christmas day - part two

Here are my favorite gifts that Odin received this year.  Ever since we had a family home evening lesson about temples he loves seeing them and singing the song "I Love to See the Temple".  When I saw this book I had to get it for him.  When he opened it he started singing the song.  Mind you, he doesn't read and can't see that the words in the book are those of the song AND he doesn't know the words of the song or the tune even.  He was just singing purely from his heart.  (Haven was enjoying the entertainment as well.  You can tell by that tongue :-)

This picture I got as a present for Zack and Odin.  Zack had recently told me that when he was a kid he had this picture in his room and he wished we could get one for Odin.  Needless to say, I made sure I got this simple gift.  Odin loved it immediately and went straight to the wall to put it up.  Oh, the sweet innocence and happiness that children have.  These were a few of my favorite moments from Christmas 2012.

christmas day - part one

christmas eve

It was quite a party on Christmas Eve.  

I was so excited the whole month to host my first ever Christmas party.  

With family and friends we enjoyed a LOT of food and treats.  

It didn't stress me out and I can't wait to do it again!

christmas time - part three - his own tree

This little tree stump was from last Christmas when we got our tree on the sidewalk of NYC.  We saved it and it was the perfect little thing for Odin's room.  His own little tree.  

christmas time - part two

This train was probably the highlight for Odin.  

Our friend gave us this generous gift that we all enjoyed thoroughly.

The cousins came over and enjoyed it too.
And of course, little Haven was right there in the action.

christmas time - part one

We started the season off by writing letters to Santa.  

Odin was totally in to it and asked Santa for a truck.  

I have to say, its pretty fun having your own kid experience this Christmas stuff for the first time.

We had a silly little advent tree that had little things to do and books to read together.  

We didn't do all of them but it was fun for what it was.

This day we decorated cookies with Daddy... pretty exciting.  

Even Haven was happy about the festivities, naturally, it was her first Christmas afterall.