The 12 Days of Christmas

Every year Alan and I fill 12 nesting boxes with family activities the kids get to take turns opening every night until Christmas Eve.  It is usually a fun activity and the kids really look forward to it.  This  year has been somewhat difficult because we officially have a teenager in the house that is not only unimpressed with just about everything we do but equally busy with his own life.  You are supposed to raise your children to be independent and self sufficient but it makes us old parents feel so good when they gush a little bit about the things you do for them.
So far the boxes have been pretty basic.  We read Christmas stories and drank hot chocolate.  Only Daniel and Sarah and I got to do this one because Alan and Jacob were busy with their stuff.  We had a fun time curled up on the couch reading from our collection of Christmas stories.  We only get these  books out at Christmas time and I always find the kids huddled by them throughout the Christmas Season reading through them all and reliving their younger years.  Even the big one still likes them!
We always make a new ornament for our tree but it didn't go over very big this year.  They really weren't interested because the paint wasn't good enough.  Funny thing, we left it on the school table and they keep coming back to their ornaments each day to work on them.  I guess they really did like the activity.

We took the neighbors gifts and yesterday went to Temple Square to see the lights.  Alan and I thought it would be fun to take the high speed train down and it was fun.  The kids thought using the bathroom on the train was the funnest part!  What is it about bathrooms and kids?  They always want to see the bathrooms.  The trip was mostly fun.  In between cries of "I'm tired", and "I'm hungry".  Riding the train is always fun and when we got there and saw how packed it was, we were glad we didn't drive and have to try and find a parking space.

 

We all got a kick out of standing between cars on the TRAX trolleys because the circle moved when we turned corners.  It was a fun ride.  When we got off the train riding the TRAX system was included with our train tickets within the Temple Square district.  So it made getting around really easy.  From suburbia to the urban jungle! 

 

Daniel was playing with some of the big toys at the Children's Museum.  They have some pretty fun things to manipulate there. 

We walked around the Gateway outdoor mall area and took the kids to the planetarium.  There was a group of people standing on one corner giving out free hugs for Christmas.  People were kind of ignoring them so Alan hugged one of them.  It was a good effort to try and spread some love for the holidays.  Don't you love how thrilled they look?  My headband is really doing nothing for me either.  It is 20 years old, perhaps I should retire it now.  The planetarium is playing Tron on the IMAX in 3D.  The kids wanted to see it so bad!  Maybe another day.  

 

We headed off to temple square after the mall and walked around after getting a yummy treat at the Cafe inside the Joseph Smith Memorial building.  The kids wanted to get pictures with Joseph and Hyrum.  

 Walking around.....

Walking around some more.  

The reason for our trip.  It was beautiful!  We were sitting outside in a courtyard waiting for the lights to come on and then wow, they all came on at once.  It was magical.  And there are millions of them.  It was amazing!

We took a break in the tabernacle before heading home.  The kids were done with pictures by this time and the thrill of the trip had worn off.  We stopped to see the guy playing bagpipes before loading ourselves on the train to come home.  There should always be a guy playing bagpipes at any community event.  It just makes the trip worth it!

 

Going home.  

I suppose this will be one of those things the kids talk about later and remember as being fun.  Alan and I had fun anyway!