’Tis the season for rituals and traditions and all things nostalgic! I’m holding space for family slow-downs per my last post, but I’m also laying the twinkly lights on thick, because Juliette and I eat that kitsch up. There are a handful of events that December just wouldn’t quite feel complete without.
Like Ladies Weekend! Nance, LaV, and I hit up the Cedarbrook Lodge for the fifth year running and did all the essential LW things – hot tubbing and shopping and chick-flicking… We carefully considered and curated our movies this year and opened Friday night with Pretty Woman, wondering if the Vivian/Edward romance would live up after all these years, and…affirmative. They’ve still got it.
These are the thumbs-ups of ladies who just scored a slew of sweaters for 80% off.
Meanwhile, Shane did this. Because he’s the best.
Juliette is increasingly interested in Santa and asked a couple of weeks ago if we could pay him a visit. Luckily, he happened to be hanging out at the neighborhood brewpub! Jolly old Saint Nick and a pint of my favorite amber to boot!
(This is where she asked him for puffy paint and he looked at her like, “I thought that was popular back in the 80’s?”
That evening we invited the neighbors over for wine and cookie decorating, which turned into a contest over which kid could pack the most sugar onto a single gingerbread man.
The girls closed us out with a flute/keyboard duet of Jingle Bells.
And though they missed a few notes, it was perfect.
We decided to forego the Nutcracker this year and instead spent a Sunday evening with the Chens at Lumaze, a “Winter Fairytale at T-Mobile Park”. Fairytale, indeed – was this for real?!
The kids had a blast bounding through the forest of lights. So much twinkle!
And then we strapped on ice skates and took a few wobbly loops around the rink.
The park is set up as a maze dotted with landmarks that kids can check off a list – this pony was my favorite.
…and Juliette loved this 20-foot doll.
Later, Lumaze!
Our annual Christmas dinner with the Chens and Rusts is always one of the merriest nights in December. A feast (THANKS, JACK!) and presents and laughter and wine and sugar and so much gratitude.
I bought Isaiah a Minecraft beanie which he opened and then exclaimed, “This is perfect! I just became a Minecraft You-Tuber today!” Nailed it.
Shane and Jack shared a fitness theme, Jack gifting Shane pushup bars and “vitamins for the middle-aged”…
…and Shane gifting Jack a promise to register with him for the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride next summer.
This crew rocks.
We made our usual pilgrimage to the Menashee House last weekend, popping over there after dinner to take a quick gander at West Seattle’s finest light show. This is as kitschy as Christmas gets!
And to close out our circuit du Santas, we spent Sunday evening at Snowflake Lane. I’ll admit I felt a bit nuts, standing in the rain for a cheesy Christmas parade, but I don’t know…how many more years do we really have with a kid that thinks this stuff is magical?
“He’s coming!!!”
We’ll see you in Portland, Santa!
And finally…some pre-Christmas quiet. Juliette and I kicked off Christmas break with a living room slumber party by the light of the Christmas tree. All was calm, all was bright as we reveled in this season of togetherness and anticipation and utter delight.
