It's Christmas Eve!

It's here and it's official - it's Christmas Eve! I'm at work tonight and it's a (knock-on-wood) slow night here in the ICU. I feel like I somewhat earned this more relaxing night since I ran my tail off last night here. I'm amazed at how excited I am for Christmas this year. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning with the girls and watch them open their presents. I can't believe how amazing it is to be their mother. Does it ever just hit you like that? Like, you're sitting there watching your little ones argue over a toy and you realize, hey, I'm a MOM and these are my CHILDREN. When did I get so grown up? Or so lucky? I have always loved children. Having my own children has been the very best thing that has ever happened to me. They are my favorite Christmas gifts.

Holiday Fun

Emily. We stayed at the Festival of Trees until we hit nap time and we hit it hard.

Gwen and Noah got manicures. Gwen got blue fingernails and Noah got "monster green".

Here they are copying the kids on stage. Gwen would watch the dancers and try to do exactly what they were doing then Emily would copy Gwen.

Gwen could watch the dancers forever. Just don't ask her to sit, she has to participate.

Emily loved watching the dancers this year. Last year she was barely walking, this year she was dancing along with the music.

Emily loved this seal on the floor at the Festival of Trees. She wouldn't leave it. She danced on it and jumped on it.

Gwen spent three days watching the Barbie movie about the Nutcracker. She loved it and was so excited that there were nutcrackers at the Festival. She really liked these big ones and told us that she was going to cast a spell on him and make him smaller so she could dance with him.

Emily all bundled up for our celebration of lights in downtown. It was cold but beautiful.

Emily wanted to climb in the reflecting pool. I think she misses her swimming pool.

Gwen with the floating "Jesus Family" in tha background.

I can't believe that it's only December 8th and we've already had so much fun this holiday season. Thanks in no part to my new job where I've been able to work an extra shift each week. Those extra hours mean that I'm making about a third more than what I was at my old job. Today I paid off our credit card and for the first time I'm not worried about the cost of Christmas. This job is MUCH harder than my old job so I feel like I more than earn those extra bucks. I've also learned that anything can change in an instant so I'm not getting too comfortable just trying to be smart with the money still, like paying off debt and saving for a down payment on our next house.

It does feel really nice to be able to do these super fun things together without the worry. We took the train downtown on December 1st for the first night of Hannukkah and had dinner together and saw all the lights at Temple Square. We also went with Laura, Noah, and Max to the Festival of Trees. That's one of our very favorite Christmas activities. I love seeing all the pretty trees and watching the dancers and singers. Gwen sat on Santa's lap and asked for cardboard boxes. That came out of the blue. We had been talking about using all the boxes from the Christmas presents and painting them and turning them into houses for her princesses. That must have stuck in her brain because that's what she wants for Christmas. Cute kid. Emily refused to sit on Santa's lap but did like the candy cane that she got from him. She also likes pointing out Santa and saying "ho, ho, ho." Jonathan and I got a sitter and went with some of my family to see the latest Harry Potter at the IMax for my dad's birthday. We only see like one or two movies a year, so that was fun. Tomorrow Jonathan and the girls are going to the Dicken's Festival in the early afternoon while I sleep because I have to work all night tonight. On Friday, Gwen and I are going with Heidi, Sam, Jami, and Grandma to a Christmas ballet, just us girls. Later this month we're taking Gwen to see a Voice Male concert at Abravanel Hall. I'm loving this December.