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.