Wordless Wednesday ~ Who Needs Expensive Toys When the Box is So Entertaining

Merry Christmas 2011

This year we headed out of town to spend Christmas with Jon's family.  The kids were so excited to see their cousins and to be a part of the Christmas play at Grandma's church.  As you can see from the photos the three of them were sheep.  They really enjoyed being a part of the Christmas Story and the only disappointment was that K did not get to Baaaa in the play.  He has been practicing his Baaa for weeks in advance. 

We all had a great time with Appetizers on Christmas Eve night at Aunt Lori and Uncle Chris's house.  The adults all visited and ate while the kids watched the movie Polar Express.  Then as the night got late, we checked where Santa was located and when we discovered he was in the US we decided it was time to head back to Grandma and Grandpa's house to get the cookies and milk out and get to bed.  E was frantic about getting home in time and K kept telling her that he saw Rudolph in the sky.

The kids finally settled into bed, and when Jon and I decided it was time to get to bed ourselves, we checked for Santa one more time and we discovered that he had arrived in the very city we were located so we jumped into bed and went to sleep. 
The next morning we were jolted awake by three crazy excited kids.  It was 6:45 AM but we do owe a lot to Grandma Carol because they were up at 3 AM, then 3:30 AM, and then 6 AM.  She finally unleashed them on us at 6:45 AM.  A was still sound asleep however so she needed to be awoken.  She did not seem to mind.

After Santa gifts, and Mom and Dad gifts, the kids played and played and played all morning.  Then went the cousins arrived, we had gift session number 2.  As always, it is fun to watch the kids get so excited about gifts and Christmas.  We had such a great time visiting and celebrating with Jon's family this year. 

We headed back home yesterday and once we were unpacked, we headed over to the ski hill to put our season passes to good use.  The kids did awesome and we are so excited about going skiing this season.  We all collapsed into bed last night and fell fast asleep with full bellies and happy thoughts.  This week will fly by but we  are all enjoying some time together and it was a Very Merry Christmas! 

A Night With Cinderella

Around this time of year, we have started a new tradition where every year or every few years, we head to the city and have a fantastic evening with my parents, brother, Jane, and of course all of us. 

Last night we went to a fancy dinner out and then headed over to see Cinderella.  It was fantastic and I am truly becoming a lover of theater.  I was not sure what to expect with Cinderella but it was both funny and magical.  The kids have started to like going to the Theater as well and it is always fun to go to a show and watch their reactions. 
The first year we went, we saw The Sound of Music, the second year was Joseph and the Amazing Techno Color Dream Coat, and now we can add Cinderella to our list of Holiday shows. 
A fantastic evening with some of our fabulous family.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for such a special night out.  We love you. 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Please Dexter won't you be my friend?

The Cub Scouts Went To NYC

This past weekend, Jon took K's cub scout troop to his work to teach them about airplanes.  I was lucky enough to tag along as a chaperon that day and boy did we all enjoy ourselves.  Jon lined it up so all of the boys could have a chance to fly the airplanes with the simulator.  I even sat in the captains chair and flew a little.  It was neat to go inside of the simulator and then it was as equally neat to watch the simulator from the outside move around as the groups each took turns flying the airplane. 

It was fun to for K and I to learn and experience what Jon does for his job.  Jon had a great time showing it all off to the cub scouts and some of their Dad's who tagged along.

I have much respect for Jon and what he does everyday.  It takes brains and guts to fly big planes and Jon makes us all proud. 
All the Cub Scouts were so well behaved and excited to experience flying the airplane.  We all flew out of New York and then back into JFK.  We helped take off and land the airplane and along the way there were different emergencies that arose and we saw how the pilots are supposed to deal with them. 

Kendrick was sure proud of his Dad that day and everyone really enjoyed the field trip.  Thanks Babe for a fun afternoon! 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Santa Came to the Neighborhood

A Thoughtful Gift

Our friends and neighbors, who love dogs and have one of their own, Gus, took care of Gracie for us while we were in Seattle for Grandma Mary's retirement party.  They were such good puppy sitters and gave us updates all the time.  It was awesome.  The other night, they gave Gracie a Christmas present.  It was the most adorable ornament for our tree.

We sure love it and this ornament will be treasured for years to come.  What a precious and thoughtful gift to our sweet puppy.  Thank you C family for being so kind.

Sparkle Updated

This morning we woke up to this...

