Griswold Style Outing

We went back to Timbuk Farms to get our tree this year!

I feel like we spent forever in the field this year searching for 'the one'.  There were so many to pick from that they all started to look the same.  Plus, we were all sweating like crazy since it was 60* outside...we all had dressed for a typical, November day in Ohio and were caught off guard with the unseasonably warm weather.  We eventually decided on one, Dan cut it down and we headed back home.

That night we went to see the Holiday Lights parade.  It was an interesting display this year of 'holiday' floats, but the weather was perfect and we had great company so we enjoyed the night!  The next day we decorated the tree and put up the rest of our Christmas decorations.  When we were done we went on a family date to dinner and to see the movie, 'Aurthur Christmas'.  The next month or so is my favorite time of the whole year. Ahhhh...let the season of Advent begin!!

First Annual

We weren't planning on any vacations this summer because of my job situation, but on a whim Dan and I decided to take the girls camping...on Kelleys Island.  It was fairly inexpensive and I am so glad we did!  We all had a blast!  This was the first of what I am sure is going to become an annual tradition for us.  Next time we are going to bring some friends with us and stay for longer than one night!  The island was beautiful and relaxing...

After the tent was set up, we went to the 'beach'.  I use the term 'beach' loosely because it is, after all, only Lake Erie.  Hannah wasn't thrilled with all the grass and moss tangling around her ankles, but she enjoyed the sand (By the way, if someone ever invents sunscreen that isn't like glue, they will be rich!).  Alyssa loved it all.

After the beach we washed up and rented a golf cart to explore the island.  Because the island is fairly small and can only be reached by ferry, lots of people don't bring their cars, they just get around on bikes and golf carts.  This was our favorite part.  

Downtown Kelleys Island...very charming!

Glacier Grooves is a national monument that is a huge stretch of actual groves carved into the bedrock of the island left by a glacier that moved through there thousands of years ago.  It was neat to see and interesting to find out some more history of this small island, which is the largest American island in Lake Erie.

A kiss in front of beautiful scenery...

All of the lake front houses have these lake side decks or fire pits.  I can only imagine how fun and relaxing this would be with good friends and some music...

This is just one of the lakefront houses.  I am in love.  We always said we wanted to buy a lake house someday, we just didn't know where.  This may be the place.  Although it is going to be in the very distant future, someday we may own a house...probably not this nice ;)  This one is gorgeous.

This is the view from the front yard...complete with a dock and private gazebo.  I want it!

Hannah was so worn out she feel asleep on the golf cart tour...she doesn't look comfortable at all!

After we returned the golf cart, we had pizza a local restaurant and then headed back for a campfire, popcorn and some s'mores!  The girls got to play at the playground and we enjoyed time, as a family, away from everything.

Popping popcorn...

Delicious s'mores!

Mmmmmmmm...

Friday morning Dan got up and ran 5 miles... crazy, I know.  Then we packed up and headed for home.  Before we left we stopped to walk out on the rock pier.

It was a very short trip, but it was exactly what we needed!  Can't wait for the next camping adventure there!

Wildlights 2010

This is, hands down, one of my favorite activities this time of year.  I don't know what it is, but the Zoo becomes completely magical under the millions of lights.  It feel like you are at the North Pole.  And, even though the girls were kind of grumpy to start with, this year was no different! 

 

I don't know why Mrs. Claus' kitchen is a 'flash free' zone, but that is why these are kind of blurry. Hannah didn't particularly care for Mrs. Claus hoovering over her shoulder...

 Aly on the other hand was totally into it! Here she is taking a few pointers from the Big Guys wife.

 Hannah would rather take tips from daddy!

  Mmmm...I wish I had Mrs. Claus' recipe!

 This is just a warm up of the baking we have to do this week ;)

CHRISTmas Time

If I haven't mentioned before...or you haven't gathered by now, we LOVE this time of year! Family and friends, holiday lights and festivals, carols and movies, presents and beautiful tress, bustling malls and horse drawn carriage rides...my heart is so joyful this time of year can't even list all the things that make me smile.  It's just the overall cherry, festive spirit of this season.   It is a time that we want to bathe with love and tradition so the girls can look back on it with fond memories to pass on to their children someday.   But.  We don't want to get so caught up in the 'stuff' of the season and forget WHY we celebrate.  

This is the season of Advent.  Advent means 'awaited arrival', so this season is truly the celebration of something {momentous} coming. 

A Savior of the world. 

Not Santa Claus...

Jesus!

At Christmas we rejoice over His arrival!  It is a birthday party! A party for a King...where we get the gifts!  And, even more, a celebration of what his birth means for mankind.  That is why we celebrate!  That is why my heart is overflowing! That is what we want the girls to understand! 

We talk every year about how we are going to do this.  Of course we want the girls to have fun and experience the magic of Santa and his Elves, but we also want them to find joy in serving others and giving to those who are truly in need.  Some things we have already been doing.  Some things they are not old enough for yet.  

But, they definitely understand birthdays...and the countdown to the big day. So, I found this Advent Journey on another blog that I read and thought it was a great way to help them (and us) understand the season! 

I sincerely hope that when the girls look back at all of our Christmases together they cherish all the activities we did and time we spent together as a family.  More importantly, I pray they remember that there is someone who loves them even more than Dan and I (or Grandma and Grandpa) ever can...Jesus Christ.  And we get to celebrate his birthday with Him.

Man vs. Tree

Up until now we have not braved a tree farm with the girls.  This year, since the girls are older, we decided to start the tradition of picking out...and cutting down...our own tree.  We. Had. A. Blast!  It was cold, but it wasn't snowing and the sun was shining.  We had to drive all the way to Timbucktu Timbuk Farms in Granville, but it was worth it!  When we got there, we decided to go with a Canaan Fir.  So we picked out the sharpest saw we could find and headed for the field.

 

The girls, especially Aly, were really into finding the 'perfect' tree.  We looked at several, but none of them fit our standards. They all seemed to have some kind of defect: bare spots, brown needles, too short, too tall, etc.

 

Then, like a sign from above we turned around and saw THE tree.  It was like something out of a movie.  The sun was shining right on it and it was, almost, in a clearing.

We agreed on the tree (We actually went with the tree next to it because we thought that one might be too tall.) and Dan went to work with the rusty trusty saw :)

 

Timber!

 

Pure triumph.

 

While they processed our tree and we warmed up, the girls each picked out an ornament...both chose cheerleaders. Shocking. We got a few pictures and then went on a bus ride all around the farm to see the different varieties of trees. 

 The beginning of a new holiday tradition:

 

We drove from the tree farm to Creekside for the Holiday Lights Festival and the tree lighting ceremony with The Gibsons.  It was pretty uneventful, but fun to hang out with our BFF's ;)  Hannah was TERRIFIED of Santa and the Mrs.  Aly wasn't to keen on the idea of 'Santa's lap', but she eventually took a gift from Mrs. Claus.  I think it will be a few more years before we have an successful pictures with them!