December

We decided to set up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We figured it would be the best time because the first week of December is super busy for Daniel. That week is the week all the General Managers from all over the world fly in for end of the year meetings.  Daniel works late many evenings and has commitments with the GMs and taking them to different activities after work.  So we began our Christmas decorating before that week to eliminate added craziness!

Variah loved decorating the tree with me this year!

And this year she enjoyed decorating her felt tree much better than last year!

4Life Christmas party is always held the first weekend of December (Dec. 6th) when the GMs are in town. We sit at the same table every year with Norman and Debbie. It is great being able to chat with them each year. No one else usually sits at the table with us so I end up "winning" the table decorations each year. Thanks to Debbie and Norman for letting me win :)

This is our good friend Manoj from India. He has become a good friend over the year, sending gifts to Variah and me.  We only get to see him during the GM meetings or Convention if it is in Utah. We email pictures through out the year though. 

And wouldn't you know it, Everett had a blow out! Of course! Each of our kiddos has been to the Christmas party as babies. 

4Life is always so generous at this party! Each employee this year was given a nice watch, a very warm and comfortable blanket and the annual $100.  Dinner and entertainment are great as well. This year it was Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband.

Everett was 3 months old on Dec. 11

We had the Taylor family Christmas party on the 20th at Stephen and Alyssa's house. We had food, fun and games. Some of us participated in some minute to win it games.  Then we played a game/exchanged favorite gifts with each other. Variah got a Frozen movie t-shirt, Daniel got treats for  Variah and I got some chapstick. After playing that game it was time to do sibling gift exchange. We gave to the Spencer Taylor family. We got them banangrams (a game for Spencer and Tiff), snow shovels, play-dough with Mickey Mouse tools, a snowman kit that I made, and a game for Brayden and Marika to play together.  Camille had our name and gave us an air popcorn machine with toys for Variah and Everett.  We chipped in and gave Norman and Debbie an ottoman that can store blankets in it. We also bought them a knife set. They gave each family a framed picture embroidered by a family friend of a flower and a favorite Taylor family saying, positive thought clickers, a movie, memory money and a Christmas book. It was a fun Christmas party!

On the 21st we had the Burningham family Christmas dinner. We went up early so we could stop by and see Grandpa Burningham. He was so cute with Variah and even gave her a book of all the church pictures. He tried to give her a little stuffed dog toy that she wouldn't put back but I told him it would be something she could play with the next time we visited. It was very sweet of him! For the party we went easy this year since my mom had surgery. We had pizza, salad and cookies for dessert. The rest of my siblings were going to be at my parent's on Christmas so we only did a few gift exchanges. The kids exchanged their Christmas books. Everett gave books to Trey. Carsten gave ISpy books to Variah. Variah gave books to Jack. Annie gave me a white puffy vest and some lotion, Carter gave Daniel a block riser for his bike and Daniel gave Chelsea a rolling cart for all her hair salon stuff.  For my parents Chels' family and my family gave them a nice crock pot. From Larlie and Pop the grandkids got pajamas. The rest of the gift from my folks came after Christmas.

Christmas Eve and Christmas

We stayed home for Christmas Eve. For dinner we had ham, homemade rolls, fresh green beans, mashed potatoes and Jell-O. While I was making dinner, Everett decided to roll over for the first time! He rolled from his stomach onto his back! We clapped and cheered for him.  It was quite the gift.

After dinner we opened up the decorated paint cans containing our Christmas pajamas. We quickly changed into our pajamas and then put the kiddos to bed.  That 7:30 bedtime sure does come quick! While we were asleep, Santa brought all his gifts for Variah and Everett. 

Not too bad of a picture for a 2 year old!

Our Christmas pajamas

Variah and Everett's gifts from Santa

Our stockings

Variah was excited to find a Dora toy and charm bracelet, a new toothbrush, Dora toothpaste, marshmallows and applesauce squeeze packets.

She was super excited for her new car

Presents from mom and dad

Everett likes his new toy

All of my awesome gifts

The aftermath-I LOVE it!

Our new tradition for Christmas breakfast-roll up pancakes. We had all sorts of yummy things to go in our pancakes. 

Christmas afternoon we headed down to Orem to visit the Taylors'. We played a dance game on the Wii and chatted. It ended up snowing all day long and we decided to stay the night to avoid the dangerous roads and to spend more time at the Taylor's. It was fun being the only ones there. Variah loved having Grandma's attention all to herself!

Everett did too!

With all the new snow, Variah and Daniel played lots and lots outside

Variah's first time sledding

Building a snowman

Everett and I watched from the window where we were nice and warm

Daniel took Variah downtown to see the Christmas lights. It was their first Daddy Daughter date

So today was an awesome day (December 30, 2014).  I took Variah for what I would say is probably our first real daddy-daughter date.  We’ve done a lot of other things together but this was more organized.  I wanted to take her to Temple Square so she could see the temple (she loves temples) and also to see all the lights since she is always pointing them out on houses as we drive past them in the evenings or walking around the neighborhood.

