Dreaming of Summer

12.20.2011

This little girl always comes up with something that surprises us!

Decorating Grandma & Grandpa's Tree

12.17.2011

Grandma and Grandpa were so nice to let four darling little girls come help them decorate their tree!  They are great little helpers.

 And the stool was the hot spot to be.  There was a constant line, and talk about whose turn it was to climb up.

The Lights at Temple Square

12.16.2011

We realized that the last time we had been to Temple Square at Christmas time, was when Hallie was about four months old.  So even though she had technically seen the lights before, she really hadn't seen the lights before.  Plus she was old enough this year to really enjoy it.  So we headed off to Salt Lake for a fun night out. 

 It was extremely cold when we got there, and we hadn't thought to check before about what was going on in Salt Lake that night.  Well, we happen to hit the night of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert, and a Jazz game (I think, there was another big event).  So we jumped on TRAX and headed to the Gateway to find something to eat for dinner.  This was also Hallie's first time on "the train."

Waiting for TRAX

Finally on the train.  Hallie loved it.

 We ate at Z'Tejas at the Gateway.  (We weren't fans.)

Then we got back on the train and headed into Temple Square, even though we were still freezing, and it was packed with people.  But it is always fun to see the thousands of lights on Temple Square.

 Because it was so cold, and dinner took much longer than expected, we did the shortened version of walking around Temple Square.

 How can you not love this?

 Here we are all bundled up.

I couldn't help but think of taking a very similar picture three years earlier...

Look how little she was!

Hallie was freezing, and starting to get tired, so she didn't really want to cooperate to have her picture taken.

We basically walked in the South gate, down around the Tabernacle and out the North gate.  So it really was a quick trip through, but Hallie loved it, and because it was so frigid we were all fine heading back to the car.



The Pink Hat

12.13.2011

For a little while Hallie went through this stage where she ALWAYS wanted her pink hat.  Which is funny because before this we could never keep a hat on her!

I went into check on her after putting her to bed, only to find that she had found her pink hat and insisted on wearing it to bed.

Which she did.  :)

Decorating the Tree

12.13.2011

Monte L. Bean

12.12.2011

One of our favorite places to go, especially when it is cold outside is the Bean Museum on campus.  If you haven't ever been at Christmas time you are seriously missing out!  It is so much more fun at Christmas! Or maybe it's just the change that is fun, either way, it's worth the trip.

A moose was even there to greet us as we came in.  All set up with his Christmas trees and everything.

I love that at Christmas they do a nativity scene.  As you can tell it is not your typical Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, Wise Men, Shepards, etc.  They simply do Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus surrounded by the animals of the world.  It is definitely different, but kind of neat too. 

Hallie loved the penguin (we had just read Mr. Popper's Penguins), the kangaroo and, of course, the elephant.

It was also the first time that we had been since they opened then new exhibit of African animals.  It seemed like it took forever, but it turned out really well. 

Always a good time at the Bean!

A Letters to Santa

12.4.2011 & 12.5.2011

Just had to share my cute Christmas "wreath" I made. :)

Since Hallie didn't get to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas, the next day, after church she wrote a letter to Santa.  With a picture and all.

 Hallie has started to get pretty silly when we try to take pictures lately. :)

 Her only request this year for Christmas was a Belle dress.  So her daddy helped her write a nice letter and draw a dress that she colored for Santa.

 The next day, while Eric was at work Hallie and I took her letter to the mall and put it in Santa's big mail bag!  It's a good thing Santa has back ups. :)

The Santa they had there was too cute.  I asked Hallie if she wanted to go talk to him, because absolutely no one was in line, she said not but that she just wanted to see him.   So we walked around the side, and looked at him from a distance, talked about Santa for a minute, but she caught Santa's eye, and he kept waving to her and blowing kisses, and was super super sweet.  We probably stood there for two or three minutes silently communicating with him.  It was something he didn't need to do by any means, but still meant a lot.  (Hallie still didn't want to go see him though)  But I was thankful to have such a tender experience with it, and one that I was most definitely not expecting.  You could tell as we were walking away how special and loved Hallie felt, even without physically talking to him.  It will be one of those small Christmas memories I hope never to forget.

BYU Christmas Party & Santa!

12.3.2011

Again this year we attended the Samuelson's Family Christmas Party at BYU.  But this year we were early.  We were early because a little girl at our house HAD to see Santa.  In past years we've just headed up to campus once we got going for the day, but this year we were there ready to go, about 15 minutes early.  And, there was already a line.  So assuming it was just a line in general for the party we hopped in it.

It wasn't though, so we headed to the ballroom, where Santa is every year and got in that line.  Only to find out that Santa wouldn't be arriving at 9, but that he would be there at 9:30.  So after some debate we decided to just wait.  The line is always incredibly long and slow, and we figured our best bet was to stay put.

Well after half an hour or so, I needed to go sit down.  I wasn't feeling too well, and being surrounded by that many people wasn't helping the situation.  So I went and sat and watched all of the little performances on the stage, and kept an eye on where Eric and Hallie were.

So Eric and Hallie waited in line...and waited...and waited...and waited some more.  Finally TWO hours later, they made it to the front of the line.

Normally it wouldn't be worth it to stick around that long, but who could say no to this little face? :)  She was super excited, and had her request for Santa rehearsed, and made some little friends in line.

Yet, when it was finally her turn, she wouldn't even sit on his lap, or talk to him.  Not that I blame her.  Santa can be a scary and intimidating guy!

But we got a picture anyway.

After waiting for so long, were were running out time, and out of steam.  But we went and played a couple of games anyway.  Which of course we had to wait in line for, so Eric ran and got Jamba Juice while we waited.

Hallie wanted to do ice fishing to get a prize.

Then we colored for awhile.

Then Hallie asked if we could go home.  So we did.  We obviously aren't too fond of big crowds, and long lines, but we were glad we went.  But I think Eric was even more happy we were headed home in time to catch the pregame for BYU's game in Hawaii.

IKEA at Christmas-time

12.1.2011

Go Ducks!

11.26.2011 

Thanksgiving 2011

11.24.2011

This year for Thanksgiving, we were able to have a nice relaxing morning before we went and enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner with the rest of my family.

Eric and Hallie made some phone calls to Grandpa Dennis, Grandma Shawna, and Jim & Jeni. And a few others too I think.

While I made mashed potatoes and scalloped corn casserole.
(This is probably aroun 16 weeks pregnant)

Hallie helped break up crackers, and mix things up. She loves to help in the kitchen.

Then we got ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner!

All the little girls ate together.

Then all the girls climbed on the bed to watch a movie.

As always it was a fun day together full of good food and family.