December 2009

Sledding: A group of us went sledding after our first decent snow in December. We had such a good time and will definitely miss it when we leave Utah.

our little snow bunny
the mullet is finally growing out and I can 'fix' Elle's hair. I LOVE IT!

Christmas: This is the first Christmas as our own little family that we have not travelled to visit other family members. We had a great time taking traditions we each grew up with and creating our own. A new tradition in the Harrison house is making homemade gingerbread houses and decorating them. Elle is incredibly helpful in the kitchen and loves sneaking a piece of whatever we are cooking.

rolling out the gingerbread

just taking a little taste

Elle and Mathew

our gingerbread houses (L-R): Elle, Monica and Mathew

Aunt Jacki gave Elle this little dog and she loves it...this is where Elle will watch some cartoons in the morning (yes, that is her grocery cart)

a Harrison family tradition is to make homemade pizza on Christmas Eve

decorating our pizzas

Elle got Belle from Santa and Samantha from Aunt Shell and Grayson. She loves dolls.

Nonnie and Pop Pop gave her a bike for Christmas. Mathew put it together the night before and I hid it in the extra bathroom until we could skype with Mom and James on Christmas day. On Christmas morning Elle disappeared while we were skyping with Mathew's family and I found her in the bathroom on her new bike. I was dying!working on her tricks

Christmas breakfast we spent with our good friends the Wankier's and Christmas dinner was spent with some great friends from the program, the Baer's and Liddicoat's. Mike Baer made a fabulous ham and I experimented with the little desserts above.

We are so lucky to have made so many great friends during the past two years. Our experience and time here would not have been nearly as enjoyable without all of the great people we have met.

yes, those are my shoes.