Levenworth and Tree Lighting!

Each year we like to go to Leavenworth for the Tree Lighting and to do some sledding! Last year we weren't able to go since we were awaiting Emerson to be born! So this year was fun taking Emerson!

Our friends Maggie and Casey invited us to come stay at her parents house in Cashmere! It is such a cute little house filled with love! Emerson had so much fun going up and down their stairs, and he had so much fun with his friend Axel!


After a day of relaxing, and enjoying ALL the snow!! We went into Leavenworth, and it there was so much snow and people we just missed the tree lighting! So instead, we tried to eat at my favorite restraunt Andrea's Keller, but the wait was way too long with 3 little kids in tow. So we packed up and met at the grocery store to get some snacks! The only problem, there was so much snow we almost got stuck ( James won't ever admit to ever almost getting stuck) But when 2 guys have to push you out...I would think so!




He sure liked being inside away from the snow in the grocery store!

So instead of the german food...we went and got mexican!



Emerson liked trying the limes!






We got back, Emerson wanted to be in the snow...but it was time for bed!


The next day, we did some antiquing while the boys watched some games.
Then we went and picked up the boys and kids and went to Sonic!


After we got back from Sonic, we said our goodbyes and headed into Leavenworth to do some sledding and went to the tree lighting!


Emerson sure liked to sled!

He really loved the tree lighting!!

And now for the pics we always take :

Singles Ward Christmas get together!

What a fun night we had! Lots of yummy treats! Great conversation! And of course a white elephant gift exchange! We need to get together more often!!

Country Village Tree Lighting

I love going to Country Village! And at Christmas time it is so fun! Everything is lit up, and of course Santa flys in on his sleigh! Here are just a few pictures from the night!


Sam and I!

Kilee and me!

James and Emerson having fun like always!

Our fun little train ride!!

Traditions

I absolutely love Traditions!!!

Decorating the Tree! With Candles and All!
I love to decorate the house the day after Thanksgiving! And I can never wait to get a tree! Growing up we always had candles and a pickle on our tree, and that is one tradition I still keep! ( We just don't light the candles now)




Here is one tradition my aunt Betty started and shared with my family!
Christopher Pop-in-kins
The story behind them are that right after Thanksgiving Santa sends them to your home and they watch to make sure your kids are being good. Then at night they go back to the North Pole and report back to Santa and tell them how the kids are doing. The next day your elf returns and he is also in a different hiding spot (you hide them some place else each day and your kids look for him). But, the kids can't touch him or he might lose his magic powers.



Then one we always did growing up, is the Advent Wreath and Advent Calender!
The Advent Wreath Adventskranz is set up on the first Advent Sunday (the fourth before Christmas) to start off the Advent season. You gather around the wreath on each Advent Sunday to light the next candle and sing Christmas carols and read stories.I love this tradition because it draws you closer together as a family. We also got Emerson a book called Jingle with a dog that barks to read each Sunday, so he has something fun too!


Then St.Nicholas Day (Sankt Nikolaus) is the night of the 5th
The kids put out their boot on the night of the 5th, and on the morning of the 6th they get their boot filled by St.Nick! This was always a favorite of my brothers and I!

Christmas Tree Farm 2010

For the past 4 years we have gone to the Red Barn Tree Farm in Woodinville! It is always a fun trip! It is so fun to be able to pick your Christmas tree and chop it down yourself! We got a different kind of tree this year, since all the trees we normally get are still growing.

Here are some pictures from this year and from the 3 years after! It is fun to look at the changes!

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2007

Thanksgiving & Black Friday!!!

Every year for Thanksgiving we go to James sisters house for dinner. Here are a few pics!

Emerson and James relaxing!!

Now to my favorite tradition :

BLACK FRIDAY!!!

So this was our second year of going out on Black Friday!!
This year Toys R Us opened early on Thanksgiving so we met at Sam's house and then Beth drove the "VAN" and we went in line at 8pm!!
It was such a great experience at Toys R Us!! We didn't have to wait very long, and we were one of the first in the line! We got in and out and got everything we wanted!!!! It was a great experience!

Next...

We went and parked Marchelle's car at Target, then went and dropped off all our finds at Sam's house! We then went to Denny's for a midnight snack :) Afterwards we went to go wait in line at Target!It was a lot longer wait in line! Thank goodness Beth had her van! We were sitting in line which was nice, we turned the seat around so we can stay warm it was great! Well till it started to rain, get colder, and we had to get out of the van. Once it was 4am it was chaos! People started to cut in line- one guy was so rude, and even harassed Marchelle the whole time we were in the store! We were able to find everything we wanted- it was just not organized well and way too many people in the store!

We got done and went back to Sams house and took a nap break! James dropped Emerson off, and we rested a bit more till Keilah came over and Sam,Beth,the kids and I ran to costco!
It was a fun black friday - but I do think I slept the rest of the day!
It was so nice to get all the rest of the shopping done!!

Emerson's 1st time playing in the snow!

It snowed in November!! Emerson loves going to the door daily, to bark at the wolf dog across the street and today he had so much fun watching it snow...so we went out to play!

Halloween 2010

This year was Emerson's first year of trick or treating!
He was having so much fun going door to door, he even knocked on a few doors and grabbed candy out of the bowls!
It was a fun night out! There were a ton of us who went together!
We went with Sam,Jeremy, and Landon.
Marchelle, Farshid, & Payden.
And Lisa and Todd and all the kids!
It was such a great Halloween!!!

James and Emerson starting their trick or treating!

Sam and I going door to door with the kids!

Yes, the candy wasn't for me - it was for Emerson and James!

We had so much fun trick or treating!

Emerson made out great!!!