Merry Christmas 2013

And the celebrating continued, this time on actual Christmas Eve.

We hosted Derek's parents, his Grandma Noma and my Grandma Grady for dinner and games on Christmas Eve. We kept it simple with homemade pizza and breadsticks and salad, plus cheesecake for dessert. Mmmmm. Lydia was in heaven playing games with her grandparents and, although the evening ended a little earlier than I'm used to -- my poor inlaws were exhausted from the Christmas rush at Cameo Florist -- we really had a wonderful time.

Noma Clark, Kurtis and Diana Larson, Lisa, Lydia, Grandma Grady and Connor.

Old Maid and Go Fish with Grandma and Grandpa Larson

You can see how exhausted Kurtis and Diana are. They were great sports about all our evening plans though.

The magic of Christmas

Christmas morning -- Santa came! 
He left the traditional strings, plus some wonderful gifts. We celebrated with just our little family at home before getting together at Derek's parent's house for more gifts and a yummy breakfast.
This whole Christmas season was absolutely magical. Lydia was the perfect age for really being into everything. I felt so blessed just to witness and be part of it all.

Can't wait to see where her string goes...

Connor needed a little help from Daddy

Ariel princess! Lydia's favorite of the moment.

I think he's figuring it out...

Love this little guy!

Reading a book from cousins Reagan and Colin

Christmas morning part 2

Diana loved her photo book of all her grandchildren

Lydia practicing on her new scooter

Legos for Connor (and Daddy!)

Let the Christmas mayhem continue...

Pre-Christmas {Dec. 20, 2013}

We celebrated Pre-Christmas with the Gradys on Dec. 20 in order to see my parents before they flew to Texas for the actual holiday. 

It was so much fun to host at our house! 

I felt like such a grown up (I know, I know, I'm 34 so this shouldn't be a new thing here), but somehow hosting such an important holiday felt like I had really arrived into adulthood. 

I made the traditional Christmas Carol rolls for breakfast, homemade caramels -- which turned out fabulously, by the way -- as well as a delicious fondue dinner. 

The guests included Derek, Lydia, Connor and myself; Lionel and Artis Grady, Brian and Leslie Ann Grady, Grandma Nellie Grady. 

It really was a wonderful time!

Lydia and Connor entertaining themselves while they waited for Grandma and Grandpa to arrive.

Dinner time

SO many wonderful gifts!

Plus, we enjoyed just sitting around visiting and watching the kids be kids.

Leslie Ann and Lisa

Live Nativity

On Dec. 21 we went to enjoy the live nativity program at Tuacahn. Although a little chilly, it put us in the right spirit for Christmas.

Christmas dress for church.

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa Larsons after church.

Noma's 80th {Dec. 14, 2013}

Happy 80th birthday to this amazing lady!

Noma Clark -- Derek's maternal grandmother -- is really a grandmother to us all. Living so close to her is such a blessing. It's wonderful to see the relationship she has cultivated with Lydia and Connor and I am grateful for the friendship she and I share as well. 

We celebrated her birthday with a big open house at Derek's parents for all the people in the neighborhood, as well as many family members who traveled to be part of the occasion.

We are so blessed to have had this special time.

Derek and Grandma Clark

Deckin' the halls

This year marked a monumental first in the Larson home: We had an artificial tree. 

I've been the real hold out on this issue. I grew up with a real tree and just couldn't imagine Christmas without the look and smell of a real pine. However, something changed in my head when we went to pick up our usual real tree at Home Depot. The idea of pre-lit, no tree watering and no needles coming off just sounded so appealing. 

We ended up ordering a beautiful -- and far more affordable than I anticipated -- fake tree online. 

Lydia quickly claimed one of our decorations ("ginger lady" as she calls her) as her new bedtime companion

We were able to go help Great-Grandma Grady decorate her house as well.

More shape art. So many possibilities with her creative little brain.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Decorating cookies at the neighborhood street Christmas party

Snow days {Dec.4 and 7, 2013}

It doesn't happen too often, so when we do get snow in St. George, we really like to enjoy it!

Dec. 4 we had some snow outside the house, which I rushed out to photograph that night, thinking it wouldn't last. Little did I know that a few days later on Dec. 7 we would have a storm that literally left us with snow falling all day, and sticking for weeks to come. 

Very un-St. George-ish. 

Gearing up for a walk in the first few flakes

The flakes kept coming and coming.

Sledding time!

Thanks to our friends, the Marshalls, we were able to enjoy the snow the way it was really intended -- on a sled! It was hilarious to see people gathering with their sleds at the park in Bloomington Hills. Very few had actual snow gear, so it was a mish-mash of layered clothes, socks on hands instead of gloves and such. Anything to get out and make some memories in the cold.

Lydia and Josh Marshall

Connor's feet pajamas, worn over his socks and other pants, worked well enough as a snow suit.

Derek and Lydia, ready to go!

Connor liked sitting in, and eating the snow.

Nothing sounds more festive after a day filled with snow than baking up some yummy Christmas cookies that evening. I love winter fun!

Kicking off Christmas {2013}

Thanks to a great new advent calendar, we were able to kick off another new Larson tradition this year, crafted after one of my favorite childhood traditions. Every day the advent calendar included a note about some festive activity. This year, the note on Dec. 1 also included new Christmas pajamas.

Gingerbread Jesus, at last!

For years -- probably at least 8 -- I have been looking for a gingerbread man nativity. I've conducted extensive research and as far as I can tell, there was not one in existence. On a whim this year I decided to look online, as I have done many, many times in the past, and I found this perfect little set, complete with an adorable gingerbread Jesus. My holidays are complete!

Tree near-tragedy {Nov. 29, 2013}

The day after Thanksgiving we went to visit some of my relatives in Enoch. Lydia was having a great time playing with some distant cousins while I visited inside and Derek watched some of the men cut down a tree in front of the house. 

While in the backyard, Lydia got spooked by a dog and ran around to the front of the house seeking Daddy's protection. Unfortunately, she couldn't hear him yelling at her above the noise of the chainsaw, telling her to stay where she was. He was holding Connor at the time and as she ran toward him -- directly in the path of the tree -- he had to turn and set Connor down before running into the path of the tree himself or risk injuring Connor at the same time. In a split second, this 30-year-old quaking aspen landed directly on Lydia.

Fortunately it was near the top half of the tree, so the trunk itself was smaller there and some of the scraggly branches helped soften the blow. 

We were so grateful that one of the men helping with the tree is a paramedic in Las Vegas so he was able to give her a full medical assessment. Despite several scrapes and being terribly shaken up, she was fine. What a miracle! 

I'm not sure who was more shaken up, she or Derek. They both had quite a scare!

She didn't even want to stand next to the tree for a photo, even more than an hour later. I don't blame her. Poor girl.

Luckily those scrapes were the worst of the injuries.