O Christmas Tree!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the Christmas tree.  I remember from when I was little setting up the tree and hanging the lights and placing the ornaments on the tree was my favorite.  My family always put on Christmas music, drank hot chocolate and reflected on memories as we saw ornaments from years past.  Last year was the fist year I had a real Christmas tree. Ryan and I got a tree here in Seattle and decorated it together.  We knew it would be the first of many trees we would decorate together. This year we really wanted to go up to the mountains and chop down a tree (a la National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) but with everything going on this month we just couldn't fit it in.  So instead we went to a great tree lot over in Ballard operated by the Boy Scout troop 1000.  I would highly recommend this lot to anyone in the Seattle area.  The had a great selection and great prices!  There were so many trees to choose from: Noble, Douglas, and Great Pine oh my!    

A view down the lot of all the amazing trees

Ryan with our chosen tree, a Douglas Fir!  It has an amazing smell!!!

A quick picture of the finished product, it looks so great and really makes our house smell fantastic

Sarah, Caitlyn, and Cinderella!

This year for Christmas Ryan and I wanted to be a little different in our gift giving to his nephews and niece.  We wanted to do things with them and create experiences that they would remember much longer than a toy.  So for Miss Caitlyn we decided that I would take her to see Cinderella, the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein.  I was soooo excited to take her and really looked forward to the day, which was the same day as Gingerbreads.  So after we created our candy cottages we changed into our most beautiful dresses to attend Cinderella. 

Upon arrival to the 5th Avenue, Miss Caitlyn informs me she is very hungry, she had forgotten to eat dinner in the excitement of Gingerbreads and had filled up on candy.  Awesome! We walk in and she immediately sees Red Vines and asks me if I will buy them for her, of course I do, the child was hungry.  Now looking back, I think I may have been duped.  Anyway we get into our seats and enjoy a  Lovely Night!  It was really an incredible show and soooo much fun to go with a little girl! I hope that Caitlyn remembers this night as much as I know I will! 

Miss Caitlyn - in her Cinderella dress, not really wanting to smile for the camera

Only shot of the two of us together (she didn't really like that I asked a stranger to take the picture :)

Gingerbreads

It's that time of year! Time for jingle bells, mistletoe, and of course... Gingerbreads!  You may remember that I was in Seattle a few weeks before Christmas last year and I was able to participate and experience Gingerbreads at Ryan's parents house.  It is a simply amazing day that Ryan's mom puts together for her grandkids, kids, her friends kids and grandkids and other family friends.  There is quite possibly the largest assortment of candy ever seen out of a candy store and of course a few dozen gingerbread houses ready to be decorated!  I truly love this Donaldson family tradition and am so glad I get to partake in this day.  Here are a few pictures of my house from this year.    

The front, complete with Santa ready to deliver gifts.  I also love those lego candies!

Candy canes, jelly beans and red hots oh my!  I think Buddy the Elf would love this house 

More candy!

A quick shot of Miss Caitlyn decorating her house and a brief look at the rest of the table