Santa Baby....

I love Christmas! I love Santa! I really love seeing my kids at Christmas when they see Santa! We accomplished our annual trip to Bellevue Square this past week so the kids could meet Santa and tell him what items topped their wish lists this year. I can't believe how well they all did!! The line was definitely not short - yet the kids seemed to enjoy all of the decorations set up in "Santa's house" and seemed to be unfazed at the amount of time it was taking to see Jolly Old St. Nick. They are all at a great age this year to have their pictures taken with Santa. Katie is just enthralled with him and was very anxious to tell him that she wanted My Little Petshop for Christmas. Aidan is past the velcro stage - where he is attached to me - and was just fine posing for the picture (he actually smiled on cue - amazing!) and telling Santa that he wanted GeoTrax. Mylie is just coming into the velcro stage and was pretty mellow about the whole experience. Katie made us giggle as she climbed off Santa's lap and exclaimed, "He sounds just like a grandpa!" Katie has always called any elderly person "a grandpa" and "a grandma". I have to admit that Santa - especially this one - definitely fit the bill!

Snow day!

This past week has been a bit crazy in the Seattle area!! We were warned of an upcoming snow storm, and practically all the school districts between Olympia and Bellingham closed on Wednesday in anticipation of snow. Yep - you read right - in anticipation! Sure enough ~ no snow ever came on Wednesday, but we actually did get a few inches on Thursday and the kids enjoyed it to the fullest!! The first time they went outside, daddy said there wasn't enough snow for a snowman, so instead they headed down the street and joined our friends for a bit of "driving" around. Aidan even got to enjoy some sledding on a snow hill that our neighbors had built. The next outing came after dark as Eric and the kids thought it was tons of fun to explore the white neighborhood and play at the park for a bit with flashlights! Needless to say, I was very happy to use Mylie as an excuse for why I couldn't go out in the cold. Thanks Mylie ~ I owe you one! :)

Christmas pictures

I was a little late on the uptake this year with our annual Christmas cards. I'm not sure how December snuck up on me, but before I knew it we were well on our way through the month and I hadn't even thought about having the kids pictures taken for our cards. After a great recommendation from my cousin Sarah, we had our photographer and our photo shoot scheduled!! I have to give the kids a big kudos for how well the pictures turned out. It was SO cold outside and we had chosen to take some pictures outside at a park. Yes ~ I do realize that we were crazy for this choice ~ but the kids were VERY good sports and we were able to get some fun pictures! We then headed inside to the the photographers house to take a few more pictures where the kids would be a little warmer and a lot more comfortable. Thanks so much to Jocelyn with Jocelyn Elin Photography for a great photo shoot!!! I think our Christmas cards just might - with any luck - be delivered before Christmas! :)

Botanical Garden and fun in the same sentence??

In the spirit of trying to find fun holiday activities for the kids, we decided take my mom up on her suggestion to visit the Bellevue Botanical Garden and check out their holiday lights. I have to admit that roaming through a bunch of plants is hardly my idea of a good time ~ especially with three little kids to watch over, so I was a bit hesitant at the idea. My expectations were blown away at what we found! The lights were beautiful ~ and instead of only the plants being decorated with lights as you might expect, they actually created plants out of lights, as well as plenty of animals including birds, alligators, turtles, spiders, etc. The kids were in heaven! We had more fun watching the kids squeal and jump up and down as they encountered one display after another. What a great family activity! Thanks mom - this time I will admit you were right. :)

Katie and Aidan

Mylie LOVED all the lights!

Mommy and Katie's date ~ the Nutcracker!

Darling Katie at the Nutcracker!

A while back, Eric and I discussed how important it is that we begin "dating" each of our kids ~ more specifically, spending time with each one of them individually. Since then, we have made an attempt to spend time with each of our kids, without the siblings, doing activities that are of special interest to them. Katie's favorite date activity with me is usually shopping for new clothes (yep - I'm totally starting her early :)), but our most recent date offered a much more exciting opportunity.

Since Katie is my little dancer, I was very excited to take her on our most recent date ~ to the Pacific Northwest Ballet performance of the Nutcracker. Of course, everything is more fun with great friends, so we joined Tracy and Mary, as well as Stacy and Mia for this fun day! We started off our day with lunch at Buca di Beppo and then off to the theater. I can't believe how well all the girls did! It does help however that Barbie has a Nutcracker movie that all of the girls own and love. :) It was so fun to watch the girls quietly whisper questions to the moms about the show, and then turn and share this information with the others as if they had known it all along. GREAT friends, cute girls and a VERY fun day!!

Mom and Katie at the show!

Cute friends!

Aidan's first fishing trip!

The day after Thanksgiving provided for some good shopping for the girls (no - we definitely did not get up for the early sales) and some fun fishing for the guys! (I wouldn't say good since all Darryl caught was a rock!) With Darryl and Austin in town ~ what else is there to do besides grab your fishing pole and head out to the river! A little history ~ for his birthday in October, Auntie Sarah gave Aidan his own fishing pole, albeit a play one with a big plastic fish on the end to reel in ~ and every time he plays with it, he talks about how he can go fishing now like Uncle Darryl and Austin. So off the boys went to Fall City to fish in the Snoqualmie river. Unfortunately, the "fish" that got a way during this trip was Aidan's little red plastic fish at the end of his fishing pole. When daddy and Uncle Darryl decided to have a casting contest, the little red fish broke free. :) Apparently this did cause quite a few tears on Aidan's part, but after a trip to the sports store, Aidan is now the proud owner of a very ugly black squiggly thing that he can use to torment mommy. UGH!

I had to put in a picture of the fish that got away!

You waited too long mommy!

I just thought this picture was so funny that I had to create a post just for it. I was getting ready to feed Mylie lunch and decided to go in and change the laundry first. Of course, like usual, I got distracted at the computer (the office is next to the laundry room). I couldn't believe how patient Mylie was being waiting for me ~ since patient is definitely not a word that I would usually use to describe my little spitfire. When I went out to feed her, this is what I found. :) Too cute!

Thanksgiving without the cooking! Yeah Baby!

When I was young, after my sisters had left the house, I have the best memories of Thanksgiving with my mom. It was just the two of us, and we would go out to eat at a restaurant and then out to a movie. I honestly don't know if my memory is of multiple years, or just one year, but I have such great memories, that I want to create a similar experience for my family. With that said, for the past two years, we have duplicated this story ~ going out to eat at a nice restaurant buffet (when I think of buffet I think of Kings Table - remember that place??!!) and then out to a movie. Since Eric and I usually host for major holidays, we were able to convince the rest of the family to join us ~ and it has been great! Last year we went to a restaurant at Redmond Town Center and then to see the movie "Enchanted" and this year we had dinner at Maggianno's Little Italy (yes, they did the typical Thanksgiving spread) and then out to see the movie "Bolt". There are rumblings that next year the family might want to go back to our traditional routes, but I am hoping that come next year, the thought of someone else doing all the cooking and cleaning will trump any desire to stay at home and do it ourselves. :)

Needless to say ~ we had a great Thanksgiving!! Joined by Patty, Darryl and their group, my mom and my Uncle John from Boise, we thoroughly enjoyed the day. I am definitely giving thanks!

Eric and Aidan at dinner ~ try getting that boy to pose!

Picture of mommy taken by Aidan

Patty and Austin

Katie and Briana ~ they have so much fun together!!

Doesn't this say typical brother??