12.23.2022

English toffee and Christmas lights and cocoa!

 Yesterday we pulled out our Grandpa Pierce's recipe for English toffee and spent time making it for friends.

6 batches later...
Christmas lights at our favortie spot in Brea and Fullerton and dinner at The Hat...

This house is the one that inspired all of our yard decorations...
Ending with dinner at The Hat and a tour down Yale street...
It was such a sweet night of memories and I so thankful that this time of year is filled with traditions like these... I love our family time so much!

12.22.2022

Eden's last elementary Christmas party 2022 (and some other fun...)

 Yesterday was SO full but so good.  Eden had her last elementary school Christmas party, Ryder had a get together after school with his buddies for a gift exchange, Eden had her goalie training, and we had our tradition of dinner at Avilas to kick off the Christmas holiday vacation.  I was up at 0400 with anticipation of the day, but coffee by the tree in the quiet morning is really a favorite of mine:

I loved that I got to be at her party.  I am feeling all of the nostalgia of the things coming to an end for these elementary years...
They payed games and made crafts...
We love her teacher!
Ryder headed to his hangout with his buddies, Eden headed to her goalie training.  
We also made a craft hat for our bunny.
Then ended the day at Avila's:
WE love their staff, their food, their atmosphere... 
Such a fun tradition for kicking off the holiday!
Today we have plans for making English toffee and seeing Christmas lights.  Traditions like these are so special for us.  I am excited for all that these next days hold for our family!

12.21.2022

Annual Biola Family Raclette 2022

This last Friday night, we had our annual raclette dinner with our Biola family.  Travel and illness took out half of our crew,  but we were so thankful to have had the opportunity to be together, especially with our Kamaskis from South Africa!

Playing Code Names:

The girls playing so sweetly together:

These moments are so sacred to us...
We headed to the Dana Point Harbor to see lights and it was magical...
I love this man so much...
Evenings like these are so precious to us.  I am so thankful for all the life that we have gotten to live together and that we get to call these people our family!

12.20.2022

Eden's Christmas Music Showcase

 Last Thursday, Eden had her music showcase.  It was so CUTE!

She got all dressed up and sent off by her Mia and Papa...

                     

She could not wait to perform!
Best buddies...

Her class:
With her music teacher...
With her teacher...
We love our school so much and I love that we get to be there for special moments like this...