The Hosmer Family: December - Christmas Activities and More

There was so many things that happened in December that I decided to just break down by activities that we did. December was so much fun and we did many many great things.

Decorating Nana and Grampy's Christmas Tree

On the first Sunday of the month we were all able to get together (Its hard with us all having different schedules), so my mom decided it would be a great time to decorate the tree. My mom and dad's Christmas tree is made up of mostly sentimental, personal ornaments so she likes it when we still decorate the tree together. It is a lot of fun and it was so great that Hunter got to be a part of the festivities this year. This was a great way to start off the holiday season :)

Getting help from Daddy...I love this picture

Playing while we decorate...Lucky Baby

Kisses from Mama.

Hunter Turns 7 Months

Can you believe it he is 7 months old. It is amazing how fast time is flying. He is getting so big and changing all the time. Some of the things he is now doing is sitting up all by himself, getting up on his hands and knees (i think crawling is in our near future), and babbling a lot more. He also has started saying sounds like "DaDa"...Still waiting for that "Mama" sound. I will probaly cry, haha. He is so much more active now and we have to watch whats around him, because if he wants it, he finds a way to get it. I think we are in trouble when he is once mobile. He is still the light in our lives and makes us happier than ever. He is truly one of the happiest babies I know and just brightens the worse of days.

When we went to the doctor for his 6 month checkup, he was 15 lbs and 11 ounces and 27 inches long. The doctor was really please with his weight gain, which was awesome. We did get a little bad news though. He was feeling his head and thought his soft spot was smaller than it should be. He had us go and get skull xrays done, because if it closes too early surgery may be required. I of course was freaking out but knew the Lord would never give us more than we can handle. Scott gave Hunter a blessing before we had the xrays done and I truly felt that it worked. The doctor said that after looking at the xrays everything was fine and we had nothing to worry about. So thankful the Lord was watching over us and made everything ok. Below are some of the 7 month pictures we took of Hunter. It is amazing how big and grown up he is getting!!

Church Nativity

Every year our church puts on a live Nativity in the parking lot and inside the building they have refreshments and about 100 different nativity displays. We took my little cousins last year and they loved it. They also allow the kids to come and pet the animals used. This year we decided to take Hunter and what an experience. It is such a beautiful reminder of what the Christmas season is really about...Remembering our Savior Jesus Christ. I think becoming a mother has helped me especially understand the true meaning of love and the love our Savior has for us.

Also, Hunter really liked the camel, haha!!

It was really cold so we all bundled up!!

Nana and Hunter

Us at the Nativity

What a beautiful site

Scotts Christmas Party

This year Scotts Christmas Party was at a hotel in Anaheim. It was so nice to have a night out by ourselves (plus free food and we got to get dressed up). Since the baby has been born we have only gone our by ourselves a few times so it was so nice to get out for a few hours and enjoy each other. We had so much fun with Scott's work friends. Can't wait until next year!!

A Day at the Zoo

So earlier this year, Scott got some free Wild Animal Park tickets when he bought new tires. The expired at the end of 2012 so we thought we would take advantage of the opportunity. We didn't know how Hunter would do, but we read a Zoo book to him all the time and he loves it, so we thought he might recognize some of the animals. He did pretty good. He liked looking at some of the animals when they were up close, but unfortunately at the zoo some of the animals are far away and he didn't even notice them. On the tram ride, Hunter was more interested in a different mammal, HUMANS. He was such a people watcher and was more interested in the people behind us than the animals in front of us, haha. He is such a funny kid, and sometimes I am amazed at how he cracks me up. It was such a fun family day for us and cant wait to go back next year when he might be a little more interested in the animals :)

Ready for the Zoo

We have arrived!!

