Christmas Fun!

It's been a very busy couple of weeks, I really miss that extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Here are a few photos from our holiday fun.

Our elf, Super Bear Thomas arrived early this year.  He was here to cheer on the undefeated Falcons for their last game. 

Grandma and Grandad came to the Children's Garden Winter festival to watch Lauren in her performance and to have an early Christmas celebration with us.

Terrible picture but I loved that Blake went over to give his sister a high five before the show started.

Lauren and her bestie Ava.

 part of their dance

 waiting for candy canes from Santa

Blake and Ella, these two don't see much of each other these days but when they do it's as no time has passed.  They are always very sweet and VERY silly together.

Then we headed home for an early Christmas celebration.

Very proud Husky fan. This picture was taken five days ago and I don't think he's taken it off yet.

Lauren got a new "craft center" with all sorts of sparkles, buttons, beads and feathers...a this gift was a hit with everyone!

Big Lou trying to get in on some Christmas cookies.

Celebrate!

Blake, you came home with your first official report card and I had your parent teacher conference last week.  You are off to such a great start, your dad and I are so proud of you.  You got great marks all around and your teacher talked about how much you love to participate and how willing you are to help others in your class when you are done with your work, especially the two kids who are ESL students.  Good job buddy!  I asked you what you wanted to do to celebrate and you said you wanted dessert at home.  Here is your special cake!

licking the frosting..

LJP

Lauren you are grown up so quickly I thought I'd post a little update all about you!  You are officially three and a half now.  You are the sweetest little person.  You are very polite, using please and thank you even when you are completely in tears.  You love all things baby and art.  You are still very good at puzzles, you put them together by shape not the picture.  That, in combination with your ability to draw the most amazing grids freehand, I said to you "maybe you'll be an architect one day".  You weren't thrilled with my idea and quickly replied "no, I'm going to be a mommy".  Your babies go everywhere with us, most of them are named Lauren or baby Lauren, but you have added Georgia and Ella to your collection as well. You like school and take it very seriously.  At the Apple Festival, a celebration at school with all of the families, I thought you would sit on my lap.  Instead you took a seat in the front row with the other students, raised your hand to volunteer and you kept shushing the little boys behind you.  

You and Blake get along really well and you talk about how you miss him when he's at school. It's so funny to me to see how much of his world you pick up on, you know many sports terms, you and Blake spend most afternoons singing "What does the fox say" at the top of your lungs (better yet, now you sing the Seahawks parody "What does the hawk say" and Lauren you LOVE to say "another Hawks TD"...over and over again.). 

We love you so much - Happy 3.5 (plus a month or so!). 

The Tree(s)

Sunday morning we set out for our favorite Christmas tree farm at the base of Mt. Si.  We were feeling lucky, the weather report was for a 100% chance of rain but we stayed dry.

a man with a saw...

Here is a picture of our perfect tree.  After looking at every single tree on the farm, this is the one we picked.

little helpers

Goodbye perfect Christmas tree.  One giant gust of wind and off went our tree! Luckily no one behind us was hurt.  Chad managed to dash across three lanes of I-90 to get our smashed tree off the road (I may up his life insurance!). Lauren was shocked and Blake was hysterical..."Our tree, but that's the one I wanted" etc. And let me tell you how thrilled we all were about going to another tree farm.

Tree #2

Turkey Day

Blake's class had a Thanksgiving "Friendship Feast" last week.  It was so much fun! The kids could not be any cuter, they all made hats and collars to wear at the feast.

Did you know the pilgrims were Huskies??

Blake's turkey - the kids wrote what they were thankful for on each feather, Blake's were Lauren, Grandma, Great Grandpa Les and ME! 

the feast

Lauren's class made turkey hats - too cute! 

The Fairmont

Every year we head down to the Fairmont to check out the Christmas trees that are a part of a fundraiser for Children's Hospital.  It's a fun way to kick off the holiday season.  I also thought it would be fun to get a picture of my kids with all of the decorations.  However, my daughter had other ideas.  

This is how Lauren posed for every single picture (at best).  

I finally got her to smile with the promise of hot cocoa.  Or was it the threat of no hot cocoa??

happiness

 The speech prior to the tree lighting wasn't very interesting...

Pineblock Derby

Chad and Blake are doing Y Guides this year.  They've had quite a few fun events this fall, but the pineblock derby was definitely a highlight. Chad flew home from a week long business trip in time for the big race(s). Their car performed well and they won an award for the most patriotic car.

The Seahawks

Today was Blake's last flag football game of the season.  He  really improved this year, although "the Seahawks" have yet to win a game.  So far in life Blake has always had a very happy go lucky attitude, congratulating every winner even if he didn't have a good game.  This season we saw a bit of a change.  TEARS when they didn't win (okay, technically he started crying in the car after the game and when I asked if he was sad about the loss he said "it's not fair the other team got to be named the Huskies", but it's a start.)  Over all Blake has really started to get into the game which is fun to watch.

Here are a couple of pictures from the last game.  Better luck next year boys!

And....I'm back.

To say this fall has been busy would be an understatement.  I've also been dealing with one kid that has a bad haircut and the other will only give me fake smiles.  It hasn't really inspired me to take pictures!  But here are a few pictures from the last month or so.

We have "Sports Clips" to thank for the hack job...and I think Lauren is trying to channel Elvis?

Here are some pictures of Blake's class Halloween party.  Oh, did I mention I'm the class mom?  A few friends suggested I volunteer for the job, so I did.  I had no idea crafts were part of the job description.  I can throw a party in my sleep, however, I hate crafts.  To me they are messy and I usually don't like the end product.  Except for Blake and Lauren's beautiful crafts of course...  I should also mention how awesome I thought I was when I got QFC to donate pumpkins for the kids to decorate during their party.  Not sugar pumpkins. Real, giant pumpkins. Brilliant.  These lucky kindergartners got to carry home pumpkins that were half their weight.  I'm sure their moms' were super impressed. I'm learning!

  Crazy pic - Blake's teacher, Mrs. Edwins, is fantastic and she really loves these kids.

I flew home from the class party in time to host our annual Halloween party.  I didn't get nearly enough pictures but everyone had a great time and the weather even cooperated!

 princess love

 practicing their sorority pose

 When little girls dress alike it's cute, right?  Same for big girls? This was the second time in as many days we showed up at the same place in the same outfit.  Al, you have good taste :)