Zoo Lights & Schofield Family Party

On Saturday, we headed to Zoo Lights with the Cornell Family.  Before we went to the lights, we went to dinner at Taqueria 27.  It was pretty delicious!  We'd never been to zoo lights before, and it was pretty cool.  They did a great job with all the lights and the cats were awake, so we could actually see them.  The tiger was pretty cool, and it was fun to see them be more active.

Tony and Becky decided to do the Christmas Party after Christmas this year.  It just made the holiday feel like it lasted longer, and it was fun.  They made prime rib and had other delicious food.  The brother all participated in "feats of strength" and Matt was declared the winner. Dan was off his game and let us down this year! ;)

Gwen got really cute homemade PJs from grandma, a new outfit, and a teddy bear.  She loved it all.  She got a cute minnie mouse doll from Rae, and she was so excited about it.  She didn't really like the idea of giving her present to Abby, and couldn't understand why her cousins wanted to open their own presents instead of letting her do it, and take their toys.  She thought it should all be fore her.  At one point, she came up to me crying.  When I asked her what was wrong, she said, "More presents!" Good thing her birthday isn't too far off!

Christmas!!!

Christmas was for sure a little more fun this year.  Gwen was so excited about all her presents!  We decided to stick with three for the symbolism that that's what the wisemen brought Jesus. I think it was perfect because she wasn't overwhelmed and got to play with all her toys.  Plus, she got presents from grandparents and cousins, so she definitely wasn't lacking.

She got a rocking horse from Santa, some mega blocks, dishes and a cozy chair just her size from us.  When she saw the rocking horse, she started running towards it.  She loves it.  A lot.

She was really excited about her blocks and told us, upon opening, "I build a tower, SUPER TALL!"

As soon as we were done opening presents, she got all cozy in her chair and just relaxed.  This girl is a pro at relaxing and snuggling in.  We love it.

 Later, we went to both parents house.  It was a lot of family and a lot of fun.  Gma and Gpa Cornell got her a pink Jeep, which she loved.  And she rides it all around the house.  She got a fun puzzle from her cousin Josh, and was in heaven all day.

 Later that night, we put her to bed and participated in the first ever Cornell family Reindeer Games.  Tara (of course) put this together and we played a thrilling game of little games against each other.  It was a riot.

I'd say Christmas was a success.  We had a wonderful time with family, friends, and each other.  We are truly blessed.  I really felt the Christmas Spirit this year, and I am so grateful for the Savior who came to this earth in the humblest of circumstances to save us so that we can return to him again.  That is the most amazing gift ever given.

Christmas Eve

Dan had to work a half day on Christmas Eve, but was home about noon.  We wrapped presents, and got all ready for Christmas.  We headed to my mom and dad's house for Christmas Eve dinner, nativity and our annual Christmas Eve present.  Dinner was great, the nativity was sweet (and a little hilarious).  G was an angel, and did a great job.  After the nativity we opened our presents.  New PJs for the kids, a cool charger stick for the boys, and a cute little purse pod for the girls.  And then, grandma surprised all the kids with another present:  Beanie Boos.  Gwen got a little poodle named princess and absolutely loves her.  It's pretty adorable.  She loved opening presents and was so excited to rip all the paper off those packages!

December - Part Uno.

Oh December.  The month of crazy.  There are so many fun things to do, but it does feel pretty busy and a little hectic at times, but we had a great month.

We started off with Advent.  This is a German tradition, so Dan really wanted to do it with Gwen.  So we got her one of those little Advent candy calendars, and she loved it.  We'd make her say "Merry Christmas" before she got it, and she'd say, "Ferry Critmas"  It's the cutest.  She also got her her very first ice cream cone.  We thought:  We'll all share it, but she just loved it so much she couldn't bear the thought of not licking every ounce.  And, she was just being so darn cute saying, "MMM, tastes good" that we couldn't take it away from her.

She loves to play hide and seek in the curtains.  She'll come up to me and say, "mom, let's do hiding seek!" and then run to to curtains to hide.  It's pretty fun.

 The first Saturday in December we went to get our Christmas tree.  Of course it was right after a huge snow storm, so we couldn't get up high enough to actually cut one down. :(  But we had fun playing in the snow.  G didn't have great boots, so I think her feet were freezing, hence the screaming.  And....we stopped at Home Deopt on the way home and picked up our tree.  It's wasn't quite as magical as cutting one down, but hey, we tried.

