Edible Fun

Yes.

I am getting a little ahead of myself, but Christmas is so much fun!

We decorated our gingerbread house for a family home evening activity tonight.

While watching Dancing With The Stars. (Go Donny!)

It was really fun, I was a little surprised. Best case scenarios played out. For once. How nice!

James helped stick candy on at first and then he just wanted to eat it. We presuaded him to eat non-attached candy rather than roof and window decorations.

Naomi was a pro, she specifically did the roofline, window coverings, front door and window decorations, and the side of the roof that isn't pictured below. It's more artistic than this side.

We all ended up eating a fair amount of sugar.

This was a ready to go kit from our loving WalMart Supercenter. Naomi want's to make another one, and I have a recipe for sturdy gingerbread. I think I'll give a homemade version a try in a few weeks.

Naomi also said she wants to smash it, with her toy hammer. So we'll see how long this lasts.

Grandma Linda

Zach's mom, "Grandma Linda" as she is affectionately called, was here all last week and left us for Utah on Sunday. It was so great to have her here! I have been so spoiled with both of our moms coming out to help me. It has been so wonderful. I've needed the help and Linda was great to have here;) I didn't change one (seriously) dirty diaper the whole week!

It was especially helpful to have Linda because James was so sick when she got here! He had an icky cold that made it really difficult for him to breath while eating. And he was just so sad, so an extra set of arms was just what we needed. Also Zach was super busy with his last week of classes.

And Naomi declined preschool on more than one occasion to stay home and play with Grandma. But can you blame her? James learned how to crawl during her visit too. We put up the tree and James decided to crawl on over to get a closer look, I mean- grab. at it. Naomi has told me repeatedly that "I just want to go and visit Grandma at her house right now!" Two weeks to a two year old might as well be two years! We miss you Grandma Linda.

We were able to visit the Washington DC temple Festival of Lights on Saturday. It's really beautiful, it's the East coast version of Temple Square in Salt Lake, but a bit smaller but no less lovely. The visitors center has concerts and programs continually this month, and pretty Christmas trees all decorated uniquely, as well as a beautiful display of nativities from around the world. Last Friday there was a special program or meeting for ambassadors from around the world to see the Christmas lights for it's first night and the ambassador from India had the honor of turning on the lights, officially beginning the festival.

Anyway, if you are at all in this area it's worth a visit. Just be sure to bundle up, it's been cold here!

This was so funny, in Downtown Silver Spring there was a Christmas tree display. When I went to take the picture of Naomi and Linda, this little boy jumped right in. He heard me calling to Naomi to look at me and smile so he called her by name too. Naomi was a little weirded out:)