Advent

 All things fun leading up to Christmas Day:

 The Tree

 (The best, though, was getting box seats to the tree lighting.) 

 A Pioneer Christmas at Bale Grist Mill, St. Helena

 Isabella got to make a rope,

 an air freshener--by sticking cloves in a lemon, 

and decorate a gingerbread cookie.

 I attempted to make a wreath. 

Ward Christmas Party: This year the scene was Bethlehem; we could wear biblical inspired costumes (see Ally, not Isabella); and we ate our dinner on blankets on the floor, instead of  tables.

 Mark put in many hours helping with the scenery. It all turned out quite lovely.

The gifts: Mark then graced his co-workers with some ugly Christmas sweater cookies. We tried our best to make them as ugly as possible.

 Isabella made a gingerbread house in her class. 

There was a  trip to the Oakland Temple to see the lights. 

And, finally, year 2 of the Polar Express. Bathrobe-check. Ticket-check. New slippers-check. She came running out of her room, after Mark read her the book, with her ticket in hand and asked me if I'd made the popcorn and hot chocolate-check and check.

 Off to see the lights around town. We then went home to open the First! Gift! of! Christmas! (aka brother-sister gifts).

Christmas Eve 2013