Christmas Eve Breakfast

Just for fun we went and had breakfast at our local IHOP this morning. Brighton and Chelsea were so excited about their "face" pancakes!

4th Annual Pre-Christmas Chinese Take-out Night

Last night we had our annual Chinese take-out night. It has been one of our special family traditions to order take-out from the Mandarin on the 22nd or 23rd and watch a fun Christmas movie together. This year we invited Grandma and Grandpa, who so generously provided the take-out, and Matt and Emily to join us. We also changed things up a little by watching the BYU bowl game instead (Go Cougars!). We ended the evening by exchanging gifts with Matt and Em who will be in Toronto for Christmas this year. We will certainly miss them! I'm very sad to say that the battery on our camera was dead so we do not have any pictures to memorialize the joyous evening, but as always it was a fun to be together... and to top things off, the Cougars won!

The Sunday Before Christmas

For once we were actually early getting ready for church (a rare treat!), so I took the opportunity to take some pictures of everyone in their festive church clothes.

The Yarn Family Christmas Party

Siena with dad

Chelsea playing with the Nativity set

Brighton with Uncle Matt

Our cute little angel

Great-grandpa read us the Christmas story

Our little actors listened as reverently as possible

Grandma was a great stage-hand

Singing some Christmas carols

Last night we went to the annual Yarn family Christmas party. Because our kids were the only little ones who could be there they certainly got plenty of attention! Great-grandpa Yarn read us the story of the birth of Christ, and the kids acted as "props" during it. It was really quite entertaining, especially when he read the part about the angels visiting the shepards and right on cue, Siena started waving her arms and babbling away. The food was great, and it was so fun to see everyone. Another fun Christmas tradition!

Our Little Christmas Angel

For our Yarn Family Christmas party, which is tonight, we were asked to have Brighton, Chelsea, and Siena dress up as Joseph, Mary and an angel. I promised Justin that I would come up with their costumes strictly with things we had around the house, and I'm always up for a challenge! I cheated just a little bit by buying a 94 cent bag of feathers at Wal-mart, but I was really happy with Siena's costume, so I had to show it off. She is such a darling angel! I will be sure to post some pictures of the other two after the party...

Brighton's Christmas Program

Brighton's preschool class had their Christmas party yesterday, and parents and grandparents were invited to come for the last part to watch their Christmas program. They sang several festive songs, all with actions, and it was darling. They even had blinking red noses when they sang "Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer"! Brighton did a great job, and it was so cute to see Chelsea run up to him and give him a big hug when it was over.

We Love Christmas Cards!

When we get Christmas cards, we've always displayed them by taping them onto the big mirror in our front room. We love getting so many cards from our friends and family, and the kids especially enjoy the ones with pictures. Well, every inch of our mirror is covered now, and what a happy sight it is!

These Are So Yummy!

Chelsea helped us by eating all of the broken pretzels

Brighton is extremely annoyed that I am taking pictures instead of helping

Before going into the oven

This is what they look like when they're done

Everyone should make these cute little treats. I stole the recipe off of my cute friend Wende's blog, and they are the best (thanks for sharing, Wende!). They are easy and quick to make, very festive-looking and a perfect activity for little kids. And they are so tasty! I love the combination of salty and sweet. After arranging pretzels on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, top each one with a kiss and put in a 200 degree oven for 10 minutes. After they come out all melted, top each with a couple of M&Ms, then put them in the fridge to set. We tried all different kinds of Hersey kisses, and they are all delicious, but the candy cane ones look the cutest, and the hugs taste the best. Brighton LOVES them, and told me these are what we're going to leave out for Santa this year!

Our Little Elves

Chelsea and Siena were helping (or hindering?) while I wrapped gifts

Chelsea was so excited about this green nail polish!

While Brighton was at preschool this morning the girls and I did some last minute shopping. We are now officially done with our shopping, stashing, wrapping, and sending! So we celebrated by going home and painting our nails and toenails. Pretty festive, aren't they?

The Lights at Temple Square

Chelsea walking with Grandma and Dad

Warming up inside the Tabernacle

With all of the colorful lights in the background

A group shot

And another with the temple spires

Last night we walked around Temple Square for our family night activity. It was about 20 degrees outside so we bundled the kids up in snow boots and hats and gloves and heavy coats, and saw all of the beautiful Christmas lights. There weren't many people out, which was nice, and we enjoyed not only the lights, but the church history museum and the visitor's center as well. It's definitely a wonderful Christmas tradition that we can't pass up!