Christmas in the Northwest

Christmas in the Northwest Is a gift that we can share Christmas in the Northwest Is a child's answered prayer Take away the presents And they still will have a dream For Christmas in the Northwest Is a gift God wrapped in green That first Christmas night Under just one light In a small town, a child came down The Father's gift of love and life And so, I dedicate this prayer To the children in our care That we teach them of the gifts of love He has planted everywhere Just like ...

Brenda White's 1980's "Christmas in the Northwest" song - so cheesy, yet it brings back so many memories of my childhood Christmas'.  This was a year of reliving some of those memories with my boys, and building new traditions in our new home.

Such a Northwest Christmas scene - popping into Lynwood Center (just down the hill from our house) for coffee early one morning.

Our boys have been so sweet with their Addy dog- knowing she probably won't be with us a whole lot longer.

A fun Bainbridge tradition - the fire department comes through each neighborhood blaring music and handing out candy canes.

Almond Roca packaged and ready for new friends and neighbors.

Andrew last day before break - they built Franklin Loyd Wright ginger bread houses.

That afternoon we ferried over to Seattle to meet up with my parents and brother.

The Sheraton had Star Wars themed ginger bread houses..

they were amazing.

Silly Gingerbread faces.  Grandpa and Grandma took the boys back to their house for a sleepover...

While Dave and I met up with the Cross Sound staff for a Christmas dinner.

Grace, one of our amazing worship leaders.  Love this lady.

The white elephant gift exchange afterward was exciting ;).

 The next afternoon, a dear family in our church invited us to join them for their last annual ice cream/train Christmas party.

Train cars filled with candy, whipped cream, and hot fudge...

our boys were in heaven.

Will had a buddy from school show up, who happened to be next door neighbors.  So exciting.

Afterwards, they got to explore his amazing train room downstairs.

The next day we had our annual children's Christmas nativity as part of the Sunday morning worship service.

It was precious.

Our older two were shepherds.

Such cuteness.

That afternoon, Grandma baked Christmas cookies with each of the boys.

I've never had the patience for roll out cookies...

Especially with all the extra help that comes with it.

A quick stop into Storyville for peppermint hot cocoa and cookies.

Our local candy store - reward for sitting through a two hour wait at the barber shop for MUCH needed haircuts.

Making the Ginger Bread house!

Will was all about it this year.

Caden decided that Santa should come with cookies on Christmas Eve.

Super precious.

Our candlelight service on Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning!

Addy got her favorite treat too...and an upset tummy for the rest of the day :(.

Opening stockings.

Breakfast spread - the last year we'll get to do Danish pancakes.  I just found out that Trader Joe's discontinued them!

Caden was so excited about this box drum!

Christmas ferry ride to Grandma and Grandpa's.

The boys were super cute watching each other open presents.

My parents gigantic, but "smaller" tree this year, hovering in the background.

It was so fun watching them get excited about each others gifts.

And of course, no time together is complete without a little football.

Our Christmas day had come to a close, but our prayer remains that the true gift of this day would become bigger and more beautiful to us as each day passes.