So we left by 4:00 to beat the traffic and the evening rush of people heading to see the lights.  As we were driving she asked me several times where we were going.  I kept telling her that it was a surprise for her, maybe that’s why she kept asking since she wanted to know.  She was so cute how she kept asking!  Once there we both got dressed up all nice and warm and headed to temple square.  We parked under City Creek so when we came up the stairs there were some fountains nearby.  She wanted to touch the water and play in it but obviously it was too cold to let her.  As we headed toward Temple Square we passed several more fountains that Variah also really enjoyed looking at.

We made it to a spot where the Salt Lake Temple was mostly visible and I pointed it out to Variah and told her that was the first surprise that I had for her and asked her if she wanted to see it real close, to which she of course said yes.  We took a few pictures and then headed closer to it.  I found a better spot to take pictures and where she could see it better.  We then crossed the street and entered temple square and now Variah could see the whole temple.  She started to sing “I love to see the Temple.”  It was soo cute, wish I would have had the phone out then.  It was so cold it was hard to just keep it out, so it came out to get the pictures and videos, and then the glove went back on.

Since we had a little time before the lights turned on I decided to take her to see the Christus.  She enjoyed the elevator ride.  Once we got to the Christus enjoyed seeing him, let me take a few pictures, and then started to talk with some of the other kids.  She really is quite outgoing.  The lights were going to come on in about 5 minutes so I got her back in the stroller, told her there was another surprise for her outside.  She willingly let me put her back in the stroller and we went to the spot I thought had the most lights.  Right as the lights came on though she got distracted with the pretty fountain.  Once I got her to see the lights though she did like them but didn’t get quite as excited as I thought she would. 

I let her out of the stroller so she could just walk around and enjoy the temple, the lights, the fountains, and everything else.  I followed her around filming her and asking questions.  I then took her to where the pond with floating “bubbles” was so we could take some pictures there and then took her to the “podium” spot for some pictures.  It was really windy in this area and she quickly wanted to leave because it was such cold wind.  I did get a few quick pictures, though you can see she isn’t super happy.

We headed back to the visitors center where she wanted to go up and down the escalators a dozen times.  I did manage to get her to walk around some of the different areas, pointed out pictures of Christ, Joseph Smith, and President Monson.  Each time though she fairly quickly made her way back to the escalators.  She sure loves those things.  We went back up to the Christus where they now had the more organized sessions.  Variah picked an open seat and sat down and then asked about a dozen times if she could go up to Jesus, pointed out the stars and was just excited to see all of it.  I told her as soon as he stopped talking and then missionaries were done.  She was very patient even though she continued to ask.  Once they finished she headed up there, I got a few more pictures.

I finally got her to head back outside.  Once we got out there she now gave the excited response to the lights that I expected the first time.  And of course the camera wasn’t rolling to catch the excitement.  We got some good photos of the temple with lights and saw the manger scene with the camels.  I asked if she wanted to see the fountains again since it was time to go.  So we made our way back to city creek to see the fountains there.  As we got there one of the fountains was doing a show with music and water shooting everywhere with fire in the middle.  Variah was loving it and again I missed video of her original excitement.  But I still got some video of her enjoying the water spraying high in the air and the fire.

We then headed back to the car so that meant back down some escalators.  Needless to say we did more than one trip down, up, and back down before we headed home.  On the way home we got to enjoy some of the snacks that I had taken.  Some yummy popcorn, homemade check mix (thank you Courtney), ice cream cone shaped marshmallows, and some water.  We really enjoyed our time together.

It was an awesome afternoon for me and I really enjoyed spending the time with Variah.  She really is such a sweet girl and so fun to be around.  To finish the night when I put her to bed, I finished singing the songs and went to give her the hug and kiss before leaving she also grabbed by head and copied what I did by giving me a kiss on the cheek, then the forehead, and then one upped me by turning my head and kissing my other cheek.  I loved spending the time with her and I think she enjoyed it too.  This won’t be the last daddy daughter date that’s for sure!

Side note: It was really funny to see some people’s reactions to me speaking to her in Spanish.  I had several people ask me where we are from and the surprise look on their faces when I said Utah and that I just speak to her in Spanish.  They were very impressed.  It’s rewarding to hear the comments because it has been A LOT of hard work to keep up the Spanish with her.  It would be so much easier in English but I believe the Spanish can be a big benefit to her just as it has to me in my life so I’ve stuck with it.  I love seeing the hard work starting to payoff even though there is still a long way to go.

I love you Variah.  Thanks for an amazing date!!!

Love Dad

My hot date while Daniel and Variah were on their date

For new years we had our annual hamburgers on the barbecue and then we watched a 2015 countdown on Netflix.  We had a dance party, threw things in the air and went to bed well before midnight. It was a great way to finish out 2014!