Christmas Eve

This morning the big kids all slept in a bit. Ollie was up at his usual time and we quietly made our way to the gathering area and lit the wood stove using the glowing embers still burning slowly from our late night playing games. I tried to keep everyone as quiet as possible so that everyone else could catch a few more winks of sleep. 

We tip-toed around the barn as it was warmed by the wood stove and took in the views from the windows. There is a certain amount of peace that comes from being surrounded by beautiful, snow-capped mountains. 

After breakfast my girl and I went out to explore. The weather was cooler than previous days and the snow was softly falling.

Later in the afternoon we watched our hosts uncover the most beautiful sleigh from the windows in the loft. Ollie stood on the window sill for a very long time, looking out in wonder at the white world below.

The combination of the red sleigh and the silently falling snow was magical. We were all looking forward to riding in the sleigh pulled by Gerards famous Friesien horses. 

A few of us went out to watch as they hitched up the horses and got ready to go.

The littles enjoyed a ride with Gramma and Grampa to kick it off.

We jumped on next and the littles sang "Jingle Bells" as the horses pulled with ease.

My Gramma was so excited to sit tall in the front seat and drive the team. She always jumps at the opportunity for a new adventure.

The littles had been looking forward to this for quite a while and loved every moment!

Camilla enjoyed a ride up front and got a small chance to drive the horses as well. They were beautiful animals and we all had so much fun watching them pull the sleigh in step.

Ollie didn't want to get out when we were finished. He would have stayed in the sleigh all day long!

It was such a neat opportunity and really helped add some magic to Christmas! I've always dreamed of a sleigh ride in the snow.

With the tree all decorated and presents placed beneath, we were ready for our Christmas dinner.

We even managed to have amazing centerpieces thanks to some talented people putting their heads together.

Everything looked so incredible! The scene was set. 

My mom worked hard on a turkey and a ham and the rest of us contributed the side dishes. Our hosts joined us for a delicious dinner and visit.

The early evening brought the traditional opening of Christmas jammies.

I awkwardly tried to snap a good picture of them in the dimly lit barn loft. 

After we had all opened and put on our jammies we sat around the wood stove and sang carols. Our family created our very own version of the "12 days of Christmas" and taught everyone our new words.

We were thrilled when we heard Santa ringing his bell at the bottom of the stairs! The littles gathered around excitedly to sit on his knee and visit.

He took time with each of them and gave them a treat bag at the end of his visit.

Finley couldn't wait to get on his knee and kept turning around the be lifted up. 

It was so fun to watch them!

After Santa's departure we tucked the littles into bed one by one. They could hardly sleep they were so excited for what the next morning would hold! After an evening of cards and games I pushed open their creaky doors in to pull up covers and kiss their heads. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Tree Hunting

Last night we fell asleep to the glow of the stars outside our barn window. Mr. Stannix pulled me in close to look at the stars casting a glow on the snowy mountain backdrop. The kids slept all night and woke extra early this morning to check out the place. The wood stove was barely going when I woke with Ollie. There was a chill in the air as we wandered around the dimly lit gathering room.

 I couldn't wait for the first morning light so that I could take in the views that I missed arriving in the dark. It was so perfect, like something out of a Christmas card. 

I peered out every window in the barn and became more excited with each glimpse I got of the snow covered mountains and the pine boughs hanging heavy with snow. 

Being surrounded by family in the middle of the mountains is my happy place.

 My sister and her hubby cooked us an amazing breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs. It was delicious! We all joined in conversation around the twenty-two seat dining table. We forgot Ollie's booster, so he mooched off Grampa.

I snuck outside after breakfast to get a closer look at the surroundings.

The overnight frost added an extra sparkle to everything. Pictures really don't do justice.

 We spent the rest of the morning making snow flakes and homemade garland for our Christmas tree. Watching my Gramma and Grampa work together was a treat. Their hands were so loving. Gramma got up and smooched Grampa on her way to the snack table. There was such love and tenderness between them. They are such a wonderful example to us.

