Category: Home Life

The first week of December my friend Laura invited us and some other friends over to make gingerbread houses. Nadia and Amelie knew exactly what to do so I let them have at it and helped Dani. She thought it was so much fun to eat the candy and decorate. Amelie said it was fun because, “Auntie Laura lets me use a lot of chocolate.” I was really happy that another mutual friend Mary was visiting also so we got to catch up a little bit in between all the candy consumption.

One of our family traditions is to go to Prairie Lights each year at the beginning of December. We know how crowded it gets so we always make it one of our first Christmas time plans. We grab some food to eat on the way and try to get there right when it opens at 6 pm. They had changed up at least two big sections of the lights this year and left the two new ones from last year. Dani loved it and was screaming with excitement as we drove through the park. It was so fun to hear her joy and delight.

In the middle of the drive they have a Christmas village set up where you can get out and ride a carousel and spinning ride as many times as you want. We started there because the lines start to get really long as the evening goes on. The girls have so much fun with this each year. I let Nadia and Amelie spin the big bear so I could hold onto Dani and see if she liked it or not. She really liked it and how fast they were making it go.

We tried to take a photo with Santa, but it wasn’t the usual man who is really good with the kids and they were really abrasive when we were trying to see the samples so we didn’t buy any photos this year. After that we went through the walk through lighted part and it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. It wasn’t nearly as cold as prior years and we just strolled along. Once that was finished we went into the main area again for the “show.” This year it was just music and laser lights instead of live action like last year.

I have been looking forward to Christmas this year because it’s Dani’s first – just like I was excited over Nadia and Amelie’s first Christmas. Dani has such a giant personality and she has been over the top excited about everything!! It’s awesome. The first Christmas tree she saw was at Grandma Linda’s nursing home and she was mesmerized. A couple days after we got home from our Colorado trip I put the tree together and the lights on while the girls were having a nap. Dani was a little confused when she woke up to the tree, but she liked the lights and really got excited about the decorating.

This year the big girls chose their ornaments with Daddy while I was in New York with Dani. Here are their 2014 choices.

This is Dani’s from our China trip. She was born in the year of the Dragon so it’s fitting.

And this totally awesome and amazing ornament was thought of and created by Mike. We like to have the girls first year with us ornament represent the biggest thing that happened and this fits the bill! It turned out so awesome!