On the "Sixth Date of Christmas"

We went to my sister Paige's Christmas ice show.

She's pretty cute.

On the "Fifth Date of Christmas"

We started with a dinner that was completely red and green. (I even dyed the noodles green and the sprite red.) I know it looks kind of disgusting, but it was actually fun!

And of course, candy cane ice cream for dessert.

Then we finished the night watching elf (our favorite Christmas movie that we watch year round) and wrapping all of our Christmas presents.

On the "Fourth Date of Christmas"

We finally put up our Christmas tree! So it has nothing on it yet, but at least it's out of the box...

Then we made our "12 days til kiss-mas chains" *see note below*

I can't do a post without a cute picture of Caydence. This is where we found her after dinner tonight :)

***My grandma started making us these chains and sending them to us when we were little. I still love to make them. You just wrap 12 Hershey's kisses in plastic wrap and tie bows in between (we used alternating red and green yarn) Make sure the kisses are Christmas colors and the top one is gold.

The poem on the back goes like this:

12 Candy kisses

Hanging in a row,

Eat one candy kiss each day

And this chain will surely show,

Christmas is getting closer

Only a few days to go,

Reach the gold and you will wake

To Santa's HO HO HO

Don't worry, it's not too late to make your own. The countdown starts on Sunday the 13th.

On the "Third Date of Christmas"

We watched Four Christmases and worked on Christmas crafts (pictures to come when they are done). Verdict: The movie was cute, but predictable. It was a little dirtier than I'd expected. I don't think I'd watch it again. But the crafts, company, and popcorn were good :)

An Amazing Man

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=willard-fullmer&pid=137019000

I had the privilege of knowing this great man as the bishop of my teen years. He was also the father of one of my best friends. I spent many fun years at their home, and those years have left me many great memories. Our love and prayers go to their family.

On the "Second Date of Christmas"...

We went to Tuba Christmas!! My sister invited us to come watch her play in this at BYU on Saturday. I guess it's a tradition that has been going on all over for YEARS. On man there said he had done like 61. She is the only girl in this picture, with the green beanie with a puff ball on top :)

This is her actually playing, but I'm too dumb with the camera to get a good picture.
Here's the whole group. Pretty impressive.

It was so much fun! Caydence absolutely loved dancing along.

And she really liked this hat.

Danny was pretty serious about wanting to join in next year :)

We couldn't head down to Utah County without a trip to the new In-N-Out!! Verdict: A-MAZ-ING!! I pretty much can't stop thinking about it. I almost had a heart attack when we saw the drive through line; it was almost around the block. But we went inside, and that line was MUCH better and moving MUCH faster, so if you go, go inside.

And we ended the "date" with a trip to Thanksgiving point to see the Ice Sculpture contest. It was supposedly held 2 days before we got there, and they were going to leave the sculptures out until the melted. We got there and there was only one sculpture, and a guy working on another. It was possibly -150 degrees, so we didn't get out of the car, we just looked from the window, so sorry, no pictures.

All in all a great day :)

And just a side note, Caydence thinks EVERYTHING is a phone, and it's always Pa Pa on the phone. This was her at the in-laws tonight with a bridge from a wooden train set. She's too funny.

On the "First Date of Christmas"....

We went to The Festival of Trees. This is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas time every year. We head straight for the $1 scones :) and then for the gingerbread houses. They are so amazing! This one is a birdhouse (notice the hanging birds)

This one is from the Nightmare Before Christmas. I've never actually seen the movie, but I already like its style.

Here is a tree made of fondant!

I love the trees that are just pretty. Loved these colors.

Had to get the NYC tree.

But our favorites are the really different trees like this one made of rocks. But it is being overshadowed by the ugly white one in the background.

And I love this upside down one (also from the Nightmare Before Christmas.)

P.S. I got the idea for the 12 "dates" of Christmas from a friend's blog, and I thought it sounded so fun! The goal is to have at least 12 "dates" during December where we do fun Christmas things. I'm so excited, I have so many fun plans!!! Stay tuned for more fun "dates" to come!!