Christmas!!!

Mark and I love celebrating Christmas and it has been so fun this year to include Brooklyn in our traditions as well as add a few!

We like to get our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. We enjoy picking out a live one and decorating it all together. Brooklyn was a huge fan of the reindeer this year. We found the perfect tree at our first stop!

 Later that night we decided to take Brooklyn to go meet Santa. She wasn't so sure about him. She did okay while I was holding her, but the second Santa touched her she just wanted Mom back. (This is pretty common with any stranger these days!) We didn't have any tears though which was a plus!

 Since we celebrated Thanksgiving with the whole family we didn't have any leftovers. We decided to cook our own little meal that Sunday and invited Rob and Stephanie over to share. Brooklyn loves to help taste the mashed potatoes to make sure they are just right!

 Brooklyn also wanted to help Daddy with the lights. I think she was in shock that I was okay with this. She was just waiting for No, No..NO!!!

Mark got me Jim Gaffigan tickets for my birthday. We had the best date night and laughed so hard. So grateful for a little one on one time with this handsome guy.

 Mark's work Christmas party was at the aquarium this year. We were both so excited that it was going to be something cool and that we could take Brooklyn. We had the aquarium practically to ourselves. It was her first time and she loved the fish. Her favorite were the big sharks. She liked to growl at them as they swam by.

 My little elf hanging out by her trees and nativity set. She loves to just quietly play by herself in this spot. I love her in her Christmas jammies too.

 We love going to Draper park to see the giant tree all lit up. They do such a great job decorating the whole park. Brooklyn really liked all the lights even though it was windy and freezing!

 She loved getting to touch a few of the Christmas lights too!

 Brooklyn decided to help herself to a snack the other night! I was putting away groceries and I turned around to find her climbing in and trying to grab the bread.

Sundays are for snuggling and church! We love both of those things!

 Since Mark's birthday is on New Year's Eve he never really gets a big party. I wanted to surprise him a little early since he is turning 30!!! I invited a few friends over and we had a great time eating and hanging out. So grateful for him and all his hard work. Brooklyn and I are very lucky. He is our favorite guy!

 Our favorite Christmas tradition is to go to Temple Square. We love the lights every year and always brave the cold. We met Mark after work (5:15) in hopes of beating some of the crowds! We lucked out and it wasn't too busy at that time. It was of course super cold and Brooklyn wasn't so sure about the long sleeve shirt, sweater, coat, mittens, and beanie. I also made her wear socks! (She hates being so bundled up!)We had a great time walking around. She loved waving hi to everyone she passed and spreading a little Christmas cheer.