Santa, snow, bears and treats... our lives are complete!

One of the things I enjoy most about the Christmas time of year is all of the different activities and traditions that we get to engage in as a family and most importantly, the different family members and friends that are a part of so many of these endeavors with us.  That’s not to say that we should or do fill our calendars so full that we forget what is most important about the Christmas time of year, but that as we celebrate the birth of Christ and celebrate family and giving that we do so with those that we care about.  True to Nutt House fashion, this week was no exception. 

We started our week off with a trip to the Mesa temple to view the temple lights and the nativities from throughout the world.  There is something about just being at the temple that invites The Spirit, couple that with the magic of Christmas and you cannot help but become enveloped in the true spirit of Christmas.  There is a beauty surrounding the lights at the temple that cannot be duplicated anywhere else and it isn’t just because of the lights, but the spirit that resides at the temple.  We were blessed to have Brent’s cousin Shiloh and her family join us at the temple to view the lights and enjoy the nativities.  While the lights are always amazing I find myself drawn more to the nativities.  There is something about how different cultures and areas interpret the nativity that is fascinating to me.  Of course, where it was Family Home Evening and a cold night our FHE treat came in the form of Bahama Bucks shaved ice.  

This - My family will always draw me to Christ

Gazing at the lights

Shaved ice... mmmmm.... or is it brrrrr

Later in the week we started some of our Christmas candy making with some candy melt Christmas shaped candies and our traditional Christmas sugar cookie baking.  I gave myself a pat on the back while doing the candy making as the kiddos held the spoon full of melted candy and filled the molds on their own more and more with me stepping back to assist where needed and keep the candy process moving along.  Giving up the control of doing it myself was not easy for me, but the looks on the kiddos faces as they filled the candy molds themselves was worth every anxious hesitation that seemed to creep up on me.  Each time we make sugar cookies I selectively forget how overly messy the activity can be.  That said, the expressions on the kiddos faces, the time together, and the memories we create are worth all the mess that is created.  Again, this time was no exception and as we try to do each year, we enjoyed having friends join us for our Christmas cookie fun.  With oodles of frosting and countless empty bottles of sprinkles later our Christmas sugar cookie making fun was completed!  The sugar high from just making and decorating the cookies alone, I believe, still hasn’t worn off.

Confidently filling the molds

He took the candy making ever so serious

Carefully cutting out each cookie

Decorating time

Frosting and sprinkles make everything better

Of course frosting didn't just stay on the knives and cookies

Gorgeous and delicious cookies!

Intermixed with our weekly activities we had a new 7-foot-tall loft bed painted and put together for Kaden.  As his mom, I am still so very apprehensive about him sleeping that far off the ground which has led me to drag my feet ever so slightly when it comes to getting a mattress for him to actually sleep on the bed.  So, for now, Kaden has this tall structure looming in his room with a fun play area underneath.  Now, it may not be serving much as a bed right now, but one of the fun features about his bed is that we had a climbing wall built onto the foot side of the bed.  Both he and Kara have had so much fun climbing up and learning to climb/fall back down.  For some strange reason it is much more comforting for Kaden to climb up and down 7 feet than it is for him to sleep that high off the ground.  Don’t ask me why.  As a mom, as his mom, it doesn’t need to make sense, right?

The finished rock wall

Kara wanted very much to be an active part
in putting the wall together

Now, as I said, this week we have had our standard activities – dance, gym, swim and school classes.  Of course, in addition to classes we’ve had play time – with friends and just with each other.  One of my favorites of the week was when I fulfilled a promise to Kaden to buy him a dancing penguin after he had to give one up at a white elephant gift exchange.  The look and errr…. Moves from Kaden after getting his new penguin speak to the elation he felt after getting his penguin back.  I have a sinking feeling that the penguin is one item that will not make it back in the Christmas boxes when Christmas is over.

Photo taken by Kaden of Kara at swim lessons

Kaden at preschool...
We had a "L is for Laila" day where the boys where the
knights to the princess.  What fun they had!

Friend play!
Kara enjoyed trying to get her friend to dance
as she dances.  Ultimately, they twirled and dressed
up as any two little girls would do

I love brother - sister creative play time!

This weekend has been a magical in every sense of the word time for the Nutt House.  It’s been full of memory creating events… just the four of us… so magical, so perfect!  Our weekend started bright and early Saturday morning when we loaded up the car and headed to Flagstaff.  Once there, we checked in at the Little America hotel for The North Pole Experience.  Once it was time for our trolley to load up we boarded and after repeating a magical phrase; “Jingle Bells… Magic Spells… Deck the Halls with Bowels of Holly… Pleeease Magic Portal Open for our Trolley!” we were transported to the North Pole!  Upon entering we enjoyed seeing some of Santa’s favorite toy inventions, the kiddos got to make toys for other children and then play with some toys for a little bit… we were then escorted to another room where the elves wrap the presents… after that, we joined Mrs. Claus for some Christmas cookies and Snowman Soup (aka hot chocolate) and some Christmas Carols… from there we attend Elf University where the kids passed a test on their enthusiasm for Christmas, because an elf of course, must has loads of enthusiasm… from there we headed to the room where all of the letters for Santa come in and the kiddos were able to write their own letter to Santa (coolest part, Kaden insisted on having his letter wish Santa a safe flight)…  Once that was finished we headed to a top secret room where we saw the sleigh Santa has been using for over 400 years!  From there we headed to the last stop on our magical journey… to visit with Santa himself!  Both kiddos got to hand Santa their letters and we had a few pictures with Santa, followed by Kara giving Santa a big hug good-bye.  Then we headed back out to await our trolley to take us back to Flagstaff. 

