Checking it twice

  I am definitely a list maker.  We had numerous things to do before we left for Seattle, but we saved some of our Christmas activities for when we were in Seattle.

  Last-minute shopping at UVillage.  Wow, that place has changed a bunch in the past year.  We had bagels for lunch.  It's an Einstein now, but it used to be Noah's and my mom has taken my sister and I here for a long time.  I'm not going to lie, it has a special place in my heart.  :)

 

  Next on the list, gingerbread house making.  For real gingerbread.  It's been a tradition with Mike's mom since before we had kids.  She makes gingerbread, cuts out house pieces, and ices them together for us to decorate.  Hers are always super fancy.

 

All of the kids got to do their own this year.

The big cousins.

 

  I saved all of my wrapping jobs for Seattle.  I decorated some kraft paper with the Santa I carved.  Santa also makes a cute gift tag!

  One last must do and that was visit our old church, Emerald City Bible Fellowship.  This was one of the top things we wanted to do when we were back.  This place is a heart and soul warmer.  Besides there being a lot more young families, it has not changed.  The people welcome you back with big hugs, the worship (they know how to sang!) cuts straight to the heart, and the schedule/program is a hodge podge and kinda unorganized.  However, it is exactly what we like and only after being away from it do you remember how much you liked it.  I mean, we show up from Cali and Hannah gets to be in the kids' Christmas program.  Yes, that's exactly what we love about that place.  :)

 

  All of these things and seeing familiar people are fun to check off the list.  We even got to go to CrossFit in Bellevue yesterday.  There are so many things we miss about this place.  My heart is here.  It's just that weather...  Don't miss it at all.  :)

 

Warmest wishes on this Christmas Eve!