I kinda love that Christmas lasts an entire month. Forget just Christmas day and eve, we start celebrating right after Thanksgiving and are just finishing up. That means one more final Christmas post. I hope you are not tired of all things Christmas by now. This will be my last Christmas post until next year, promise.
Last week before the big holiday we had E's family's traditional cookie day. This differs from my family's cookie day in the fact that it is mostly a sugar cookie decorating party. Connie had purchased these "weird glasses" that made the Christmas lights on the tree look distorted. James loved the glasses and still talks about "weird glasses". I was thrilled to find that if I put my camera up the the glasses, I could easily take a photo of the effect, as demonstrated above.
This year's cookie decorating party started with dinner (pizza and salad) and ended with decorating at least six dozen sugar cookies.
Every year it is a family event. Chelsea and Joe make all the cookies earlier in the day, and they are ready and waiting when we arrive. Yea, it's awesome.
Connie was around for lots of kissing on this boy.
Last year on cookie day James tasted his very first cookie. This year on cookie day James actually got to decorate. He asked for "spice" (sprinkles) and went to town with his little frosted cookie.
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Completed masterpiece! Only took an entire jar of red sprinkles and a few green ones for the top.
Visiting Temple Square is another, very classic, Salt Lake City pre-Christmas activity. It is one E and I haven't done for a few years, but used to be tradition in early years of our dating. James has never been to Temple Square, being that we are not LDS, but we were excited to see the lights and take the train downtown.
We parked within the free zone hoping James would like the train as much as we though he might.
Once inside we easily found enough seats for our family.
And to say he liked it would be an understatement.
Seriously. Highlight of this kid's life. Later, we went to dinner and got chatting with another family with a toddler. I mentioned the fact that we went on the train and James chimed into the conversation saying "love it!". So sweet. Also, isn't his reflection in this photo beyond perfect?
We arrived a little before the lights were turned on, but that was ok. It gave us a chance to look around the beautiful grounds and all the fountains (fallfalls). See E and James at the top of the photo?
Dusk at Temple Square.
Once 5:00 hit, the lights all turned on. James stopped what he was doing and clapped. So sweet, I tell you.
The reflection pool really is awesome.
In all the years I've been visiting Temple Square to see the lights, I've never come at sunset. Why? No idea, it made it amazing!
Merry Christmas! Until next year!
Last week before the big holiday we had E's family's traditional cookie day. This differs from my family's cookie day in the fact that it is mostly a sugar cookie decorating party. Connie had purchased these "weird glasses" that made the Christmas lights on the tree look distorted. James loved the glasses and still talks about "weird glasses". I was thrilled to find that if I put my camera up the the glasses, I could easily take a photo of the effect, as demonstrated above.
This year's cookie decorating party started with dinner (pizza and salad) and ended with decorating at least six dozen sugar cookies.
Every year it is a family event. Chelsea and Joe make all the cookies earlier in the day, and they are ready and waiting when we arrive. Yea, it's awesome.
Connie was around for lots of kissing on this boy.
Last year on cookie day James tasted his very first cookie. This year on cookie day James actually got to decorate. He asked for "spice" (sprinkles) and went to town with his little frosted cookie.
More...
A few more...
Completed masterpiece! Only took an entire jar of red sprinkles and a few green ones for the top.
Visiting Temple Square is another, very classic, Salt Lake City pre-Christmas activity. It is one E and I haven't done for a few years, but used to be tradition in early years of our dating. James has never been to Temple Square, being that we are not LDS, but we were excited to see the lights and take the train downtown.
We parked within the free zone hoping James would like the train as much as we though he might.
Once inside we easily found enough seats for our family.
And to say he liked it would be an understatement.
Seriously. Highlight of this kid's life. Later, we went to dinner and got chatting with another family with a toddler. I mentioned the fact that we went on the train and James chimed into the conversation saying "love it!". So sweet. Also, isn't his reflection in this photo beyond perfect?
We arrived a little before the lights were turned on, but that was ok. It gave us a chance to look around the beautiful grounds and all the fountains (fallfalls). See E and James at the top of the photo?
Dusk at Temple Square.
Once 5:00 hit, the lights all turned on. James stopped what he was doing and clapped. So sweet, I tell you.
The reflection pool really is awesome.
In all the years I've been visiting Temple Square to see the lights, I've never come at sunset. Why? No idea, it made it amazing!
Merry Christmas! Until next year!
Haha!!! Totally laughing how excited was about the train! So cute!!!
ReplyDeleteAuntie Melissa
Jessica, I just love all of your fabulous pictures! James is growing up so fast!
ReplyDeleteI love the Christmas posts! I love the masterpiece cookie! So much fun, I missed seeing you all over Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't we think of the "train" sooner? This boy is so wonderful and I love things that make him happy, even if damma's kissing him too much isn't included!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun tradition! I love how little kids "help" us. Ella loves sprinkles on cookies too. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are hilarious. I may be LDS but I don't visit Temple Square that often. In fact, I didn't even see the lights this year. So sad! Your bokeh photo makes me totally regret it. There's always next year though.
What a great post! I agree with Rinny- your bokeh photos were gorgeous! I especially loved the first one with the red lights and the temple in the background. I totally took for granted how amazing that light display is. I always thought it was beautiful, but there really is nothing like it. I can't imagine how amazing it would be for children, and it must have been especially magical for little J to see the lights turn on.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!