Holidays // Christmas Advent

In our family, we have a tradition. We celebrate the countdown to Christmas, or Advent, by doing something special each day and then closing our day by reading a verse of scripture about the life of Jesus Christ by candlelight. There are so many aspects to this season - from Santa and the secular to the real reason for the season, the remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is much more sacred and holy. I love all the parts! My hope by doing something fun and also refocusing on the more spiritual aspect each day is that my children will grow up with many fond memories of holiday traditions we enjoy together as well as other real lessons that fortify their faith in our Savior along the way.

Over the past few years I have compiled a list of activities we have done or would like to do. Some things are very simple, others more extravagant. Most are free. A few cost something and a very few cost a lot. My hope in sharing this list with you is that if you are looking for a way to infuse some holiday cheer into this season, you might have somewhere to start.

I have worked with so many families and children, I felt like this was the least I could do to help spread just a bit of holiday cheer. So, whether new in town or Seattle-born-and-bred, please enjoy this list of ideas and activities and please don't hesitate to send me a note if you have any questions or if you have any ideas to add to the list. I am sure there are many other activities within each neighborhood community.

I will tell you the outings that are totally worth it each year and that I wouldn't want to miss out on: Figgy Pudding Caroling (LOVE it! LOVE the LLEW CREW!), Winterfest at the Seattle Center - just SO much to see and do and almost all free! Also, the Christmas Ships, and the Greenlake Pathway of Lights. Those are the things we never miss. I hope some of you are able to get in on some of this Holiday fun this year!

Let the Countdown Begin!

Above Image taken at the Seattle Center Winterfest Carousel, December 2009

Activity Ideas:

Deck the Halls - put up a tree and decorate for Christmas!

Do a Holiday Craft (here's a few fun ones I found):

3-D Paper Snowflakes, or simple, beautiful, 6-sided ones

Edible Snowmen

Pretty Paper plate Angels

or download, cut, paste, and gaze at these cute Christmas Creatures from Mibo Studios (cost is $5.80 from their Etsy shop)

make a paperchain garland

Send out Christmas Cards

Call someone special to wish them a Merry Christmas

Write a Holiday Newsletter - recap the year

Bake goodies for friends and neighbors

Drink some egg nog - or try it homemade this year!

Have a Christmas Cookie Exchange

Go to a Christmas Party - or host one yourself!

Go Christmas Caroling (extra cheer: if you ask in advance a lot of hospitals and nursing homes will allow small groups to carol to their patients)

Listen to your favorite Christmas Songs

Attend a Holiday Worship service at a local church

Have a Christmas Movie night

Research and learn about the symbolism of some of our current Christmas Traditions

Learn about Christmas traditions in other countries and cultures

Pick a name from a "giving tree" and shop for someone less fortunate

Donate food to the local food bank

Make gingerbread (or graham cracker) houses

Do some community service or volunteer work

Have a hot chocolate party (have you ever tried it a la mode with seasonal peppermint ice- cream? it's one of our favorite treats!)

Wrap presents - or volunteer to wrap for a good cause

Read favorite Christmas Stories

Read THE Christmas Story, or watch it.

Play in the snow - sledding, ski/snowboarding, or snow shoeing

Have a Twinkle Party - turn off all the lights except Christmas ones and enjoy

Go see a Light Display - one we like is Ravenna's Candycane Lane

See a Live Nativity - or create your own

Write a letter to Santa - or pay him a visit

Enjoy walking, caroling and luminaries at (D-foodbank) Greenlake Pathway of Lights

Attend a local Holiday Event (see below - a great range from free to pricey)

Local Events:

-There's always something happening Downtown

-(D) The Great Figgy Pudding Street Caroling Competition

-Seattle Center Winterfest: includes free and affordable Live Christmas Music, Christmas Carousel, Bonfires, Ice-sculpting, Train Village, Ice-Skating ($) and more

-Argosy Christmas Ships and Choirs at local Beaches

-Waterfront Park's Toyland Village

-Sheraton Hotel's Gingerbread Village

-Swanson's Nursery - reindeer, camel, donkey, and train village

-($$)PNB Nutcracker

-($$) Seattle Symphony: A lot to listen to including Handel's Messiah and A Charlie Brown Christmas

-($$) Intiman Theatre's The Black Nativity

-($$) Local Productions: ACT's A Christmas Carol, Greenlake Bathhouse Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 5th Avenue Theatre: A Christmas Story: The Musical!, etc.

-See the beautiful trees (or buy one($$$$) for a good cause) at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel's Festival of Trees

Nearby Events (30-60 min. drive):

-($)Point Defiance Zoolights (South/Tacoma)

-(D)Bellevue Botanical Garden D'Lights (Eastside/Bellevue)

-See snow fall at Snowflake Lane (Eastside/Bellevue)

-($$)Ride the Santa Train at the Northwest Railway Museum (North Bend)

-($$)The Lights of Christmas Festival (North/Stanwood)

key:

D=donation appreciated

$=under $10

$$=$10-$100

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.

