Early Christmas with our Grandi and Monkey Papa!

This last Friday we had our Grandi and Monkey Papa come into town to do our tradition of looking at christmas lights and to have a little early Christmas together!

We had a morning hike and bike ride on Friday at Peter's Canyon:

 There was lots of game playing: (Monopoly and Splendor were the favorite...)

We made hot chocolate and took it with us on our Christmas lights tour:

(On Friday night we went to Brea and Fullerton.  On Saturday night we stayed local):

Brea and Fullerton:

Tustin:
But first, Lucille's:

We were able to go to our {early} Christmas Eve church service on Sunday all together!

Bur first, we made a fire and a birthday cake for Jesus:

We love our church and our community that has become our family over the last several years!

After ther service, there was sledding, fresh doughnuts, a  hot cocoa bar, lots of sweet treats, and just hanging our with our favorite buddies:

 In this season that has been marked with loss and grief, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that we have Kit's dad with us.  About 1 1/2 years ago, we didn't think that would be the case with his heart surgery... As we celebrated the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the gift that we have in the family that we have been given.  There is such JOY and HOPE all around us!
Happy {early} Birthday Jesus!
~~~~~~~~~
"The thrill of HOPE, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn..."

 P.S. I love this man so much...

We are excited to celebrate an early Christmas today since I will be working on Christmas Day...

So many fun traditions ahead!