 Most days, after we get home from the gym, I make us a green shake.  Gwen used to only like them, but for some reason, now she LOVES them!  When we come home, she says, "Make a green drink!" then, she has to sit on my lap, and slurp her drink and touch it, and smear it all over her face, but hey, at least it's healthy!
This is our Christmas Tree all decorated up.  Gwen loved the lights and ornaments.  Every morning when we walk down stairs, if the lights aren't on, she says, "Turn on Chritmas tree"

 *We went to Temple Square for Young Women, and it was cold, but fun.  Dan was at school, so Gwen came with us, and loved it.  All the kids loved it too.  They all took turns pushing her around in her stroller and chatting her up.  She is loved every where she goes.
*We also had our very first experience with TV (at home).  I've never turned on the TV for her before, but in the spirit of Christmas, we got out the old classics and I turned on Rudolph for her.  She loved it for a few minutes, but then lost interest, and I was OK with that.
*We saw Santa at our ward Christmas party, and surprisingly, G did not scream.  She just looked a little confused and was happy to get her candy cane.
*I curled her hair for the first time, and it was adorable.  She didn't really like to sit still for me, but I just couldn't help myself!

 I've been watching my nephews on Mondays, and Gwen and Leo are the same age.  They have fun together as long as the other isn't playing with any toys. :)  They are just so cute in their jammies!  We went to City Creek to play at the Dino play place in the food court.  The kids had a ball!
*We've also been to Discovery Gateway a few times, and G LOVES it.

 The Friday before Christmas we went to Temple Square.  That probably wasn't our best idea, cause it was so crowded, but it was fun anyway, and the lights were amazing as usual.

 *On Sunday, we headed to Catherine's house where G was absolutely spoiled with a dress up kit complete with high heals, a tiara, necklace, purse, outfit and earrings.  She was so excited.
*Today, we went and hung out with Grandma and the Banks cousins.  We made gingerbread cookies, and played toys and made a muck of grandma's house.  G was a pretty big fan of the gingerbread cookie frosting.  Not so much the cookie.

The Christmas Festivities are just beginning and we are loving spending so much time with family and have Dan home a little more, since school is out and He took a few days off work.  That's my favorite thing about the holidays.  Being able to spend a little more time with my guy.

November

November was a blur.  It went by so fast, and I can't believe it's already December!  We did a lot of fun stuff in November.  We played with friends and cousins, and went for an 8 hour car ride to Colorado for Thanksgiving.
Sometimes after I send a picture to Dan of what we are doing, he sends Gwen a picture of him doing something funny...

At the beginning of November, we went to my boss's wedding at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  It was a beautiful view!  Our last walk of the season...Gwen and miss Mia.  They wanted to hold hands while we were walking, and it was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.  I think they are definitely best friends.  Gwen asks about Mia (who she calls Nia) just about every day.

Dan took a half day early on in November, and we went to Wheeler Farm for the last time of the season.  It was a chilly day, but we had a good time.  Gwen loves to help us cut veggies and make dinner, loves to play with toys, and LOVES to color.

 Saturday morning fun, eating yummy chocolate, and hanging out with Grandpa

I've been babysitting my nephews on Monday's, and they live right by Sugar House Park, so we go there a lot.  Gwen and Leo love to play, but Gwen is kind of a scardey cat, so Leo gets bored with her pretty fast.  But, she's finally mastered the tunnel, which has taken a while for her to do, so she can keep up with him a little better. :)

We headed to Colorado for Thanksgiving and it was a fun trip, despite everyone getting sick.  I woke up on Thanksgiving Day with a fever of 102, Nat had a stomach bug, which got passed to my dad, Tara, Josh, and Gwen, who was up all night throwing up.  Poor kids.  Poor everyone.  That part was not fun, but we did have a great time with family, and Gwen was a trooper on the drive.

While we were in Colorado, we went hiking (well I didn't) on the Flat Irons, walked up and down Pearl Street, and went to Denver for an adults night out.  It was such a great time and we loved being able to be with our family.

Thanks for hosting all of us, preparing an amazing Thanksgiving dinner, and having so many fun activities planned, Tara!  You are awesome!