings), a shape sorter picnic basket and My Baby Can Read book/DVD/Flip card set. She also got a few really cute outfits sent to her from the Ruiz Family. From our families Taylor and I received the baby bullet for her which is going to be so useful in making her baby food. It came with the baby steamer, which is also a sterilizer , poaches eggs, and defrosts. It has a ton of storage containers as well. We are super excited about it. We have already made her a weeks worth of food- super easy, cheap and healthy. We also received the Magic Bullet which we are excited to try out. We got a Wii game and a 3 in 1 BYU puzzle. We also got the game Rummikub, Our families are way too generous. Taylor spoiled me with the Silhouette Cameo which I really wanted and was looking forward to for my birthday. If that wasn't enough he got me a book I have been wanting to read, the Andrea Bocelli Christmas CD, Zumba for the Wii, a mouse for my laptop and a sweet picture frame. Sage and I got him a blue ray player, the movie The Help (which he also got me), Scrabble Card Game, jammie bottoms and the Amazing documentary of BYU Basketball from last year with Jimmer. We got eachother the Wii Fit Plus with the Wii Balance Board. We really are so blessed with so much. There are so many things we take for granted. The fact that we have all of our temporal needs met and then some, we are so very blessed.

The True Spirit of Christmas

I think this has been my favorite Christmas. Not because of all the wonderful gifts, but because of all the time we have been able to spend as a family. We went to the Festival of Trees, went downtown to see the lights on Temple Square, decorated our home and have enjoyed the tree lights that have been on all day every day since the first of December, our home has smelled of sparkling pine and homemade cookie- we have made lots and lots of cookies, we have listened to lots of Christmas music (Michael Buble's Christmas Album has been our favorite this year),  watched several Christmas movies, drank lots of hot chocolate, Taylor and I went to the Christmas Devotional, had a fun FHE/ White Elephant Party with our neighbors, had a nice evening with Taylor's family where all the cousins got to play together, hear a story, get their Christmas jammies from Grandma and Grandpa. Although not perfect, we tried to read a scripture verse of Christ together every evening and we read a few Christmas books. It really has been the happiest time of the year! It has been nice to reflect on the birth and life of our Savior. 

How We Spent the Day

The morning of Christmas Eve Taylor's parents came over and we got to visit with them. We love them and are so grateful for them in our lives. They are so generous and are examples of Christ-like love. They are examples to us in so many ways. We enjoyed the time we were able to spend with them. Afterwards, the three of us packed up and headed to Paradise where we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with Grandma and Papa. We are so grateful that they live so close now. We love spending the holidays with them and being able to see them in between now. Grandma was a good sport and played games with us and Papa even watched the movie The Help with us. Christmas morning we woke up early. Taylor woke before everyone excited to start the day. I soon learned why he was so excited when he had me go on a scavenger hunt to find my gifts. Sage did pretty good opening her gifts. Of course she was more interested in the paper, but she did pretty good for a 9 month old.  Right before church Sage woke up from her nap supper fussy. She would not stop crying, which is not like her. She threw up all over her Christmas dress. She felt much better afterwards and we quickly changed her and went to church. The rest of the day we lounged in our jammies, ate good food and enjoyed our time together. 

  

This is my highchair from when I was a baby. It also winds down and turns into a rocking chair. Her and Scruffy became best buds this past trip.