Chihuly Glass Museam

We spent the afternoon at the Chihuly Glass Museam in Tacoma. It was a beautiful crisp day. We enjoyed watching a demo on how to blow glass. It was neat because the boys are studying him in art this year at school.

Sledding 911

I love skiing and I love roller coasters, why don't I love sledding?
I was the chicken of the group, but we had a great time sledding Carmichael Hill, in Richland, like we always did as kids. It was fun to take our kids and reminisce.
Luckily we didn't make a trip to the ER, but others there did, including our friend's little boy, Luke, who got 7 staples in his head!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We celebrated Christmas in Richland, with the entire Hoyle family. We went the weekend before Christmas and helped Brian and Jessica buy a new house in Pasco. The roads were good for us, we went between storms. We weren't sure if the Hatch's and Jeff (who flew in from San Antonio on Christmas Eve) would make it, but they did, seven hours later. I like this picture, because I think it makes Paige look like she's doing a dance, maybe a hula!

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads."

Bradley got just what he asked for, chocolate donuts in his stocking, and he couldn't have been happier (he wised up from last year when he asked for a burrito).

Tyson and Jeff looking at a new video game.

Kate was happy with everything...dress up clothes, Littlest Pet Shop, a hair and make-up set, a doll, and a huge container of hair do-dads.

The kids got to go sledding twice, we visited with the Stanfields, and ate a lot of great food, including lots of smoothies from our new Vitamix blender, thanks Mom and Dad!

Snow Day...

I mean, snow week. The last week of school before winter break was delayed the first three days and then cancelled the last two. It was very cold, but sunny. The kids were in heaven, thank goodness I had all my Christmas shopping done! We even had church cancelled two weeks in a row. We had planned to go to Utah, but the roads were bad, we decided not to chance it.

The Bumbo Seat

I can sit at 7 weeks old!

This is a new invention since Kate was a baby, and wow, it's pretty cool. Although I still can't leave her there with Kate around. It's fun to see her sit up like a big girl, yet I don't want her to grow up too fast.

Paige's Blessing Day - November 30, 2008

Holiday Festivities 2008

Maple Valley Community Creche Exhibit

Singing along at Renton Clam Lights after the boat parade.Kate and Megan dancing and singing with Grandpa. Riding on the train at the Maple Valley Holiday Festival.
Kate enthralled by Santa (Father Christmas).
Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
This is my personal favorite holiday display. There are 500,000 lights!
It was a beautiful night, we didn't even need coats.

Kate loved the snow princess at Snowflake Lane in Bellevue.
We have had lots of cousin bonding time over the past few weeks.

Paige still sleeps alot, but she did perk right up when the drummers came by during their street parade on Snowflake Lane.

We've had a lot of fun enjoying the areas' many festivitites (all free of charge) by night while putting new molding throught the downstairs of our house by day (thanks Dad!). It's been a busy week and a half!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my sister Michelle's house in Maple Valley. I spent the weekend helping my brother Brian and his wife Jessica scrapbook their wedding, it turned out beautiful, I wish it were mine. For the first time in my life, I didn't go shopping on Black Friday. I take that back, we did go to the Supermall that night as a family. I just didn't get up at 4am to go all over town getting the 'deals'.

Snooze!

There a few types of people out there when it comes to waking up in the morning. There are alarm clock folks, and those who just wake up on their own. Well, I certainly don't wake up on my own (though it's usually one of the kids, not an alarm clock). With those that use alarms, some people just pop right up at the first sound, or there are the snoozers. I try really hard to be just a 'one time snoozer', but I certainly fall into the trap of hitting it more than once. In fact, my college roommate Becky, will attest she threw things at me more than once to get me out of bed so I would stop the incessent snoozing. I still use an alarm clock on Sundays to make sure I get up on time. This past Sunday I did hit snooze a few times. Then Monday morning when I woke up, I tried to hit snooze button and then realized it was Paige waking me up, couldn't snooze her!

Priceless...

A note from Bradley that I received a few Sundays ago.
Just one of those rare priceless notes that I didn't want to get thrown by the wayside, but forever preserved so that I can show it to him during those fun teenage years that lie ahead.

