Christmas Traditions

Every year my mom and I get together to bake Christmas cookies and treats. This year since my sister recently relocated to the area we baked at her house. Heres Huey, Dewey and Louie. Or Noah, Matt and Chris frosting some sugar cookies.Here's my sister rolling lots of peanut butter balls, its so great to have her live close with her kids for the first time ever!
Katie, Kelsey and Grandma. Altogether we made, cookie blosoms, fudge, 7 layer cookies, sugar cookies and we even tired truffles this year.

Every year we get together with our friends the Tippetts to make gingerbread houses. Out of grahram crakers of course. This year our friends the Modliars also came we all had so much fun!

The twins loved decorating their own house this year. All the kids loved eating all the yummy, variety of candy.

Here's the big girls, Bridgette, Kelsey, Sydney and Alohi. They were the last ones decorating, taking their time to make their houses just right. I love our Christmas traditions. Its what makes Christmas special and creates memories.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

What do you want for Christmas?

No matter what Kelsey says she's not too old to sit on Santa's lap, but when asked what she wanted for Christmas all she could say was, "I don't know". (lame)Aubrey was very brave this year and sat right down after watching her big sister sit on a strangers lap dressed in a red suit. She told him she wanted dolly's for Christmas because you can never have enough apparently!
Sydney was a little apprehensive as you can probably tell by the look on her face, but she did it and when asked what she wanted for Chrismt she promptly responded princesses!

I almost missed Noah sitting on Santa's lap he was second in line and was finishing by the time we made it to the room. When Santa asked him what he wanted this year Noah responded, " a good Christmas." How sweet is that? I tell you since he got his tonsils out he's like a different kid...so....sweet!

Tis the Season

Saturday after Noah's Basketball Tournament we went to get our Christmas tree with my mom and sister. We tried a new place this year, we went to Alder Creek where any tree was $15.After helping my mom find a very tall tree and my sister find just the right tree we searched for ours. Noah helped Nate cut it down this year, it was harder than he thought it would be. After we were done we enjoyed free cocoa, candy canes, popcorn and doughnuts!

While the sun was shinning it was very windy and very cold. Soon the twins were popsicles and ready to go sit in the car. But they were excited about finding a tree and had been asking all week when we would get one. Noah and my nephews had such a great time running through the rows of trees we hardly saw them.

Kelsey got braces this week. Her teeth have been hurting and she's adjusting to being the only 6th grader in her whole middle school that has braces. She got red and green and they look adorable!
Once we got the tree the girls couldn't wait to decorate but we waited until the next day. The twins were definetely the most enthusiastic about the decorating. They loved the bows, ornaments, and lights, it was all so exciting!
So Noah keeps putting balls and pillows in his shirt and pretending to be Santa Claus. Walking around the house saying Ho Ho Ho and the girls sit on his lap and tell them what they want for Christmas...its hilarious!

Don't ask me why the kids didn't get in front of the tree to take this picture, at least we got them all together.

I'm trying really hard not to get overwhelmed by Christmas this year and all the extra responsibilities I seem to have. Its been hard because this last week I haven't been feeling very good, but happy moments like these help!

I went to Time Out!

This last weekend I enjoyed a wonderful two days of laughing, crying, beautiful music, and great friends! Here's part of the gang with out free tote bags that we got this year! Aren't they super cute!Since my sister has recently relocated back to the area we got to go to our first Time Out for Women. How wonderful it was to have her by my side. My stepmom, stepsister, mother-in-law and sister-in-law were also there! Gotta love the family!

One of my BFF's Carrie returned from Houston to share the weekend with us. It was soooo wonderful to be with her again. I laugh so much when were together and we all love and miss her so much!

There's Liz, Melanie and Mindy. Liz went to Seattle with me last year but it was Melanie and Mindy first event. I think they loved it because how could you not, its so great. I was so glad they all came along.

I love going to Time Out for Women. I love being with the other women and hearing such inspirational presenters that encourage me to be a better person.

Next year it is back in Seattle...so up to Seattle I will go!

Soccer Season

As soccer season comes to a close I would be remiss if I didn't honor it with a blog post. But before I do that I must talk about Noah getting his tonsils out.

It was tramatic and anyone who tells you different is lying. Constantly worrying about his eating, drinking, sleeping, everything! Recovery was almost 2 weeks but because of careful planning he only missed 4 days of school. He also got his sinus's flushed and that has really helped his breathing.

Noah is number 11 you can't see him but I love the action shot. Noah started the season excited and aggressive but quickly seemed bored and unmotivated. As a parent it can frustrating to watch.
Kelsey just took that ball away, she continued to improve and become a force to be reckoned with on the field. She loves her team and has a great coach. As a parent it can be exhilerating to watch.

After getting his tonsils out the old Noah was back. Maybe he can breath better, maybe it was nice to have a break, perhaps he was better rested? Whatever the reason I was happy!

Yes, Kelsey just kicked that ball in and scored her third goal of the season. So exciting. So proud of both of the kids.

As crazy as soccer season is, all the driving around, juggling schedules, racing off the games and practices. I really do love it and it's a lot of fun! Once its over I won't know how to spend my Saturdays?

Trillium Lake

In August we spent the weekend at Trillium Lake. Its so beautiful up there and we love the campground. Its very close to our house which was nice when we realized we'd forgotten the life jackets for the kids and drove back to get them!We tried very hard to catch some fish but had no luck. Nate's borrowing one of the twins Barbie poles in this picture. I don't usually fish I like to relax and chill in raft, plus I'm too busy helping the kids cast or untangle their fishing lines.
The girls like to wear a skirt or a dress everyday and camping was no different although I did try to get them to wear pants. One day the twins and I hiked a little on a great trail that went around the lake. We pretended we were Dora, Boots and the superbabies going on an adventure it was silly!

When we camp Daddy cooks most all our meals while I do the clean-up. I like it just fine, but I don't like all the yummy junk food he always buys to take on the trip. Because I end up eating a lot of doughnuts and chips.

We also had fun riding bikes around and playing games. We had a little trouble getting Aubrey to use the out houses, she's a little sensative to the smell!

One day my mom and step dad game up for the day to Kayak in the lake while we fished. We always love camping!

Pacific City 2010

For the second year in a row we spent a week in Pacific City in a Beachhouse. We went with my mom and Step-dad for most of the week, then Daddy came down to spend the weekend with us!Everyday when we would go to the beach Kelsey would make different things in the sand. This day it was a flower and a bee. She also made a elephant, monkey, and a penquin.
One night Kelsey watched the kids so Nate and I could enjoy a romantic sunset. Luckily the sky cooperated to create this breathtaking view, it was beautiful.

Noah's favorite was going on the boogie board. It never mattered what the weather was he was in the water. We also spent a lot of time riding bikes on the great bike paths and we played lots if games at the house.

Some days were sunny and warm but oh so windy, others day were overcast and perfect, we even played on the beach in the rain one day. It didn't seem to matter to the kids, only Aubrey got sick of the wind by the end of the week.

I love going to the beachhouse, I get to take a break from my usual chores and relax. My moms there so I go for long runs on the beach in the morning, take naps in the afternoon and play with the kids in between. It doesn't get much better than that!