Christmas is always hectic. It doesn’t matter if you are the most organized person in the world, or someone who flies by the seat of their pants. Christmas is when something changes plans last minute and you have to adjust. Be it a sniffle that means a covid discussion, a snowstorm that creates havoc on the roads, or a turkey that bakes far to quickly. The point is, Christmas is a time for adapting.
It is a time to make those last minutes adjustments so you can include that friend who has no one to spend Christmas with. It is adding a ham to your dinner plans because you have an extra few people joining you for dinner and your turkey just isn’t quite big enough. It is sipping hot cocoa with a little Forty Creek while you prepare for tomorrow. It is watching the joy on your loved one’s faces as they take in the magic of the season. It is watching that snow fall and make the evening bright.
This is our Christmas 2021
December 24, 2021: Christmas Eve
Each year we walk around Lafarge lakes and take in the beautiful free light display that Coquitlam puts on for Christmas. As we walked this Christmas Eve it began to snow, light, misting snowflakes twinkled as they fell.
Typically there is a lot of people meandering along the walk way. But this Christmas Eve we beat the rush! We found parking easily and wandered into the lighted walkways around the lake. Taking in the bright stars, the lighted swans amidst the geese, and the woodland creatures twinkling in the brush. Take a peek inside the hobbit burrow halfway around the lake while you’re at it!
If you’re cold, there’s a concession tent to warm your bones with some hot cocoa or coffee.
When you need a break or the kids start running around, stop by the activity play area. There’s a few different activities to burn off some of that youthful energy! And for those who are eager for some nostalgia this holiday season, spend a moment with a classic Light Bright cube.
Its about a 20 to 30 minutes walk around the lake along a fairly flat walkway through a lit forest, lighted formal dining table by the lake, chandeliers, starts and lighted fish jumping from the waters. Public washrooms are accessible but it does get busy!
After Lafarge we headed over to one of my sister-in law’s homes for a few drinks, some snacks with the family and some hot cocoa before bed! Riley was quite tuckered out by the end of our Chrismtas Eve but he was oh so excited for Santa to arrive!
December 25, 2021: Christmas Day
Christmas always starts with a stocking in our house! The stocking is the most fun for me at Christmas and Riley definitely thinks they’re awesome too. Santa filled his stocking with all the good little doggies could want…except a duplex and cheques!
We started our morning with a 6am walk through winter wonderland! The snow was still coming down and covered our jackets with crisp white flakes. The roads were compact already and the wind was cold but at 6am all Riley and I cared about was that the snow was here and it was going to be a white Christmas day!
We came back to my sister-in-laws and had our coffee before loading up the car and venturing out to the second sister-in-law’s home for Christmas Brunch. The roads were white and the car was cold while we drove. Then when we entered Maple Ridge, my goodness the snow had DOUBLED! It was big flakes now!
We had our brunch and a few mimosa’s and Riley and I headed out into the yard to play in the snow! And oh how he did LOVE running through the snow. He did not want to come in to join the inside festivities…there was cold wet snow flakes to catch!
That pure JOY! Can you feel it?
Music: Joy by ASHUTOSH
We spent the early afternoon with my husbands family opening our gifts, making each other cry over a few, and enjoying just being together.
Then we loaded up again, and began our drive to my mom and step-dad’s home for Christmas dinner and more Christmas festivities. Our drive over, was not the greatest. Leaving Maple Ridge and heading towards Mission was definitely some interesting snowy weather for our valley but we made it!
A patient pup for Christmas this one is not! Riley was all lined up with his toy in his mouth just waiting to dive into the fun!
The pets are never left out of the present fun! Santa really spoiled this pup this year with some Poutine treats and puzzles. Then we opened a particularly interesting shaped present to Mr. Riley. My mom and my Step-Dad had built this little mister his very own cot bed! Complete with quilt and detachable pillow!
He also unwrapped a new puzzle (Outward Hound’s Twister), and a special custom wooden ornament for the tree!
While we all unwrapped the last of Christmas under the tree. An all tuckered out Riley fell asleep on the couch. Its been a crazy hectic few days for this old pup and he still had boxing day to go!
It was off to bed for this tired boy (it was also 2am so were going to bed ourselves!).
Boxing day plans got altered again because of the weather. The roads were icy and reports for many vehicle accidents were coming in throughout the day. So we made the decision to attempt to get up to see my Grandparents on the 27th instead of Boxing day for a Christmas with them. Hopefully the roads will be cleared and sanded by then.
Our Christmas plans seem to have alterations every year. This year there were many changes, and big ones to boot, that made the season a little tougher to motor through. Our after Christmas plans got cancelled because of the highways so we had to make new plans completely. Our New Years plans got altered with the new Covid restrictions, though they are still on! And yet still, Christmas Eve, our plans were on the brink of postponements and alterations.
We are a household that “makes the best” of whatever gets thrown at us. This year, and last year, there are have been major shifts in our lives. But we found the magic at Christmas in Riley opening his stocking. We found the magic in the snow falling on Christmas day. We found the magic in connecting with family.
ASR Adventures 