New and Old

This year we have decided to start making more of an effort to create our own traditions. We still plan to keep some of the traditions of our families, but as we grow as a family we have a desire to have our own little traditions.  This year for Thanksgiving we decided to have dinner just the four of us.  I had never cooked Thanksgiving.  I have helped here and there with my mom and Matt's over the years.  However I had always wanted to make dinner myself.  So this year we had dinner as our little family and then had dessert at Matt's parents home.  It was a nice quiet little dinner.   
For Christmas season we always go to the Festive of the Trees.  If you are not from Utah it is where people donate Fully Decorate Trees and other stuff.  Usually each tree has a story of some one who has passed.  Then people can buy the trees.  It is so nice to see how creative people can be.  There are Gingerbread houses, singers, dancers, and other things for sale.  All the money goes to Primary Children's Hospital.  This year we decided to invite Matt's parents to join us.  Matt's Dad just had knee surgery so didn't join us, but his mom did.  We had a lot of fun looking at all the trees.  Emme loved the dancers and insisted that I pick her up so she could see them dancing.  She loved pointing out Santa and Jesus.  She loved the several Sesame Street Trees.  We had to keep reminding her just to look not to touch.  Poor Livi has yet to learn to stay with Mommny and Daddy.  She takes being told to come here as a challenge to run.  So she stayed in the stroller.  But she got a chocolate Milk so she was happy with that and looking from her stroller.  
   This weekend we have Matt's work party where the girls will meet Santa.  I wonder how they will react last year Emme tried to jump off.  Then that night is our ward party.  Next Saturday we will hit the Temple Square lights.  Which is another one of our traditions. The girls really love the lights.  
   Our new tradition is the Elf on the Shelf.  The girls love finding Amber the Elf in the morning.  We don't do much with her yet but sit her in a place the girls can find.  Next year I will be more creative.  We will of course so our Christmas Eve junk food party with movies, then Christmas Day brunch with Matt's family, opening presents and this year we will have our own little dinner.  We have a couple ideas for next year when the girls are older like the Dickens Village.  It is fun finding new things to do as a family.  

Emme looking at The Gingerbread Tangled Tower 

I loved this cabin

Matt with Livi 

Emme loved all the trees.  This one had lots of candy

Emme with Livi

Livi and Emme with one of the Sesame Street Trees

The tree was made out of soda bottles.  I thought it looked like something my brother Chris would make.