how to have an epic christmas.

1. Cram in as many local Christmas related activities as possible before Christmas

Natallie's Christmas concert at preschool

Stanley Park

Trinity Street Lights

Polar Express in 4D

Stanley Park Lights

Stanley Park Lights

2.Teach the kids the Christmas Story and laugh when you hold up the shepherd in the Nativity scene and Nallie says its Moses. (Apparently, anyone holding a staff is by default Moses).

3. Prepare for a 6 hour drive to Grandma and Grandpa's farm by loading car with your entire cartoon DVD collection and the new portable DVD player (thank you Grandma Choi!). Too bad Baby-with-Loud-Vocals is still rear facing so alas cannot see the screen that Big Sis is watching.

game face before the trip

4. Bring a case of fishy crackers and a giant lollypop for Baby-with-Loud-Vocals when all else fails and Baby-with-Loud-Vocals is still screaming in his car seat, insert earplugs and pray that he will sleep soon.

5. Arrive at Grandma and Grandpa's farm, breathe sigh of relief that car ride is over.

6.Play in the snow, all day ever day. Indulge in home-made Christmas baking. Eat, play and repeat. (Notice I did not say sleep - alas, sleeping was apparently not on Baby-with-Loud-Vocal's to-do list)

7. Chase Grandma's dog and cat around the farm. Pick up poor cat and carry him awkwardly everywhere

 

8. Climb in Grandpa's hay barns and jump off the bails

9. Open Christmas presents and awe at how much Frozen paraphernalia Big Sis has received

10. Spend almost a week at Big White and wake up to fresh powder and views like this

11. Snowboard. A lot. (Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Choi graciously babysitting The Nutshow)

Ashley

Rainbow

me

Simon

12. Teach Nallie how to ski

13. Take multiple group selfies with Gro Pro

Playground: the best run on the mountain

14. End each day at Big White with hot tubbin' and matching onsies.

 

15. Have all meals sponsored by Costco and cooked by the best mom/grandma.

And that's it !!! Now just need to count down 360 days until next year's vacation...

twinkle toes.

there are lots of reasons parents are not sleeping at night...maybe because the baby is up crying again or maybe the toddler is sick but last night none of the above reasons were keeping me up...I was not sleeping well because I was so excited about Natallie's ballet recital and our annual Christmas party with my best friends whose daughters are now my daughter's besties (such a blessing!)

Excited to see her ballerina friend

did I say she was excited?

Daddy and Noah make sure we have a spot right in front

big hugs before she goes on stage

the dance studio director (my lovely friend Vanessa) announces the show will start

all eyes on their teacher

beautiful ballerinas

Click  here to see the cutest bunch of 2-3 years shuffling, twirling and twinkling their toes together or the video below.

And the only thing better than dancing with your friends on stage was the Christmas after-party

getting ready for gingerbread houses



life of the party



Brian putting his engineering skills to use

ta-da!

Viola!

our annual Christmas tradition of a book exchange

                                

Crazy that I have known Rachael and Kristin for over a decade now and our girls have known each other since birth (literally met each other the day they were all born). It warms my heart to see their own friendships developing. Praying for many, many, many more celebrations together!                               

Rach and Kristin were my bridesmaid at my wedding Dec 2005

  

                                                Merry Christmas