Clara's first Christmas

Clara loves to play with my glasses whenever I wear them. So I put my fake glasses on her and this was the face I got. It might be my favorite picture of her! I was laughing so hard when I saw it. So I just had to share.


We had a great Christmas! It was so much more fun to have Clara with us this year. Not that it was not fun with just Chris and I, but it was just so much more fun with Clara. We got some amazing gifts. Clara loved her gifts and that made me so happy. She did not like opening the presents so much, she just loved what was inside.

This was the scene on Christmas morning. I thought because Clara is so young and does not understand Santa we would get to sleep in a little bit. WRONG. She was wide awake at 6:15 am!
So that is why it is still dark outside in the picture.


Here she is unwrapping her first present.


She opened her panda bear first and she LOVED it! It was so cute to see her smile and pull it close.



My sister got her two twin baby dolls. She LOVES dolls! In the picture above she is giving the baby kisses and the picture below was when she opened the dolls and did not know which one to grab. She just kept going from one to the other over and over. It was so funny!


That's my girl! She loves clothes already!!




My parents got us a bunch of Disney VHS tapes. I have been really wanting Disney movies for Clara (well, for myself too), and the DVD's are just too expensive! So I found these on KSL.com and my parents got them for us!
My parents also gave us this new carseat for Clara. We love it! She hanging out of the other one. It could not have come at a better time! This next gift was the most amazing gift I could have ever received. My grandma totally surprised Chris and I with the most beautiful painting. When I opened it and we turned it around it did not take me a second to know exactly what it was. When Clara was about a month old I took a picture of her in Chris' arms. My grandma took that picture and painted it. As soon as I saw it I started balling! I had no idea she was painting it and it is the most beautiful painting. It is something now that is so special and close to my heart. It is a painting of the two most special things in my life. My sweet Clara in my wonderful husband's arms. And it is so much more special because my Grandma who I love so much painted it for us. Thank you Grandma! I could never thank you enough. Below is first, the picture I took and then a few shots of the painting.

We had an amazing Christmas. It has been a very busy holiday season and it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. There are all of the parties, the gifts, the food, Christmas Day, New Years, and even my birthday packed in such a short time! But we were blessed with several opportunities to remember the true spirit of Christmas and of the season. This year because Chris was recently called as 2nd counselor in the bishopric, I had the opportunity to help shop for and deliver gifts to families in need and it was the most amazing experience. One that I will cherish forever. I am so grateful for my Savior and that we can celebrate his birth. That is the true reason for Christmas. And the gifts are fun and exciting but the spirit of Christmas, of Christ, is the most special of all. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year as well!