December in Pittsburgh

After leaving Kirksville we stopped and stayed the night in Columbus. Tanner's parents were going to be working at the temple the next day and they watched Mariah and Chet in the morning so we could do a session. For the last few months Tanner and I have been going to the temple by ourselves so it was really nice to go together. 

We had such a great time with Tanner's parents and I think the best way to document our fantastic time would be through pictures.

Action Shot

Chet can only last the first page of any book, he's already ditching. 

Upper St. Clair has a great library

Mariah with her ornament...that you can't really see. She isn't so good at displaying things for pictures.  

Shepherds Night! We got to spend time with my cousin Adam and his cute little family. We wish we lived closer.  

Cutest little sheep

That smile, is Grandma Crossley's smile. It just warms my heart. 

And just a little about Santa Claus... we went to the mall so I could get pictures of the kiddos with the jolly fat man. But the cheapest shot I could get would have been $20 and the Santa was the creepiest I have seen by far. Chet was nervous before he was on his lap and lost it when I set him down. So yeah, we got out of there real fast. I thought it might have been the beard that stressed him out but as we were walking away an old man with a beard started talking to Chet and he warmed right up to him. That Santa just had bad vibes.

Lots of books were read. 

Lots and lots of books. 

We came home from church one day to a yard full of Turkeys. Crazy Pittsburgh. 

Oh Cindy Lennox's cookies...are the reason why my pants are too tight. 

Mariah "looking" for the Wise Men 

I picked Tanner up one night and we went through some churches and the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt. There are so many beautiful buildings in Pittsburgh. We came home that night to a big sheet on the kitchen floor with the popcorn popper in the middle without the top on. Mariah and Chet loved watching the popcorn fly. Grandma and Grandpa Crossley are too cool. 

The ward there did a Progressive Nativity for the Christmas social and it was so neat. There was a room with King Herod, the Wisemen (Debbie was in charge of that room so we got to help decorate), Shepherds, Angels, Innkeeper and Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Each group had a special message. Mariah loved going from room to room and getting the treats at each one. The lady who organized it is obviously a mother: if you want children to be excited about something, include treats. 

It was so wonderful spending time with Tanner's parents. Mariah and Chet love their Grandma and Grandpa Crossley so much and I learn more and more each opportunity I have to spend with them.