December Fun

December, as it is for most, was a busy month. We kicked it off by going to visit Temple Square!

Doesn't Gabby look excited?

I love that anytime Gabby spotted lights she would gasp really loud and say "wow!" and some jibberish along with it. It was hilarious at Temple Square obviously because she was about to hyperventilate with how many she saw.

They had these cute little nativities all over temple square honoring different nationalities

Doesn't look a day older than when I married him!

As you can see, Will's a little ancy. After this picture he ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Scary moment for mom and dad to scramble to catch up before he was lost!


Unfortunately I didn't take any pics of the Zabriskie 23rd celebration. Mom went all out though. We had the traditional delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Then, since mom thought we could all use a little extra change around the holidays, they had 3 jars of change and we all guessed how much was in it. The closest person got the money. Gabby won the biggest jar (with a little help from Benj) which had more than $40 in it! Then the kids wrote thank you notes to santa and put some cookies in a bag to leave with the note. After than we did the candy bar pass game while mom read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Dad read from Luke 2 and my neice, Aubrey, impressively recited The Living Christ. Then we exchanged gifts and ate pie!

Christmas Eve was spent with Benj's family. We had pizza and pot luck dinner and then Benj's Dad and Mom always present a new Christmas story with an ornament.

Whenever Grandma Russell is around, Gabby is her shadow!

Grandpa then played while we sang Christmas carols. Gabby so graciously helped Grandpa play and put in a little dancing here and there too!

Only lasted so long though because she wasn't with Grandma!

When we got home that night, we did our traditional video recording of the goings on of the past year and went to bed (at least the kids did:) When the kids woke up, we went into the kitchen and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus around the beautiful (and yummy) cake Benj made and then we went crazy with the presents!

The kids were actually catching onto the excitement of opening presents. Gabby got this caterpillar and some flip flop alphabet blocks. Lydia got a playmat that makes sounds when you move around on it and a butterfly that crawls and plays songs.

For over a month before Christmas, Will constantly would say that Santa was bringing him a belt and tie. And what do ya know, he did!

Will also got a race car set that he constantly plays with (probably because Benj likes to "help set it up for him" so much:) and some horses with a brush and food that he can take care of. Benj got a portable hard drive so we can store all our pics and video recordings in our little fire safe. I got some socks, a crock pot, and tights. We had a good Christmas and hope you all did too!

I just had to add these pics on the end. Isn't she adorable?

Gotta love that gal!