Sparkle is zip lining from the top of the tree to the fire place hearth.  Crazy little Elf!  The kids went crazy, especially when they found out that Jon and I had nothing to do with the zip line.  We have already had requests from our friends with Elves to have Sparkle show their Elves tonight at the North Pole how to build a Zip Line.  We sure love our little Elf Sparkle!

Sparkle Is Back

Sparkle showed up at our house again right after Thanksgiving.  It is so fun to see how excited the kids get when he arrives.  He really does become the topic of conversation in our house for most of the Holiday season.  He has already been many places in our house this past week.
This year the kids drew him pictures and made bead jewelry to send back to the North Pole with Sparkle.  They were thrilled when the next day, Sparkle was wearing his wreath they made him and the letters were gone. 

One night he moved while the kids were watching TV and boy was their major excitement over him moving when they were still awake. 
We are so grateful that we get to have Sparkle in our lives.  He truly does bring so much anticipation and excitement to our Holiday Season.  The first thing A, E, K do in the morning is find Sparkle, that's even before they eat their advent chocolate for the day. 
What a wonderful time of the year! 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Daisys are Cute

Wordless Wednesday-Hanging with Gramps in Seattle

Thanksgiving Weekend 2011

This year for Thanksgiving, we stayed home and went over to Grandma and Grandpa Amiot's house.  We were blessed to have Grandma and Grandpa Erickson with us too.  The kids were in heaven with both sets of Grandparents around to spoil them. 

Grandma Mary's friends Becky and Monica came from Tennessee as well so we had a full house.  As usual, Grandma Mary's cooking was outstanding and it was a beautiful day here so overall it was a fun and relaxing day for all.  We took Gracie for a walk down in the woods and she loved it.  She was running around like crazy; jumping in the water and racing after the kids. 

Friday, Grandma Carol and I did a little shopping with Grandma Mary and her friends.  It was a fun morning and nice to spend some quality time together. 

Saturday, we headed to a play at a local theater and it was fun to see.  It was just what I needed to get in the mood for Christmas with it ending with Silent Night.  The kids enjoyed the day and then we hosted everyone at our house for some more good food, music, games and fun. 

Sunday we headed to church to kick off the Advent season.  It was nice to teach the kids about Advent and make plans for how we are going to celebrate the season and help others who are in need. 
Overall it was a glorious Holiday weekend and some much needed relaxation time.  We may be limited to how much we can decorate the house this year for the Holidays due to Gracie Mae and her chewing habits but I am positive that regardless, we are in for a very magical and merry holiday season.  God Bless.

Our Surprise Trip to Seattle

Last weekend, we all headed out to Seattle to surprise Grandma Mary for her retirement.  This was in the plans for months and such a hard secret to keep from Grandma who we see or talk to everyday.  I am really proud of the kids because they knew about this surprise for over a month and never said a word to Grandma about it. 

We spent the day in Seattle enjoying the sites, going to the top of the Space Needle, the fish market and hanging out at the hotel swimming and chilling out.  It was fun.  Friday afternoon we checked into our rooms at the Grand Hyatt downtown and the kids were thrilled.  From our room we had the perfect view of the Space Needle.

Grandma and Grandpa stayed in the Presidential Suite so we got to check that out.  It was fancy and the biggest hit was the electric toilets with seat warmers and butt washers.
That evening we got all dressed up and headed over to another hotel were the big event was happening.  We were stowed away in the "green room" until it was time to go out on stage with Grandma Mary. 

When  it was time K ran out out in front of all of us and gave Grandma a big hug.  The girls carried out bouquets to give to her and the rest of us followed behind.  She was very surprised and had no idea that we were going to be there to help her celebrate.  It was AWESOME. 

We really enjoyed meeting so many of the people my mom has worked with these past 20 plus years.  They all claimed they are going to miss her so much next year and they begged her to stay.  It was very sweet.  However, she has made her mind up that it is time to be done and we could not be more thrilled for her. 

Now that both Grandma and Grandpa are retired it will be fun to watch them enjoy life a leisurly pace.  They both have worked so hard to provide for all of us that we could not be more thrilled about their future.

They have lots of trips planned and some that even include all of us.  Cheers to Grandma Mary on her retirement!  We are so proud and happy for her. 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Grandma Carol & the American Girl Clothes She Made

Happy Retirement Grandma Mary

The Above Video we sent in to Grandma's friends at their request for a special video on Grandma Mary.  This was played to the entire room of her friends (220) the night we surprised her.  

Wordless Wednesday ~ Wood Working Girls