A trip to the Blossoms of Light, third annual edition!

It wouldn't be the weekend before Christmas without our annual dinner + Blossoms of Lights viewing with our friends Natalie, Jared, and their adorable girls. 

For the third annual edition we switched things up by meeting for dinner at a fun little pizza place downtown. Restaurants really aren't our forte right now. 

We try it every once in awhile, because how else will they learn?

The three pictures I have from dinner...

The lonely last piece of pizza. 

A snap of the card exchange...we love our picture, which Natalie took for us!

Let's call this one "finger puppets to the rescue". 

Next, we headed over to the Denver Botanic Gardens to see the beautiful Christmas lights. As we walked through the gardens we discussed how this display compares to the others around the city, and we all agreed this location has the most romantic, classy setting. 

We had an active snow situation... 

The fluffy snowflakes only enhanced the beauty and magical quality of our walk, but it also meant mostly cell phone pictures, and less time to capture light bokeh with the good old DSLR (audible cheer from the guys).

We still got a few though...

Sippy cups of hot cocoa to help keep them warm while we walked. 

love this picture Natalie took.

These little laser lights are always a favorite, the boys think they can catch them on the ground. 

The best part was probably when we found a little corner where the kids could get out of the wagons and run around a bit...

A little cocoa fueled run out in the snow.

This little trooper loved the lights.

Max was nodding off in the wagon as we walked to the car, a sure sign of a great family outing!

It's so fun to keep a tradition alive and tuck away another yearly installment.
We are so grateful for these dear friends, a beautiful snowy night, and lights aplenty.

I'm leaving you with my favorite version of one of my favorite Christmas carols. Any time this songs pops up on my playlist, I find myself stopping whatever I may be doing and devoting my full attention to just listening. It also stirs my selfish desire that maybe, just maybe, one of our kids will want to take up the cello...