Draper Tree of Life

Seth's work hosted a party on December 19th.  Beth and Philip were kind enough to babysit Phin while we attended.  We decided to meet them at the tree of life at Draper City Park for the trade off.  The tree did not disappoint...we just wish it wouldn't have been quite as cold.

Seth's work party was a blast.  They had a casino night and we were each given a certain amount of casino chips at the beginning of the night.  We played blackjack and roulette and tried one hand at craps...but didn't get that game at all.  We spent the most time at the roulette table and really had a great time on our date...with all of Seth's co-workers.

Echoes of Christmas

One of my friends had posted a picture on Instagram about their favorite holiday tradition which is Echoes of Christmas.  I looked it up online and found out that it was a 40-minute live nativity walk through and at each stop the actors sing songs and act out their parts.  I was very intrigued and ended up dragging Seth and Phin down to Liberty Park on a Tuesday evening for the event.  We arrived about ten minutes before the event started...which meant we were near the beginning of the line.  Seth followed our wandering Phin around while I stayed in line. 

My pictures aren't great...no flash allowed and I didn't have my good camera but I wanted to give you an idea of the event.  We were split up into groups of about twenty and were lead to each station by a shepherd.

I have to say this will definitely become a family tradition.  It was a nice way to invite the spirit and to ponder on the true meaning of Christmas.  Once we actually started walking with the group Phin loved the event as well.  He sat still and watched all the actors singing...he also loved all of the live animals...donkeys, sheep and a camel.

Children's Museum

Earlier this month we spent a morning at The Children's Museum with Amy, Zoey and Aaron.  I hadn't been to the museum since it moved to the gateway years ago.  The kids absolutely loved playing with all of the toys and exploring all of the play areas.  We loved having Aaron along he got so excited at several spots in the museum that he literally jumped up and down with screams of delight.

When we started playing at the water table I noticed that Aaron was took his boots off...the next thing I knew he had his socks on and was trying to climb right into the little pond.  I wish I would have thought to take a picture of Aaron climbing right in.

Phin loved that everthing was his size.

When I was little my favorite area was the grocery store...I think that may have held true for Phin as well.

He loved pushing the shopping cart around.

Aaron is definitely a country boy at heart.  I looked over and found him feeding the horse.

The boys also loved the construction area.  Aaron became a master at operating the crane.

We would have loved to stay longer but it was nap time and a huge school group came in...so we left while the going was good.

Emma in Oakley

I was delighted to get a text message from my friend that she would be visiting Utah in early December.  Jenn and I met our freshman year at BYU and were roommates our junior and senior years.  Jenn moved out to South Carolina just over a year ago.  She invited Phin and I up to her parent's new cabin in Oakley for a visit.  I loved catching up on all the events of the last year and meeting Jenn's daughter Emma.

Thank you for including us in your trip to Utah.

Festival of Trees

After meeting Santa at Seth's work we drove a little further South to attend the Festival of Trees.  Seth asked if this was going to become a yearly tradition...we both decided that it wouldn't after facing the massive crowds and a wiggly toddler.  

There were tons of superhero trees...as well as Frozen trees.

I liked this tree with the paper chain and garland.

There were also tons of trees with origami ornaments.

We also liked this game tree that had a deck of cards strung as a garland.

This is what Phin thought of the festival...

We thought this marble run tree was pretty cool.

The gingerbread displays were also pretty spectacular.  This one of the Salt Lake Temple was my favorite.

Meeting Santa

Seth's work had Santa come and visit their new design center the first Saturday in December.  We headed out to meet the Jolly Old Guy and to enjoy some hot chocolate.  We probably should have warmed Phin up to the idea of Santa first...but we just plopped him right down on Santa's lap.  I actually quite like the photo...a classic Christmas fail.  Phin recovered pretty quickly...pretty much as soon as he had a cookie in his hand.  Thank you for joining us Sarah, Joe, Kate, Papa, Beth and Eliza.

Lights on Temple Square

We have had some pretty spectacular weather in December and it has been fun to get out and enjoy it while it lasts.  Seth was headed with the Young Men to Temple Square to see the lights the first Wednesday evening of the month and Phin and I were tired of being cooped up from being sick so we tagged along.  

I always love the red and pink lights.

Seth's favorite lights were the blue ones.

Phin was just happy when we let him out of the backpack.

This is perhaps my favorite picture from the night...

We also walked through the new exhibit and the pictures were absolutely stunning.

18 MONTHS

I am getting later and later at posting these monthly updates of Phin...mostly because he has figured out how to turn the computer off this month.  He seems to sense that I am distracted and touches one little button so that I will  focus all of my attention on him...smart little boy.

Phin weighs 26 pounds 14 ounces and is 34 inches tall.  That puts him in the 64th percentile for weight and the 91st percentile for height.  He has learned many new skills this month...he is a master at emptying things out and scattering things around...including leaves.

He has also become quite a problem solver.  He carries his little chair around to use as a step stool when he can't quite reach something.  I will be honest...we have had to put his little chairs into time out a time or two.  Most nights Phin can be found standing on a chair next to the sink while we do dishes.  He has also become a pretty good helper when I am cooking and wants to be up on his chair in the midst of the action.

His favorite thing to cook with me is cookies of course.  One day I had the cookies cooling on a rack at the edge of the counter...the next thing I knew a whole row of cookies was gone.  Phin hasn't learned to get rid of the evidence yet and he had chocolate all over his face.

He loves cars and he loves watching people...so he was delighted when we spent a night watching the Pine Wood Derby cars that the Young Men and Young Women were racing.

He continues to have a major sweet tooth and knows exactly where our candy drawer is.  One day he pulled a little box over and tried to use it as a step to get up into the drawer.  If Seth or I open this drawer at the end of dinner Phin is instantly done with dinner and ready for dessert.

We have had to start hiding all of our writing utensils since Phin found some crayons and decided to create a masterpiece on our white cabinet.

He discovered a serious love for Oreos this month.  Here he is sitting back on our chaise lounger and enjoying one.  He especially loves mint dipped Oreos.

We got to spend quite a bit of time with family this last month.  Cousin Eliza came over on her parent's anniversary and these two decided the armchair was just right for the two of them.

Phin continues to be a great sleeper unless he is teething or not feeling well.  Most mornings he can be found with his little bum up in the air or on his back with his arms up like he is surrendering.

We made Jello for Thanksgiving and Phin discovered he was a big fan.

Phin also got to go on his first scooter ride around the parking lot of our apartment complex.  He had been climbing up on Seth's scooter for weeks hoping for a ride.

Phin loves when Seth is home and when he can climb up on his back for a Daddy ride.

He also loves when Daddy is willing to share ice cream.

Phin and I both caught hand, foot and mouth disease over Thanksgiving break...it was awful.  I thought he was just teething but then he started to get marks all over his hands, mouth and feet.  Luckily his case was not as bad as mine.  I was covered in blisters for almost a week.  I counted 16 blisters on one thumb.  Not fun...I should have gotten a picture of the two of us... but I missed the opportunity.  Seth did take a picture of me at my worst...this picture seriously does not do it justice.  I wouldn't wish hand, foot and mouth on my worst enemy.

I was watching a story on KSL the other day about a mom that realized she was missing from most of the family photos...she solved the problem by using the self timer on her cameras.  I think my new years resolution next year may be to try that out and get myself into a few more pictures with Phin...wish me luck.