let's be festive

Lucky for us Blake took Friday off so we had a few jam-packed

days of holiday festivities.

It's the time of year to bundle up and freeze

and do activities just to see the look on

your baby girl's face.

Since Lucy is all about the holidays

this year it's hard to let anything pass us by...

even when it's 11 degrees.

Wednesday night we went to the live nativity

"Nativity in the Glen" near our house.

It was super packed with people and so cold it kind of hurt

but really worth it.

There were live animals Lucy got to see and the glen

was aglow with paper lanterns.

Thursday we ventured south for Thanksgiving Point.

I had the dumb idea that maybe In N Out

crowds may have died down by now but I was wrong.

The Draper location had a 50+ car line in the drive-thru

and people were lined up 20 feet deep out the door...

and the outside temp gauge on our car read 10 degrees.

Really people?!

Anyway, the lights at Thanksgiving Point are so worth the drive.

Lucy could barely blink she didn't want to miss a thing

and I loved being warm and cozy inside our car.

My favorite part was the reindeer at the water tower.

We had to get out of the car for this and we

only lasted a few minutes before running inside

for warmth and hot chocolate.

Warm & cozy in the car

Friday we spent the day Christmas shopping -

not for us but for the three individuals we picked

to buy for our family charity project.

Lucy picked an angel off an angel tree -

a little 2 year old girl who was asking for shoes, socks,

pajamas and a baby doll.

It was kind of hard explaining to Lucy

that the gift was not for her but eventually

she seemed okay about it and was so proud

to help deliver the gifts back to the drop-off site.

Blake and I picked two individuals who get services

through the Utah Association for Intellectual Disabilities.

This organization provides services for adults who are intellectually

disabled but are not qualified to receive

most government aid.

Shopping together as a family for

this cause was so special and rewarding for all three

of us and each year we will continue to find

organizations we can do our part to help.

Saturday morning was THE day...Lucy's dance recital-

but that of course deserves its own post...so stay tuned!

After the morning's events we decided we were

cutting it close for Lucy to still visit with Santa.

We headed to Trolley Square and with my parents

watched our baby girl turn into such a BIG

girl right before our eyes.

Not a flinch of fear or apprehension - she just marched

up into Santa's sleigh and let him

know she'd like...

a pretty dress

a bracelet

a pretty necklace

and pretty shoes!

We wrapped up our busy day with dinner at

spaghetti factory...

I can do without the snow but I do

love this wonderful time of year...

especially with these two.