chocolates

Almost every year while growing up my parents have made homemade chocolates, recipes handed down from my Grandma Laurel (my dad's mom). They are sooo good. This year my sisters and I decided we wanted to learn how. It took us from noon until midnight to do them but it was so worth it. Thanks mom and dad for teaching us, for our own cook books and for the utensils/slab we need!

Jamie cutting the huge bar of chocolate to melt

Kenzie came over for a while too!

Our beautiful mom

Most of the cooking was done in the garage because it is so cool out there. It is better for the candy to set up

The kids loved playing around grandmas all day together

Katie trying to make "cocoa" powder

Dad teaching us the process of the seed bowl and how to melt the chocolate

Kevin changed my car's brake pads while we made the chocolates! What a good hubby...

Boy do you gain arm muscles while doing this!

Dipping the candy!

Thomas just being there (and he's not even flipping the camera off!)

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Preview

I love the smudge of chocolate on his lips. (Good thing he never looks at this)

cookies

Cole and I made cookies a few times during December. Cole loves to help pour everything in and of course lick the beaters when we are done.

We also thought it would be fun to make sugar cookies with Emma and Kate one night! Well it was fun but it was also a TON of work! The kids all had to have a bath when we were finished and it took me over an hour to clean up!

temple square lights

We went up to Temple Square and saw the lights with Grace this year. It was tons of fun and Cole loved being out to see all the Christmas lights. We also went up and saw the statue of Christ. When we got close Cole asked "hold you?" That is what he says when he wants you to hold him. I thought it was sweet.
A couple days later Cole was telling me about a fire and a donkey. I couldn't figure out what he was talking about until he finally said baby Jesus. He was talking about the nativity at the square. Grace had pointed out the shepherds and donkey by a fire as it was illuminated.

santa

I wasn't too sure how Cole would react to Santa this year. Last year he cried and cried. This year he walked right up, sat on his lap, let Santa talk to him and smiled for pictures! YAY

Not sure what was said but they did talk for quite a while! You've got to love Santa at Trolley Square, no line and very nice.

our christmas tree

I LOVE christmas time! We had so much fun this year with Cole. He loved the lights and decorations like I do. He constantly was reminding us to turn them on or he would try plugging them in himself. We had our lights on any time we were home.

Cole helping me check to see if the lights worked

Cole also loves stars like I do

Of course he has to help with everything

Cole had to concentrate sooo hard to get the balls on the tree ( I soon learned we can't call them balls but ornaments. Cole took it literally and threw a few of the balls at the tile. He then declared to me "not balls mom, not balls")

This was his victory stance after every time he actually got an ornament to stay as he'd declare "I did it!"

Our finished tree!

Our stockings hung and my nativity I made.

This nativity Kevin gave me last year, I love it!