(The back just had the date, just incase anyone was wondering.) What a sweetie Bradley can be.

Barack Obama for President

It was historical moment in America last night as the first African American was elected President of the United States. As a family we watched the results in anticipation. He was not our choice because of his values that differ from ours as well as his ideas on taxes, health care, abortion etc. We were originally voting for Mitt Romney, but he lost to John McCain. All in all it is a tough time for the Republican party due to an unpopular current Republican President (George Bush). Unfortunately, we live in a predominately Democratic state so our vote didn't count for much. It will be interesting to see how the presidential change will affect our country in this time of war and economic strife.

Tyson for Historian

The Meridian Elementary School election was much more exciting for our family. Our candidate won his race! There were 16 students, 4th-6th grade running for historian. Tyson was voted by the 2nd-6th graders to be one of the three school historians. Tyson spent the last week and a half campaigning. He made posters to hang at school and handed out smiley face stickers that said vote Tyson. His slogan was 'our history won't be a mystery'. His posters were green with yellow (the school colors) question marks. They looked great. He gave a speech that was recorded and shown to all of the voting grades. Congratulations on a big win Tyson, we're so proud of you!

Weighing in at 17.2 pounds

Happy Halloween!The boys thrilled with their loot, taking it upstairs to weigh it after we all cast our guesses. The kids dressed up for Trunk-or-Treat at the church on Halloween Eve.

Kate all ready to hit the neighborhood for some candy. She was all dressed up in fleece, but after raining most of the day it turned out to be a nice warm evening.

Paige's outfit says "Mommy's under my spell", it's true!

The Haddocks came back to the neighborhood to join in the festivities.

Sisters

Kate singing some primary songs to Paige while they share a blanket.

I love you Paige!

It's so cute when Kate talks to Paige and refers to her as her little sister. She can't wait for her to grow up and dance with her and play with her. For now, she'll just sing her songs and hug and kiss the heck out of her!

Kate, Kate, Kate

She is so full of one-liners I could spend all day recording them. Last week we had leftover cupcakes from the ward party. Kate said "I want crosting. You know like Crosty the Snowman."
This week she woke up and said "I need to wear a coat today because it's really cold and soggy outside." Well, in Seattle it is soggy alot, but actually we've had very little rain this month, it was really just foggy outside.
Last night I reminded her she got to wear her costume to school. I had told her the day before. I thought she would be excited and talk about what she wanted to wear. Instead, my sassy little 3 year old said "Mom, you've told me that like 5 times!"

Newborn Favorites

Since newborns grow up so quickly I wanted to record some of my favorite things about Paige that I don't want to forget.

1. The little squeaking noises she makes
2. Her little fists squeezing my finger.
3. Sleeping smiles (she gave her first real one yesterday-3 weeks old).
4. Holding her curled up on my chest.
5. When she stretches with her back arched and he feet all curled up.
6. Big yawns.

The only thing I don't love about having a newborn, is having a 3 year old girl that want to touch her CONSTANTLY. I hope she loves her that much when they're teenagers!

We feel so blessed to have Paige in our lives. She is so sweet, even though she poops and pees through her clothes constantly! It's a wonderful time...

My latest crafts

We have Super Saturday coming up in our ward. My friend Tia is in charge so we've been brainstorming and making some samples of crafts lately. It's been fun. We've made tutu's (check the Halloween pictures), padded wipes cases, Christmas stackers, and magnet boards and this little board book pictured below.
I made this for my mom to carry around in her purse. I even found an organza bag that it fit in perfectly. We found these books at the Dollar Tree, what a fun project. I'll try to post some pictures of my other projects later.

Our Soccer Stud

I haven't been to the last few games, but apparently Bradley has become quite an aggressive soccer player. The last few years he hasn't wanted anyone to watch him play, but this year he's doing great and loving it. It's fun to see him excel and enjoy what he's doing.

Bradley did comment to me that he does want to keep playing baseball though, because otherwise he would have too many soccer trophies.