Advent 2016

A little glimpse into how we prepared for Jesus's birthday!

1 - mail Christmas cards

2 - drink hot coco

3 - give to someone in need

4 - CLCC Christmas play - "Candy Cane Lane"

5 - Christmas craft

6 - Christmas bath

7 - Christmas dance party

8 - visit Santa

9 - snack under the tree

10 - Christmas movie

11 - write down 10 things you are thankful for (#1 was SNOW!)

12 - Twinkle Tour

13 - dinner by candlelight

14 - Small Group Christmas Party

15 - Enchant

16 - Christmas Brinner

17 - act out the Christmas story

18 - snowman pancakes

19 - Abbotsford Christmas

20 - plane ride to Nana & Papa's

21 - play in the snow - sledding!

22 - date night with Nana & Papa

23 - family Christmas adventure

24 - Christmas Eve service

Enchant Christmas

Every year we try we venture out one night in December with friends of ours to do something Christmassy - the evening normally involves twinkly lights!  This years adventure did not dissapoint!

This year we went to Vancouver's new "Enchant Christmas" event.  We started our evening off with our pick of food trucks.  Then we ate at a picnic table right next to a roaring fire...already good right?!

Next week took this crew through a light maze!  It's advertised as the world's largest Christmas light maze and at 55,000 square feet it felt big!

There is a story that goes behind the maze.  In a nutshell, Santa has lost his 9 reindeer and he needs your help to find them - we got a stamp card and off we went!  The maze is set up with different "areas" - a forest of lite up trees, tunnels of lights, hanging lights that you can walk through, a giant tree - very fun!

The dangling lights were the favorite of the evening - it was wonderfully overstimulating - we had to walk through twice ;)

After the light maze we quickly checked out the Christmas market they had and then we were off for the trip back home.  Sully was asleep within 5 min of being in the car...that means it was a good time!

Thankful for these memories and what fun ages the boys are at...everything is a bit more magical with an almost two and four year old!

Christmas Frosting 2016

Every year I like to take photos of our Christmas decor - it's fun for me to have a record of how we decorated each year.

Our beautiful nativity (made by my talented father-in-law)

the main event in our living room

the fireplace this year - the sign is new!

our "garland" is our daily advent calendar

our kitchen window

Matt made me a new card holder (currently waiting for Christmas cards to fill it!)  The frame will be filled with a picture of Santa and the boys!

the kids nativity

staircase garland and "Joy to the World" pillow

above the fridge

entrance way chalkboard

our rumpus room mantle

downstairs tree

front entrance (it's so wet in this picture!)

Christmas wreath from Costco - it's BIG & beautiful!

the outdoor lights

2016 Christmas frosting complete!