Christmas Traditions

I love the Christmas season for all the traditions that it brings.  My goal every year is to get my Christmas shopping done by December 1st, so that the month of December I can spend as much time with my family as possible celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. This year we went down to Salt Lake to see the lights at Temple Square. We don't make it to Temple Square every year anymore but is so fun when we do get there. It was packed and cold but worth the trip! On the way home, we stopped at Texas Roadhouse for dinner and it was delicious! The girls couldn't stop talking about the steak bites they had, but it could have been that we were starving!
I learned at Brielle's preschool program that decorating the Christmas tree is her favorite tradition. She is loves it when we find "her" ornaments to put on the tree and she is very careful when she places the ornaments. Then, throughout the month, she takes some ornaments off and plays different imaginary games with them. She has to hunt for the "pickle" when she goes to my mom's house which is a tradition that they started a few years ago, too. It's funny what they look forward too! She also got to go to Christmas Village with her preschool class which was cold and quick, but fun to do with Nick.
We also have fun family parties to attend. At the Wilson party, my girls love to sit on Santa's lap and talk to him about what they want. With our immediate family, the girls love to exchange presents with their cousins especially when the cousin they get is their age. This year the cousins did a talent show where Emma played "The First Noel" on the piano and Brielle "read" the book "Firehouse" to us.  It always makes me happy to see the girls take pride in something that they do well.
It was a great month that went by too fast as usual.