Waiting for the trolley.  Enthused looking, right?

Time to board

Waiting for our trolley to leave

Her Golden Key into the North Pole

Seat mates eagerly waiting to leave

At the North Pole waiting for the doors to
Santa's workshop to open

Getting toy building instructions

Dressing bears for other children

His finished bear

Her finished bear

Play time!

Seriously!  We are that close to Christmas!!!

Cookies with Mrs. Claus

Elf University

Their graduation diplomas from E.U.

Kaden writing a letter to Santa with a little Daddy help

Kara's letter to the Big Man

Finished letter!

All ready to give it to Santa

Next to the actual sleigh!

Family picture time!

Love these little elves

My seatmate for the ride back

What an experience!  The kiddos were completely enamored in the entire event and even as a parent, I was caught up in the fun and magic and loved it.  I wouldn’t mind going back year after year after year until the kiddos were, well, parents themselves!  Such a fun Christmas activity!!!

To help make the trip to the North Pole and to Flagstaff even more enjoyable it snowed Friday and Saturday so we had fresh snow for us Phoenician Nutts to enjoy.  And enjoy we did!  After finishing up with the North Pole Experience and checking in at our hotel we completely layered and bundled up and went to find us some snow.  We started off at a park but soon realized there wasn’t too much snow to play with and the snow that was there wasn’t very powder-y and not too much fun.  This led us back to the car where we headed up toward the mountain and ski resort.  On the way, we found a turn off with some perfect powdery snow for us to play in and enjoy.  Kaden finished building a snowman with a carrot he found at the park, we each created snow angels, and we threw a few snowballs, Kara even stopped to just eat the snow.  It was the perfect snow experience for the full 10-15 minutes we lasted before us warm-blooded Nutts were too cold and wet (thanks to the snow angels) and we found it time to retreat back to the warmth of the car.  I’ve never enjoyed living in the snow because I’m not too keen on driving or walking in or on the snow covered, icy roads/walkways but having snow semi-close by that we can go visit, play in, and enjoy is definitely worth while!  This may be the only time this year the Nutt House has a snow day, but based on the fun we each had, it won’t be the last year we seek out a snow day!

Snow!

We love the snow!

Kaden's finished snowman

Even mom got in on snow angel making fun

Our very own Yetti!  :)

My very own real life snow angel

Kaden finishing his snow angel as fast as possible

Our snow angel of a dad

Eating the snow is fun to do, fun to do, fun to do

We wrapped up our fun filled family weekend with a trip to Bearizona.  Oh my goodness!  The Nutt House has visited Bearworld up in Idaho before so we thought we knew what we were getting into, plus, we were slightly hesitant about how many animals we’d see since it was winter and it had snow but my goodness, we were wrong!  The park is much bigger than that of Bearworld and though there possibly weren’t as many bears to speak of (though I’m not even sure if that’s the case) the overall number of animals that Bearizona had far outweighed the number in Bearworld.  We saw wolves, a couple varieties of bison, elk, a couple different types of deer, big horn sheep, active river otters, an awake, alert beaver, foxes, bobcats, of course bears of all ages! And so much more!  Bearizona is a little far for us to go visit just on its own but coupled in with another activity or two and it makes for a perfect weekend.  We enjoyed driving through the park, the guided bus tour around the park, the walk around areas, the feeding and shows we saw.  There was not a part of the park that we didn’t enjoy.  If only we were a tad warmer!  And had more time!  But we loved it and cannot wait to go back again.  To see an area full of animals where there was actually enough room for the animals to live, not confided to small enclosures like at the zoo was comforting as I do wonder about the treatment of animals at such places.  In fact, Brent found out that very few of the animals even are on medicine as they are all so healthy and well taken care of.  It is hard to pick out what part of Bearizona was our favorite as we enjoyed the variety of activities we were able to engage in.  Definitely, definitely a place we want to go back to another time!

Park entrance arch

Two excited little Nutts

Mule deer (I believe)

Elk (my dad would kill me if I'm wrong, though I might be)

Wolves (this one I do know, though the species I cannot remember)
Yes, my memory has failed me and my head is hung in shame!

A bear!  A black bear!!  (am I redeemed yet)

White bison

American bison

Snack time!

Two sassy pants little Nutts

Kaden loved his view of the fox

Girl power!

Hello Mr. Bear

Tour time!

My handsome seat mate!

As we wrapped up our day I attempted to quiz our little Nutts as to what part of the weekend was their favorite, Kara admitted going to the North Pole was hers, though she enjoyed everything.  Kaden, he stated something that hadn’t even happened yet, so I don’t believe he quite understood what I was asking, but when prompted a bit more, he did say he enjoyed everything.  I think us bigger Nutts would agree with that, we enjoyed the whole weekend.  The whole week in fact and can hardly wait for the enjoyable Christmas and family activities that await us this next week!