Christmas 2013

We had a really fun Christmas this year.  Cosette loved the Christmas lights, decorations, and presents.  She also really enjoyed decorating our gingerbread house with grandma.

We went down to my parent's home in Springville for Christmas Eve.  The grandkids acted out the Nativity story, and this year Cosette was Mary.  We had our traditional feast of snack food (like deviled eggs, rolls, and chips and dip), and we also opened up Christmas crackers.

Mary (Cosette) and Joseph (Darren)

Shepherd (Miriam), Joseph (Darren), Mary (Cosette)
Angel (Adriana), Sheep (Clara, off camera)

Snuggle time with Grandpa

We spent Christmas at home.  Here are some before pictures.  Unfortunately, I only took videos on Christmas day, no photos.

Cosette loved all of her presents.  In fact, she was perfectly content to open one present at a time and then just sit and play with it.  Jeff and I, eager to see her reactions, kept encouraging her to open more presents.  Her two biggest gifts were a doll house and play kitchen.  I knew that they would compete for her attention, so I hid the kitchen and play food in the toy room with the door shut, and she didn't find them for several hours.
Cosette was so excited by her new toys that she didn't want to sit down and eat anything all morning.  I had made her favorite breakfast of muffins and a smoothie, but she only ate a few bites before she was back to playing with her toys.  We only managed to get her to eat lunch after closing the door to the toy room and promising that she could play with her new toys again after lunch and a nap.
All in all, it was a really fun Christmas this year.  We hope everyone had a great Christmas as well!

Trip to Temple Square

Tonight for Family Night we spent the afternoon at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  Jeff worked a half day so we could go earlier and have time to visit museums before the lights were turned on at night.

We saw the Christus statue, sat in the Tabernacle, briefly looked at some Church art, and went to the children's exhibit in the Church History Muesuem (definitely Cosette's favorite part).  We then ate dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building before walking around to see the lights.  All in all, it was a really fun family outing.

Sitting on benches in the Tabernacle

The next few pictures are from the Children's Exhibit at the Church History Museum.  Cosette's favorite part of the whole evening was the play kitchen and food.  It makes me really excited to see how she'll react to the play kitchen and food we got her for Christmas.

Sitting on Nephi's boat

Driving with Mommy

Driving with Bear

Cosette's favorite exhibit

It was pretty cold, so we didn't look at the lights for very long.  I was really glad we brought the stroller and were able to just push Cosette around.

Looking at lights

Oooo

Happy family

I'm glad that Cosette's getting older and is able to appreciate outings like this.  We might make this a family Christmas tradition.

Playing in the Cave

Cosette has started hiding inside of cupboards and closets, telling me that she's "playing in the cave."  

These pictures also show that she enjoys being naked around the house.  There have been times that she's been doing something really cute and I didn't take any pictures because I don't want there to be a lot of naked toddler pictures that may embarrass her someday.  But I felt like these pictures were ok enough to show.

She really cracks me up.