Daddy showing him Flamingos

Elephant habitat

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Hunter Loved the Giraffes

Sleepy Baby...He woke up as we were getting on the tram

Fun times on the tram

Fun Family Day

They had some beautiful scenic spots...I think this picture looks photoshopped, haha

Silly Baby

Daddy making Hunter laugh...Love this picture by the way :)

Silly Mama

Ready to go home...Long Day for Hunter

Decorating our Christmas Tree

So this year we got a full size tree again. Last year due to being in a smaller apartment and me being tired from being pregnant with our little guy, we forgo a full size tree and got a mini potted tree. I never liked it and it truly never felt like Christmas, so I was so excited when we got our tree this year. Also, Hunter got to help us as well. He redecorated the bottom of the tree many times. We put him by the tree just to see what he would do and it didn't even take him two seconds to get an ornament off the tree...How do they do that?? It was a fun evening for our little family and our tree turned out beautiful :)

Christmas Lights - Saturday Funday

Every year we go and see the Christmas lights here in Brea. There is a whole neighborhood that gets all decked out for the holiday season. This year we decided to go with my whole family as part of our Funday tradition. Everyone came over to our house for dinner (which was really yummy) and then my mom cooked up some very delicious hot chocolate and we were off. Hunter was a bit tired when we went so he didn't enjoy as much as I thought he would. it was also very cold so that could have put a damper on the situation too. All in all we all had fun just being with one another...Cant wait for next year!!

Decorating Christmas Cookies

One of the best things about the season, is the many opportunities we find to spend with our families. My moms family has the long tradition of doing an annual cookie exchange. All the girls make 1 dozen cookies for everyone else and then we exchange. Since we have so many women in our family (8 to be exact) we get dozens of goodies to bring home. Also, at the exchange we make cut out sugar cookies and the kids get to decorate and we get a dozen of those as well to take home. The event has also evolved over time and now we include a craft to do as well. It is just a fun time for everyone to get together and enjoy each others company. It makes me so thankful for the family I have in my life. They are all so supportive and loving and it is wonderful that we are still able to get together like this, even after so many years. May the tradition continue :)

Seeing Santa

So Scott and I decided it was very important for Hunter to see Santa...Although we didnt know how he would react. He is in this phase where he really recognizes strangers and lets you know if he does not want to be around you. Unfortunately with all the busy times we wait until the weekend right before Christmas. We took him to the Brea mall and the santa was awesome. So sweet and gentle and really took his time with each child. Hunter did amazing and smiled the whole time. There was a moment when Hunter just looked at Santa in amazement and it was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Cant wait to go back in the future :)

Ready to see Santa

Waiting in Line

Hunter and Santa

Is this not the best picture...Love my little man!!

Hunter's First Christmas

So Christmas is a big deal to us anyways but having Hunter this year made it even more special. Christmas Eve is always spent with my mom's side of the family. We had so much fun. We had yummy food, entertainment, caroling, and of course presents. Hunter got so much stuff. I can't wait for him to play with all the toys. So far he loves his Dream Light and Soothing Singing Monkey :) For the adults we did a real White Elephant Exchange, and it was so much fun. I was skeptical of it at first because who wants junk, but it ended up being such a good time. Everyone was laughing and I think for the most part enjoyed their gifts. THis is what Christmas is supposed to be about, not the presents but the family.

On Christmas morning, my parents came over and watched us open all our gifts and then had breakfast with one another. I have to say my breakfast casserole was awesome. Gotta love Pinterest!! Santa brought Hunter so many fun toys. He especially loves his barnyard activity center, his doggy car from Nana and Grampy, and his Disney train from Auntie Kelly. We were all very blessed by all the gifts we received.

Then it was off the Scotts parents and then to his cousin Annie's to spend Christmas Day. Again had some very yummy food (I need that macaroni recipe ASAP) and fun times were had by all. Again we were so blessed by the time we spent together and the abundance of gifts we received. He loved his Disney bath toys from his grandma and grandpa, and we cant wait to use the Aquarium tickets we got from Auntie Liz.

It was a wonderful holiday and I cant wait until Hunter is a little older and truly understands the meaning of the season.