Happy Holidays

Here's a little recap of our holiday adventures both in New York and visiting family in Indiana.

Our family at the Albany Stake Christmas Devotioal Fireside. It was so fun to sing in the Stake choir. J also got to play the cello with a small orchestra for the Hallejulah chorus finale. A sat with my sister and was quietly watching the WHOLE time

We had a wonderful church Christmas party. A practiced singing Jingle Bells, his favorite, while we were decorating. I sang my favorite, The Christmas Song, and J and a friend also sang the song that was in the December Ensign, Guard Him Joseph.

A loved the train we put around the bottom of our Christmas tree (see previous post). I spent many hours turning the train on and putting it back on the track after A knocked it off and needed help to "fix train, mom."

He also really enjoyed playing with our nativity set. Every day it was all arranged differently. We never did find baby Jesus.

We spent a really fun week with Grandma Brooks in Indiana. Grandma gave A a flashlight to play with and A and his cousin spent a whole afternoon entertained!

One of my favorite traditions in the Brooks family is to make chocolates. J's grandpa is a pro and taught me how a few years ago. Here's an action shot of me "beating" the fondant (the cream filling) while Nate and Jess are dipping some of the others. We made orange creams, rum hand roll creams, crispy rice, carmel pecan, almond creams, chocolate truffles, peanut butter, and nut clusters. If you living in NY, we are making chocolates for our Feb. cullinary institute!

CHRISTMAS MORNING
A enjoyed ripping off all the paper and then tossing away what ever was inside. Thanks so much to everyone who gave us such thoughtful gifts even if our son didn't show his appreciation very well!

A is really into trains. He got two sets, one from Santa and one from his Coates cousins. I think I can call him a locovour (lover of locomotives).

Check out this canvas that my sister painted! She is a remarkable artist (she also sent a water color portait of A that she did). She sent some trains and this canvas adventure with mountains, lakes, caves and everything. Yesterday when A was playing with it he thought it was so funny that he put the tains in the water. He just laughed and laughed. "look mom, trains in water!"