Our Christmas in La Verne

Our little family did something pretty monumental this year for Christmas...we stayed home, in California!  Can you believe it??  Neither could we.  With the exception of circumstances preventing us completely from going to Oregon last year (seeing as we were an ocean away), we have always made it back to our hometown for the holidays.  It was not an easy decision, but one we knew needed to happen for our family this year, and in future years to come.  It was time for us to begin to establish family traditions, and make memories together, at home.  I do not hesitate when I say it was the very best Christmas we have ever had - (so sorry, family...we missed you terribly, and we look forward to future holidays together, but it's true; this was one of a kind).

Brant and I were overwhelmed with joy and peace, as we experienced the magic and sacredness of Christmas, through the eyes of our kids, in the comfort of our own surroundings.  We made wonderful new memories together, did not feel rushed through the season, took the time to be thoughtful about our decisions and activities, and truly experienced the JOY of Christmas.  What a blessing!!

I am going to give a sampling of pictures from some of our family time together, over the 23rd-25th of December.  It was all equally special and memorable.

We walked through "Thoroughbred Street", along with the rest of the San Gabriel Valley, enjoying the immaculate Christmas light displays.

On Christmas Eve morning, we went to a "Pajama and Pancake" family Christmas Eve service at our church.  It was the coolest thing!  The kids loved going to church in their pj's, the service was so thoughtful and well planned for an audience of young families, and it ended with a full pancake breakfast - which was such a hit with our crew.

In the afternoon, we went for a family hike up the Horsethief Park trail, in San Dimas.  It was the perfect, low-key hike, which ended at a playground.  Another successful addition to our day.  We really enjoyed being outside together, enjoying God's creation and a fun, free outing we had never done before.

To start, both kids were a little tentative, for fear of stepping in horse manure, of all things.  I guess we don't get out enough.

Merry Christmas Eve!

She had insisted on the skirt for the hike. ;)

So.much.cactus on this trail!  I don't want to be here in the hot months, to find out who lives, or slithers, among these!

The kids were so pleased with what they had accomplished, and Mommy and Daddy were so pleased that all went well without a fuss!

We enjoyed cheese fondue for dinner - a Himes' family tradition, before heading to the candlelight service at church.

Our advent candles, which we lit each night at dinner, followed by the advent reading.  

Cheese fondue fun!

A friend took this quick snapshot with her phone, which is why Maddie isn't pictured.  The candlelight service was sacred and beautiful. 

During the morning service, each family was given a jar of s'mores ingredients.  We decided to take part in this fun activity before bedtime on Christmas Eve.  It was so unique and fun, it just might become a yearly tradition!

Cookies and milk for Santa!  Must be bedtime!

So, so, so many pictures were captured on Christmas morning, and it was such a special time as a family.  We started with stockings, and the kids were elated to see that Santa had come to fill their stockings with the special gifts they had asked for: an Ariel doll and a toy car, among other small treasures. ;)

We followed stockings with breakfast, and then, unprompted, Maddie and Geoffrey began to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.  Here they are, singing to him.  Love!

This year, Maddie went out shopping with me, to find a special present for Daddy and Geoffrey, and the boys did the same for the girls.  My favorite was the glass pencil ornament Maddie spotted and picked out all on her own, because "Daddy loves to write."

One very special gift, which already has holes and stains, was this coveted Elsa dress we decided to get for Maddie just two nights earlier.  Her face says it all.

Geoffrey was given a great conductor's dress-up outfit from his Auntie Amber.  Both kids were dressed up for the rest of the day!

After we had finished with our gifts, and began cleaning up, we heard a loud siren, that wasn't stopping but only getting closer in sound.  It was odd enough, that we looked outside to figure it out.  Passing by, was a small firetruck, with none other, but Santa riding on the back, waving and calling out, "Merry Christmas!"  The firemen were passing out bags of peanuts, apples and candy.  It was pretty cool, and we all quickly went outside to get a better look!  Definitely something you could probably only find in a small town.

One final wave.
We enjoyed our lazy afternoon, cleaning up from our exciting morning, getting ready for our Christmas night visitors (coming in the next post!), and enjoying new toys, including the scooters both kids scored this year.  It really was a low-key, wonderful day!

A picture of me, for good measure, because a) I'm usually behind the camera, and b) to show off the awesome necklace from Beirut given to me from my father-in-law.

December in SoCal does not look like wintertime...more like fall.  Beautiful, though!  

And, finally, a picture of little man, playing with the gift his sister picked out for him.  Thank you $1 Target section!

Christmas 2014 is one we will cherish, and although we will not always stay exclusively home for the holidays each year, we look forward to the new memories and traditions we have created as a family and will build upon for years to come.