Snow Day with Daddy

Daddy took the day off yesterday so that he could play in the snow with Maya. The plan was to build a snowman, but Maya would destroy it just as fast as daddy could build it.

Learning how to make a snowangel...

Warming up with hot chocolate...

Christmas

Maya had her first encounter with Santa at our ward Christmas party. She skipped the line and walked right up to Santa, she froze once she was sitting on his lap.

On Christmas Eve we went to Layton and looked at the light display, it was a big hit with Maya.
Maya wore her pretty Christmas dress from Grandma Walker to church.

Christmas presents highlights...




Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's.

Gingerbread Houses

Monday night we headed over to our friend's house for a Family Home Evening. We had fun watching the kids play, steal each other's toys, chat, and make gingerbread houses.

Maya decorated her house all by herself, although I do think her favorite part was wiping the frosting off with her fingers and eating it (maybe she liked the stucco look).

The finished products... Carter may have got a little help on his, he was only interested in eating the candy.

Tommy's New Toy

We woke up to snow, the first run was great!

Finish stockings... check!

I started making our Christmas stockings a few months ago (kind of getting a habit of starting projects and not completing them). They are not quite the original plan, but they're done. I'm pleased. Now three more projects to go!

Early Christmas Present

Just before Thanksgiving, Tommy had to go to Europe for work and I flew out to meet him in Paris, France for a few days. Tommy's wonderful parents and sisters were very kind to watch Maya during our adventures in the "City of Love." From the sound of things, she slept better and had more fun with her grandparents and aunts than with us.

I loved Paris, pretty much everyone spoke English, they were friendly, and the subway system is AMAZING! We were able to see and do everything we hoped for in the three days we were there.

Here are a few highlights of the trip:
Unfortunately, the top of the Eiffel Tower was closed. We were only able to go to the second level.

The food was delicious, not much different from here. Lots of sandwiches on fancy bread.

The Louvre was not crowded at all. Walking around the palace itself was our favorite part, is is HUGE and breathtaking.

First thing we did in Paris was sip hot chocolate where Ernest Hemingway would sit and write.

The Arch of Triumph. I loved the walk from the Louvre.

Of course we had to have a gelato every day, took me right back to Italy!

My favorite part of the whole trip was just walking the neighborhoods and streets by Notre Dame.

Let the Countdown Begin...

I made an advent calendar for Maya to countdown the days until Christmas. Today was the first morning to open a tin. The pictures explain it all, she loves it (the candy anyway)!