Christmas at the LA Temple

Last Monday night we drove down to the LA Temple to check out the lights. While not as spectacular as the ones on Temple Square, they were still beautiful and we had a great time walking the pretty grounds.

Once again, we slipped Benji into the Maggie Simpson snowsuit. 

That kid is too cute.

Peter was in heaven running around checking out all the different lights and chasing Daddy across the front lawn.

Benji trying to eat the fake icicles. Yum!

 Our eternal family.

Christmas in Utah, Christmas in California

Merry Christmas!!

We have spent a wonderful December full of comings and goings and lots of visiting. Here's a few highlights from the Millet household.

Peter and I made many, many sugar cookies one afternoon. 

I'm not sure why he's holding an apple here too -- maybe to show that yes, we did eat something healthy this month too.

Benji has been feeling good enough that we took him outside a few times on walks. 

Of course, we had to put him in the Maggie Simpson snowsuit. He continually cracks us up.

Peter probably visited Santa about 8 times this month. So don't be surprised that we didn't buy the over-priced pics of him sitting on Santa's lap at the mall.

The week before Christmas we spent in Utah with my family and had a great time. We went to the Dinosaur museum with all the cousins.

Peter's cousin, Carter (age 8), is the catalyst behind Peter's newly found Lego obsession. What follows is the result of Travis playing Lego's for a solid week and Carter pretending that his Lego's came to life. 

And then we went to my brother David's skating party. 

Peter LOVED this. He's been asking to go roller skating lately (I don't know how he knows what this is, but he did!) and so we jumped at the chance to hang out with David and my Mom while my Dad kept Benji.

At first we got him skates but after he struggled for a while with those, we traded them in for this three-wheeled scooter. At one point Peter said to me: "Momma, let's talk. Those roller skates were pretty good. But this scooter is much better." 

We then had the Lee family Christmas party and opened presents. It was crazyness with seven little excited kids running around but lots of fun too. 

Benji also started crawling in his very own little inch-worm shimmy thing this week. He's not really going very far but he sure is excited to get there. You just can't keep that kid down.

By the time we got home the night before Christmas Eve, we were beat.

But not too tired for Christmas morning!

Peter was so excited! This year he got his first Lego set and a 'red shiny fire engine.' Both of which he has been asking for for months. 

And yes, that lovely purple machine is a Dyson vacuum for yours truly. Our new house is 90% tile and wood floors and I la-la-LOVE this new guy!

Benji was most excited about all the boxes and paper being thrown around.

Travis and I both had the kids help us make gifts for each other this year and while Peter helped make me a pretty jewelry box, he put together this 'print' from Benji. 

And what are those three prints you ask? Well, just read the accompanying poem and find out...

"I'm just a baby now, but just wait and see

Before you know it, I'll shoot up like a weed.

I'm giving this gift so you'll have to remember

What a small boy I was this December.

One hand and one footprint I'm leaving for you

So that you can keep track of just how I grew.

And the one in the middle that looks like an inkblot

Is one that I made in a petite baby squat.

It was just because I thought it was funny.

That I left you an imprint of my wee baby bummy.

I just want you to know Mom, I love you immensely

Signed with love, your little boy Benji."

I wasn't quite sure whether to laugh or cry on this one.

I think I did both.

And lastly, the boys in their Christmas morning church finery (and one of Benji as a Christmas ninja).

Merry Christmas!

The one about the Christmas Tree

This past week our dear friend Amber came out to visit us and we had a ball. She is soo very good to put up with our crazy. Needless to say, we loved having her here. On Saturday, she was able to witness the 8th Annual Millet Christmas Tree Selection. I tell you, it's a process. Travis is slightly particular about which tree we end up with. All I can say is -- Amber was a trooper. But once again my man came through and picked out a beauty. Although I did forget to take pictures while we were decorating, we did get to take a  few family shots afterwards. 

(Amber'll probably kill me for posting this one, but I love her face here!)

Behold, the Noble Fir

Oh how excited Peter is for Christmas. He's the first to run and play Christmas music every day and wants to know when Christmas Eve is all day long. We finally made a count-down chain to help him since he'd wake up every day and tell us: "Today is Christmas Momma!" and wound up very sad when we corrected him.

Benji adores his older brother. Seriously Peter could do anything and Benji would sit there and laugh hysterically at him. 

And no, Benji isn't standing yet but he sitting on his own and is *this close* to crawling.

Even heart surgery couldn't keep that kid down.

 Coming soon to a Christmas card near you...

J is for...

Preschool was once again at our house. It feels like forever since I've taught (which it has been since my nice friends have covered for me with all of Benji's surgery stuff).

Day one was great, it was just Bryce and Peter and we learned about Jellyfish, made Jewelry (necklaces and bracelets out of cereal - which was all eaten within a few minutes), and sorted Jellybeans.

Day two I had all four boys again and we had a great time. Crazy, but great. We read The Polar Express, made our our Jingle Bells, painted a Jingle bells with watercolor (which Peter LOVED -- that kid was so precise with his painting, Trav asked me that night if I had helped him), and played Jumping Jelly beans. Good times.

I just love being able to celebrate Christmas all month long...