the christmas must-do list.

Having kids now makes me get out there and do more Christmas activities than we didn't do before. I've also been thinking a lot of what Christmas activities to start making into a yearly tradition. Here's what makes my "definitely-do-every-year" list, my "maybe" list and "need-to-do-next-year" list.

Here's what makes my top 5 "definitely-do-every-year" list

(5) NCVH (aka Neufeld-Cummings-Vandegriend-Hawker) Christmas Party
For the last few years, we have a Christmas party with my close friends. Isn't it fun to see how over the years, there are more babies in the photo. This year, we didn't even get any pictures of us (adults). We all had our hands full with the kids!

Dec 2011

Dec 2012

Dec 2013

 It's fun that the kids are actually old enough to enjoy some Christmas activities like decorating gingerbread cookies. We also did a grab-a-book-of-your-kids-bookshelf exchange which was awesome since we were able to gift some well-loved books and get some new ones. Any tradition that recycles things instead of buying more stuff is a tradition worth keeping!

 

 

 

(4) Trinity Street Lights - every year the houses on the block go all out with their Christmas decorations. Last year it was pouring rain so we didn't get out of the car but this year we were able to walk all 3 blocks of lights. Simon had Natallie in the hiking backpack and I had Noah in the baby carrier and they both loved it.  Natallie was squealing with excitement! Fun and Free!

 

 

(3) Pictures with Santa

A bit cliché but it's fun to compare from the years before. This year she was super excited but then burst into tears when it was actually her turn.  I had to bribe her with a candy cane and chocolate before she let me put her on Santa's lap. We even went on Mondays where pictures are for free because no picture with a fat dude with a beard should cost $16!

2011

2012

 

2013

(2) Early Choi Christmas

We usually spend Christmas in Enderby on the farm with my in-laws so we usually do Christmas early with my family before we leave. This year we went to the Burnaby Village museum at night, had a wonderful take-out Greek feast and opened presents a week before Christmas! I don't think Natallie quite understood why she got so many presents that day, she knew it wasn't her birthday. I told her that it was Jesus' birthday. She must be thinking "I like this Jesus guy! I get so many presents on his birthday!"

 

 

 

(1) Big White dream vacation

And last but not least is our family trip up to Big White. I think our family has been going to Big White  or at some ski resort during the holidays for over a decade now and I truly pray that this is one tradition that never, ever stops. What is not to love? Eat, sleep, snowboard, hot-tub and repeat. I'm really excited about teaching Natallie to ski this year. Hopefully, both her and Noah will grow to appreciate and treasure the Big White family trips as much as I do!

@ Big White 2010 (about 9 weeks pregnantt)

@ Big White 2011 (Natallie 4 months old)

@ Big White 2012

 

And the things on my 'maybe' list would be:

 

 Santa Clause Parade

The weather was actually cold but not rainy and Natallie loved it, especially since her friend Emily was there too but getting downtown with all the crowds was a bit nutty. There was no-joke a line up for at least 40 moms with strollers trying to get on the one elevator from the sky train station. To by pass the line, Simon carried one kid in each arm while I carried the crazy heavy double stroller on the escalator and heaved it up the stairs! A bit of a gong show but Natallie loved getting all the free stuff that was handed out and still talks about the parade so maybe it's worth doing again next year....just definitely no strollers.

sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the parade with Emily

after the stroller fiasco, all smiles on the skytrain

 

 

 

 Bright Lights at Stanley Park
My mom and I both have memberships to the Aquarium so we decided to do the aquarium in the morning and then do the Christmas train before we left the park. It was definitely nice to not wait in line and fight the crowds, but it was also 3:00pm so it wasn't really dark yet and I think the lights would of looked a lot nicer if it was actually night time. Natallie still liked it but I have to say the Stanley Park train is way over-rated. I think the $2 carousel ride at the Burnaby Village museum made her just as happy than the $12 train ride. It was great day nevertheless of dolphins, belugas and Santa!

I have to admit, I'd do anything to make this girl smile

 

One thing I regret not doing this year was starting an Advent tradition. December just kind of snuck up on me and I wish I had planned something crafty where Natallie could open an envelope and get choclates or a sticker up until Christmas. I also want to incorporate some Bible readings as each week of Advent goes by. I found a great resource in the Thriving Families magazine called "ADVENTures in Odyssey" and there is a kid-friendly guide to do Advent. This year, all I managed to do was get a magnetic nativity scene and Natallie plays with it on the fridge. We talk about "mommy Mary" "daddy Joseph" and baby Jesus. She mostly just like making the animals walk around on the fridge. Oh well. Next year, I'll be more on it and hope that Natallie will understand Christmas is more than bright lights, parades, gingerbread cookies and presents. Hopefully she will understand that

 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The might God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"

 

 

But for now she just knows we're having a happy birthday Jesus party and opening all his presents. And apparently Jesus likes Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc.