Christmas Tree Lighting

What better place to celebrate the holiday season than Leavenworth, our favorite Bavarian village! Rebekah let us crash at her place, and invite Katy & Adam to enjoy the winter weekend as well - thank you Beca! Lola loved Leavenworth more every time she goes there. Hopefully we'll be back again in the New Year for a snowshoeing trip!

The little Eskimo around town.

 Turns out there were two Eskimos running around town together! So cute!

 Lola loved Santa from afar and was very shy up close! She did love the candy canes that he gave her, though. Every time we saw him in town, she would yell out "Hi Santa! Hug? Kiss?

Candy cane?"

 Lola & Loewy

 The dare devils on the ice. Abo & Dan couldn't decide how to pose for this picture, but finally decided on this.

 Abo is really great at posing for the camera.

 After a cold walk on Blackbird Island, we were ready for hot cocoa!

 The girls enjoyed the lighting and carols on Main Street, but Adam & Dan helped Rebeca turn on the lights on their building during the countdown.

About an hour before we left town, Lola finally decided it wasn't so bad to ride in her sled.

In fact, she really enjoyed it. We're just waiting for some snow back home.

Where's the snow??? It's almost Christmas!

St. Nicholas Day

I have the coolest family friend, Donna LaPlante, who has a tradition in her family that I've always loved. Her four children all have saint's names (Katherine, Rebecca, Nicholas & Matthew). On each of their "Saint's Days" they got to stay at home with their mom and do something special.

St. Nicholas Day is December 6th, and since Nicholas is my maiden name, I have decided to adopt that day as our family's "Saint Day" when we can stay at home and do something special together. This year is our first attempt, and I would say it was a success!

On the eve before St. Nicholas Day, it's a tradition for children to put their shoes outside, so St. Nicholas could put a small gift in them, usually an orange and something else. Lola put her slippers out and found an orange and some holiday books when she woke up.

 We went to the store for supplies to make snack mix and gingerbread cookies. Lola helped mix the snack mix before we baked it, and later in the day, she decorated the cookies herself after I put icing on them. We packed up some snack mix and cookies and delivered them to friends and family.

Lola is officially a huge fan of frosting!

Holiday Happenings

 Lola loves to take baby Jesus from our nativity and carry him around with her. Here, she's putting him back with his mommy & daddy, which she does very well.

 I saw this idea for an Advent calendar on Etsy.com and Dan helped me get the materials and make our own (for a lot cheaper!) It's a frame with chicken wire attached, and inside the little bags are ornaments that Lola gets to put on her tree each day. I really love it, and think I might keep it around all year for her artwork or pictures.

 Again...putting baby Jesus back with his parents :)

 Stanek's nursery had 2 reindeer at their store for a few weeks. We went to see them, and since we were the only ones there, the owner let us feed them raisins. Lola loved them, and I was surprised at how enchanted I was with them too! We could have stayed there all day.

 Yeah...totally cool. I came home and told Dan that I think we should have a Christmas tree farm and reindeer on his family's property at Peone Prairie. He didn't really take to the idea though.

 My Aunt Terry sent us an online advent calendar that we do every day as well. Lola asks to look at all of the past days with Dan when he comes home. She LOVES it!

 Our friends Meghan & David came to Spokane for a visit. We went to Christmas tree Elegance and ate yummy food all weekend. They should move to Spokane since they love it so much:)

And we love them!

Heading out the door, ready for the cold weather!

Turkey Weekend

This is a little belated, but I had to do a little catching up because some of these pictures can't be missed! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and that you are enjoying the holiday season!

Lola's morning Thanksgiving outfit. Picked out by her dad, the converted Nebraska fan.

 She was also accessorized by Dan. By the look on her face, I think she wasn't sure about the ensemble, but she went with it anyway.

 Watching football.

 Learning to dribble a ball with Chenise, Auntie Rachael's friend who joined us for Thanksgiving.

 Lola also learned how to drive this weekend, or at least she practiced driving Jill's scooter (it wasn't plugged in!)

 Out and about to do some shopping!

Lola loved the Zags shop.