Christmas at Home and Christmas Candy

So what's increasing my waistline now...?

A couple of weeks ago I did myself the greatest disservice and purchased my very first candy thermometer. Next, I pulled this recipe off line and, unfortunately, proceeded to make the PERFECT toffee. To make matters worse, I slathered melted chocolate and chopped pecans onto BOTH SIDES. Well, now let's just be truthful here - The REAL problem is that I can't stop eating them! *Shaking my fist* Curse you delicious confection! 

Letters for Santa!

I was corrected by my eldest that the North Pole 

is NOT a part of the USA.

On a silent December night.

 I gave an angel ornament to each of my dearest friends that I've made since moving here. I told them that they were angles for befriending me in the first place, and angles for remaining my friends once they got to know me. 

No small undertaking... 

My tree has heart with a little bit of everything on it.

Olive wood Nativity from the City of Jerusalem.

 I have the most heart-wrenching tale of it's demise, but I'll spare you until another day. I'll just say that it surprisingly had nothing to do with the children. Maybe. I don't think so.

 A little bit of Christmas in the kitchen.

The good news is, as everyone knows, 

that calories don't count at Christmas. 

(But someone should tell that to my waistline.)

PJs and Pillow Pet Palooza

Just when you thought getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve couldn't get any more exciting....

Elation!

Should an 11 year old be THIS excited about Footie pajamas?
Well, he is.

  Phase II

 PILLOW PETS!

It's a pillow...It's a pet...It's a Pillow Pet.

I thought they all might burst a gasket when I pulled these things out on Christmas Eve. I'm pretty sure that if you had been standing outside of our house in that moment, you'd have heard the maniacal screaming of the words,  

PILLOW PEEEEEEETS!!!!!!! 

Screaming, screaming, beaming, more screaming.

Lights on Temple Square

This is our little visit to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. I'm not a big fan of walking around outside looking at lights in sub-zero temperatures (Not even if it's the lights on Temple Square). I mean seriously, I nearly missed out on a marriage proposal because of this very issue! Needless to say, it's been a few years since we have taken the kids. I kind of felt bad that my youngest two didn't even remember the place. But since this has been a relatively warm December and I was determined - but mostly because it's been warmer...here we are.

Touching the walls of the Temple.

Reflection in the pond with  floating candles.

 Dad gave him a penny to throw into the pond. 

This is his look of despair.

 "I wished for a Lego set, but it didn't work." 

He was fretting about that Lego set the rest of the evening. Haha The wishing pond had let him down.

Still fretting.

Christmas Love