The Holidays

I love this time of year! Our calendar has been full with all sorts of fun holiday activities recently.  Although it has been busy, we have loved the time we've spent with friends and family, and special outings with our little family of three.  We are cherishing this season as we are seeing everything through the eyes of our one-year-old for the first time.  The lights, the music, and the decorations are all so captivating and exciting to Ella and we have enjoyed watching her experience it all.

We did the Jingle Bell Dash - a 5K run/walk through the streets of downtown Seattle with a group from the Active office

 Active kiddos bundled and ready - Jackson, Sophie, Ella, and Nathan

 A little window shopping after the race

 Our family went to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens - a beautiful display of lights that are set up during the holidays.  Ella was mesmerized by all the lights and loved it. 

Cody and I went to our friend's Jenn and Stephen's cocktail party

 Christmas pajama party with Sophie and Nathan

We went to the Cougar Mountain Zoo during their reindeer festival.  We saw a number of animals as well as all of Santa's reindeer, including 5 month old Blitzen.  Santa was there too, but we just waved at him from a safe distance :).

The Ehrlichmans (Matt's parents) hosted their annual Christmas Caroling Party.  This is the first year we've gone and Ella enjoyed listening to the songs played on the piano (and trying to play it), and playing with her buddies.  The train around the Christmas tree was a hit with all three of them.

Ready for our family outing downtown!

We spent an afternoon in Seattle where we rode the carousel, saw the amazing gingerbread houses at the Sheraton, and had dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory

 That's one of the immaculate gingerbread houses behind Cody and Ella

 Is it just me or is Ella all of a sudden a little girl?  Where did my baby go!?

Phew...it's been a busy month!  But with all the busyness, we are thankful for the true meaning of the season as we remember our Savior's birth.  Or as Ella puts it, "Bebe t-sss's" (baby Jesus') birth ;).