Dinner with friends

(Jacob did the turkey this year and it was delish!)

Time together.

Raised garden beds, finally finished.

A couple of Christmas gifts (of the I-need-to-finish-sewing-variety) just about complete.

Put up the tree (but will decorate it later this week).

And a fun day downtown with the kidlets...

Oh yeah, we even made it on the Q13 Fox News! The reporter asked Jacob and I if we were local and what we were Thankful for this year. I'm pretty sure he stopped us because our kids were like celebrities as we walked around the market. I can't believe how many people stopped to drool over Aspen!

We don't even get TV reception, so if anyone saw us - be sure to tell us how cheesy we were! :)

Aspen met Santa. Hmmm...a little nervous...

Ummmm...okay...a LOT nervous...

Poor baby, "GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!!"

Sadly, Jacob and I were the only one's who were happy to see Santa.If you want to strike terror into your children, just head downtown to meet The Big Man in Red, I guess.

Actually, Sawyer had been excited to meet Santa all day long. He just got nervous/terrified once he saw him in person. Once it was over and he had the grand prize of a small candycane in hand, though, he couldn't stop talking about it. "I saw Santa! I was scared of him...but he gave me a treat!"

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Pike Place Market

We had a fantastic time walking around the Waterfront and through the market. If you've never visited the famous market, here - let Aspen give you a little tour....

You can walk to Pike Place Market from downtown Seattle. We used to be able to walk from our old apartment. Now we drive and park under the viaduct and then walk up through the Harbour Steps and through Post Alley.

*Note to those from out of town: it is not "Pike's" market - it is "Pike Place Market"

Of course there is the beautiful, locally grown produce you'd expect to find...

...as well as the freshest seafood around. And the famous fish-throwers, too.

Fresh-cut flowers for all occasions. They even have some wintry flowers and some dried flowers. You can get a good-sized bouquet of fresh flowers in the spring and through the summer for $5-$8 dollars.

I didn't even take pictures of all of the cute restaurants and little shops and other handmade and artisans shops in the market - you'll just have to come and discover those for yourself!

Fresh cut Christmas wreaths and trees outside the market this time of year. Ohhh, the pine-laden fragrant smell was HEAVENLY!

At "Magic in the Market" we were serenaded by The Dickens Carolers as well as a beautiful brass quintet. It was so festive - the crowd was a happy crowd as we all bundled up and stood close together, waiting for the finale...the lighting of thousands of lights to brighten up the market and the tree for the Holidays!

The was our first year at Magic in the Market - and it truly was Magic.

May the Countdown to Christmas Begin!

ps-I will do an advent post sometime this week on my other blog! So much fun to be had!

Dancing with Daddy

Dear Aspen,

Last night, right before bedtime, Daddy started dancing around the room with you. He sang: "Someday, your Prince will come..." and it was just soooo sweet.

It got me thinking ahead. Because as much as I love you this moment and sometimes I wish you wouldn't ever grow up, I know that, one day, you will.

Someday, your Prince will come. I hope he is everything you dream of (and everything we as your parents hope for). I hope he is as honest and good as your Daddy. And handsome! I hope he is a hard worker, but knows how to relax and have fun, too. I hope he is patient, kind, and respectful. I hope he loves his Savior, and that he will take you to a beautiful temple to be "sealed" together for your time on this earth - and all of eternity. Love is an eternal principle, after all. I could go on...but I'm wondering if it's okay with you if he doesn't show up until you're at least 25? Maybe 30?

You are such a sweet girl, Aspen. Crazy to think there's some baby or toddler boy out there growing up to one day be your Prince. I hope his parents are teaching him to treat you like a Queen.

Keep on dancin'...with Daddy, for now...until someday when that wonderful Prince comes along to take his place during your dance here on Earth. And know that you will always be our princess.

We love you!

Momma & Daddy

Us // a photo

We recently had some family photos taken (thanks to my awesome friend, we did a trade - thanks LEGS, you're the best! :)

I was going through some tonight to figure out which ones to print, and I found this gem. To me it is a gem, anyway. The kids were playing in the sand and the sun was setting and we were all about "done" taking photos...when my dear friend decided to get a few of just us two. I love it!

This one is making it to print!

*Our date Saturday night was fantastic, by the way...the Simon & Garfunkel tribute band were so good they even brought a few tears to my eyes (come on, who doesn't get a little teary during "Bridge Over Troubled Water"?). We laughed, we clapped (you have to clap to "Cecelia") we ate delectable desserts, and left feelin' pretty groovy. :) We even used valet parking! Us. Yes, it's good to remember there's an us amidst our party of four :) It's important for our kids to see that we love each other and make time for one another. And they had a great time with the babysitter and her son (thanks Miss D!!!)

BTW I hear that Simon & Garfunkel are in with the Hipsters. (Just in case you were wondering!)

Okay, it's late and I'm rambling so... over and out.