Good-bye Pink Couch

Summer Picture....a mother's view while feeding....note the ugly pink couch on the right

 It was finally time. While rearranging our living room for Christmas, we realized just how crowded the room was. So, we decided that after Christmas, if we still felt that way, that we donate the final pink couch to charity. Sure enough, after Christmas, in an effort to simplify, the couch had to go.

Luckily, we were gifted a few dollars to purchase an additional chair to even out the room.
Finally, after six and half years of marriage, we got rid of the second hand couches that belonged to our friend's deceased grandmother. We now own all of our own furniture. It kind of feels like the end of an era. Good-bye pink couch, we do not miss you.

Hey Jesus....

                                                                 (the sign says: No running)

Side note: Still not sure why there is a sign that says "no running" in the ocean. Does anyone have any ideas?

Dancing Lights

We went to VanDusen Garden to see their Festive of Lights (twice!)

They have millions of lights and every half hour, the lights "dance" to the music.

Joel LOVED the lights. He still talks about the dancing lights every day.

Yep! He's thrilled!

Micah also loves the lights that dance.

The kids were literally mesmerized by them. We went once the Saturday before Christmas with Grandma Jansen and 'regular' Grandma (as Joel calls them). It was so busy and cold, since it has snowed the day before.

We went again on New Years Day with regular Grandma. There was not nearly as many people there and we really got to enjoy the lights this time. We saw so many more things that we missed the first time.

Like brothers hold hands and enjoying the light show.

And a train display.

Oh, and a very tall Christmas tree. Apparently, we were not focused on the lights AT ALL the first time we went.

We will definitely do this again. It was a highlight of our Christmas season.

Snow Fun

Micah's first snowfall that he got to play in!
He liked it until he fell and his hands got wet through his mittens.

 

Playing in the yard

Look at those beautiful eyes!

 

 

Yes, Joel insisted on shovelling the yard. The grass needs to be kept clean.

Our solution to Micah's mitten problem. We would put on his little cotton mittens that he insisted he had to wear. Then we would put on ziploc bags to keep him dry. Then long socks to keep it all together. It made it easier to hold his hands during walks because his mittens would actually stay on.

Dan shovelling the driveway

 

Notice Micah's little pink boots! Gotta love hand-me downs!

Hanging up all the wet stuff.

Christmas Gatherings

Family Christmas at my brother's house. Micah playing with his new top (and his new friend!)

The "Christmas morning" in our new pj's picture

Micah got a new cup and maraca in his stocking. He was THRILLED. It took a lot of energy to get him to move on to something else. He just wanted to make music!

Reading new stories from Papa, Grammy and Uncle Eli

My newest little worker...

...times two!

Christmas Tree

One activity we had this year was to cut down our own tree at a tree farm.
Normally, we would go the grocery store, cut down the tree and WALK the tree home.
This year, it became too much for us. Plus, it was during that really COLD snap that we had "scheduled" to get our tree. So, we went to the tree farm instead.

Dan conquers the tree!

Joel putting the star on the tree.
"So the wise men can find the baby JEEESUS!!!!"

My newest favorite picture.

I was trying to get a nice picture of the boys in front of the tree. They kept running all over. Insert basket. It kept them contained (for a few moments) and I got those precious smiles captured.

Family photo

Christmas Decorations

Joel's new ornament this year. The letter J. He's all into letters and found it in the store. That's a J for Joel mommy!

Salt dough ornament. One of the boys footprints. (This was MY activity)

 

A little bit of my heritage on the tree.

Christmas morning.

Stockings

Nativity set.
Dan and I bought this on our honeymoon. I love it. Handcrafted and still smells like cedar.

The boys set. The boys enjoyed playing with it and reenacting the Christmas story. It was always thrown around the house. We would find random pieces everywhere. In fact, about three days after we "put away Christmas" we found that long lost wise man. Apparently, he was following the wrong star.

Christmas (and birthday) card display

Oh the nutcracker invasion. Dan has a fairly large collection. Dan loves nutcrackers. And I love Dan. Therefore, I love nutcrackers.
Below the nutcrackers, is our activity advent calendar. We would flip the number over and find out what our activity would be for the day.

More nutcrackers

The stars in the window and the advent trees full of treats below.