"He came to town!"

Christmas was awesome this year - especially for 5 year old Peter who really understood and enjoyed everything the season had to offer. It was his first time ever sitting on Santa's lap without crying. In fact he had everyone else waiting in line laughing as he jumped up and down shouting, "He came to town! He came to town!" It was a lot of fun for Mike and I to see Christmas through his eyes. Some of the highlights of Christmas 2011:

The lights and nativity at Temple Square. Peter LOVES nativities. He has two nativities in his room that are just for him, so it was a lot of fun for him to see the large one up at Temple Square. He told grandma Holdaway this year that, "Baby Jesus was the most important baby ever born." It made us so happy to know that Peter understands what Christmas is truly about. Mike and I also received tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert featuring Jane Seymour and Nathan Gunn - which was a huge highlight of the year for both of us! Holiday parties. Besides the annual family parties and get-togethers, we also celebrated with work parties for both Mike and myself. Mike's department did an evening at Spring Haven Lodge (which is one of the most incredible homes I have ever visited) complete with a live jazz band and catered dinner. Peter's preschool class had a "Polar Express Party" where they wore pajamas to class, ate pancakes and chocolate milk, and rode an imaginary Polar Express to the North Pole to visit Santa.
Christmas Day. Peter was allowed to ask Santa for 3 presents this year, and everything else he got came from mom and dad. He asked for (and received) a Lightning McQueen Pillow Pet, Cars 2 on DVD, and a Jessie doll (from Toy Story). Nana bought him a Bullseye horse to go with Jessie, so of course mommy and daddy splurged and got him Woody. He already had Buzz Lightyear from potty training, so now he has the entire crew of Toy Story characters! He has been sleeping with them, playing with them, and hauling them around wherever he goes.

I think it's safe to say that this was our best Christmas ever!