Camilla was beyond excited for this weekend, but I think the thing she looked forward to the most was sleeping in bunkbeds. She may have even signed the card for our hosts with something along the lines of how comfy the bunk beds are. This morning I caught her cleaning up hers and the boys rooms. She had lined up the shoes and made the beds and folded their jammies. It was the sweetest thing. 

 I lied Ollie down for a nap in the crib and closed the swinging doors to the hall. We all continued to visit and craft as he slept away.

 When the sun was high in the sky we made our way outside for a tree hunt. We wandered down the long, snow covered path as the sun warmed our faces. 

The littles discovered how fun it was to kick and shake the trees and get covered in snow. They did it over and over again and laughed every time. 

When Ollie's legs got cold Mike and I headed back to the barn with him. Hyrum helped saw the tree down and the boys brought it up to the loft.

Finley napped peacefully in his bottom bunk as the afternoon sun poured through his window.

All three puppies rested near the wood stove on free chairs, laps, or blankets.

It's always great to have a few extra hands to grab the baby from the crib when he wakes. He gave Auntie some pretty great snuggles.

Grampa was always popular with the pups and the littles. I'm sure he hardly got a moments rest all weekend, but he seemed to enjoy it!

All of the boys took a turn on the sleds exploring.

We were all invited out to "the shelter" behind the barn for a BBQ with their family and the other cabin dwellers. We really enjoyed visiting and the food was delicious!

I had to sneak out a little bit early with the little guys who were cold and tired. Thankfully Mr. Stannix brought me up a plate of food! We spent the rest of the night playing cards and enjoying a chinese gift exchange.

House of the Friesiens

 This morning we woke up bright and early and waved the big kids off to school for the morning. They begged to stay long enough to enjoy a bit of pyjamma day, and it worked out perfectly. We were able to pack up some last minute things before picking them up from school. After packing the van with all of our gear, Christmas gifts, and food, Gramma and Grampa treated us to lunch at Mcdonalds. We left town right on schedule and met up with my parents just outside of Cochrane. We split the kids between the vehicles. Gramma was my co-pilot and Grampa drove with Mike. The mountains are my very favorite place to be and driving through them always fills my soul. Every once in a while Finley would call out from the back seat, "Mommy? Mommy, I love you." I couldn't get over the site of the snow covered evergreens standing so tall and true on the majestic mountains.

 Joe snapped pictures out the window on my cell and actually managed to get a few awesome ones! I moved his booster to the middle of the van because he and Finley wouldn't stop throwing cars at each other. The drive from Banff to our cozy getaway was long and tiring. The roads weren't the greatest and I was following car tracks through the winding, downhill pass. I was soothed by the orange reflection of the sun setting on the side of a mountain as we drove. It was so serene and peaceful.

We were all exhausted and hungry by the time we made it to Invermere. After listening to a cranky baby for the last leg of the drive, we were all pretty happy when we finally arrived at our home away from home for the next couple of days. We booked this cozy barn at the beginning of the year on an air bnb site. We were the second last ones to arrive, and the barn was already buzzing with excitement. I could smell the woodstove as soon as I jumped out of my warm vehicle into the cold night. We unloaded all of our gear into the front end loader of a tractor and he lifted it right up to the door in the loft for us to pull inside. It saved us many trips up and down the steep stairs.

The first thing that caught my eye were the wooden clogs lined up along the walls of the barn. The whole place was spacious and well kept. The kids excitedly ran to the bedrooms to pick out their bunk beds.

Ollie found himself a toasty seat in front of the wood stove.

Everybody tried out the saddles...

And the armor from movies and performances.

I fell in love with this adorable log crib! Ollie loved it!

The bunkbeds were a huge hit with our littles! The rooms were so quaint and simple. Exactly what they were hoping for. We had a late dinner and then tucked everyone in for the night while we stayed up waiting for the last three to arrive.