holiday lights

Every holiday season, one of our advent activities is to drive around to see the holiday lights. The kids used to like to do this in their pjs when they were younger, wrapped up with blankets and stuffed animals in the back seat of the car, but that's way too embarrasing for them now. They do still enjoy the hot cocoa and vanilla steamers we get from our corner coffee shop before we set out.

We always go through Olympic Manor. This is very small area full of mid-century modern homes in Northwest Seattle. The homes are close together, and because of the height restrictions, they are all low. Something about all this makes for an impressive display.

This one was understated, but beautifully lit from inside (one of the homes even had falling snowflakes projected on their interior wall).

 where all the neighborhood snowmen meet up-

A lot of old school decorations, so perfect for this area. That aluminum tree is the same type we had when I was a kid (and we should probably have again). So pretty!

We left thinking we really need to amp up our own outdoor display next year. We did well for a few years, then our display fell apart and we never replaced it. On the way home, we decided on a theme. We're on it for next year.