Pre-Christmas 2012

Courtney came home from BYU-I and had surgery. Even though she wasn't feeling great, she wanted to make gingerbread houses/trains with Parker. She is such a great aunt.

Luckily, Tate didn't care if the candy bag was open, he just liked the crinkly packaging.

Parker was very excited to decorate a TRAIN!

Here is the train and the gingerbread house I decorated.

Parker met Santa at the ward Christmas party. He made huge progress this year. Instead of running away, he sat on his lap and whispered what he wanted (trains). As you can see, Parker was careful not to touch Santa with his hands.

Parker also made a craft at the ward party which sadly got eaten by Tate on the way home. Mmmm, cotton balls! Tate was very upset when we took the cotton balls away and pulled some out of his mouth.

We also went downtown to the Macy's display, "A Day in the Life of an Elf" followed by the Hollidazzle parade.

Parker was fascinated by the display. I felt bad that he was a little rushed to move along with the crowd.

Unlike last year, he didn't try to climb into the displays!

After the Macy display, we caught up with our friends, the Holkers for the Hollidazzle parade. They had tickets for us in the enclosed, heated seats! They served hot chocolate and apple cider. It was nice and warm in there and we had a great view.

Tate enjoyed the lights!

Tayna was so nice and bought the boys these light sticks. Parker LOVES this light stick and both he and Tate have been playing with it for months now.

Here are the Holkers with Kody's cousin on the right.

As we were packing to go to Utah, Eli dropped off a Christmas present for Parker's trip- a Thomas the Train backpack filled with snacks, and toys for the airplane ride! Wow, what a friend! Parker LOVED it and when he started preschool, he told me he wanted to bring his Thomas backpack "so the other kids can see it". Haha.

Tate with his after bath crazy hair when we were packing for Utah.