Christmas

It was a very busy Christmas season this year but I was determined to make it special as it was our first year as a family of four!

We did lots as lead up to the big day.  Thianna seemed familiar with Christmas and definitely knew about Santa!

Festival of Lights at Stanley Park

Our Christmas Tree!

We visited the Vancouver Christmas Market with friends.  The kids got to ride the carousel,  drink (or spill, however you want to look at it!) hot chocolate, and decorate gingerbread cookies.  But I think the best part for them was riding the skytrain to downtown Vancouver.

We also visited the aquarium and saw Scuba Claus!

We had some penguin jammy fun!

This shot explains why we call Thianna Little Miss Laughy Pants - she's always laughing!!

We also visited the North Pole!

Thianna LOVES Santa!  She kept following him, holding his hand and truly believed he was her special friend!

Nathanh being his usual crazy self and Thianna about two hours overdue for a nap.

On Christmas Eve day the sun was shining and temperatures were really mild so we headed out to a park so I could tire both kiddos out before nap time.

As per tradition we went out for Chinese food with my family on Christmas Eve.  Then we went back to my sister's place for coffee and dessert.  Nathanh and Thianna have eight cousins on my side of the family.  But they are the youngest by far, which can really come in handy for babysitting!  And for them to be able to con someone out of a phone!

Thianna and Taylor.

Nathanh and Connor - let's just be clear - that is not Nathanh's beverage!

Little Miss Laughy Pants and Auntie Jennifer...and another phone!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

...and Santa really was there!

First look at the tree!

Nana and Grandpa came over to enjoy present opening and breakfast!  

It truly was a magical holiday for all of us. For me it felt complete.  Last year, I had fully expected to have a child home by Christmas but things in the adoption world just kept dragging and dragging.  So even though I loved enjoying the holidays with Erwin and Nathanh a little part of me was in Vietnam wondering and waiting.  This year it just felt right:)

Merry Christmas to all.  I hope you are blessed with a truly magnificent holiday season!