Christmas in Kent 2010

It was actually Christmas Eve morning. We celebrated early so we could pick up Jeff at the airport and have him home for Christmas, they kids didn't argue with that.

I made the girls bracelets. And they got costumes, etc.

The boys got watches.. Tyson got some awesome ski boots to go with his skis...

But my favorite part about Christmas was a few days prior. We went as a family to the Supermall. We split up into boys and girls and bought gifts for each other with a budget of $5 each. The kids had fun shopping and exchanging the gifts. Kate got a cute heart necklace and Paige got a teddy bear and a noman (snowman) shirt that she LOVES. Kate picked Old Navy fleeces for the boys.

We also did some secret santa gifting that was fun.

On our way to Richland we went sledding at Snoqualmie Pass. I was hesitant at the thought of bringing all the gear, getting cold, and riding the rest of the way wet, but it was a blast. Even Paige picked a sled right up at said "ride it". She loved it. I was surprised since she didn't like a lot of the theme park rides last summer.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving ended up being a two week celebration including:
A giant snowstorm and subsequent freeze lasting several days.
A visit from Great Aunt Kay, Grandma and Grandpa Hoyle, and a surprise visit by Brian, Jessica, and Zachary.
A wonderful meal at our house, my favorite food being the fresh cranberry sauce
Black Friday shopping, of course
Dancing at the Center House, Seattle Center
A Christmas Story, premiering at the 5th Avenue Theater
My first visit to the Seattle Art Museam
Annual visit to Maple Valley's Community Center light festival and Santa
And much, much more including Paige learning how to say Pepsi and copy! (coffee).
And Kate asking Santa for a white poodle that she was going to name Fluffy. When Grandma said she wasn't sure Mom would go for that, Kate quickly replied "Doesn't matter, just asked Santa!"


Paige was scared of Santa

Aunt Kate brought oragami, like she had brought to me when I was young, the kids loved it.

Goodbye Craguns

There was certainly only one good thing about this game of bowling. Rick beat all the men, I beat all the women, and Bradley beat all the kids....other than that it was our goodbye to our close friends the Craguns, that lived just 2 doors away for the last 5 years.

We bowled and then we cried again....it was really, really hard. Then they headed for the airport.

Best Wishes in Texas, we love you and miss you!

Halloween Trickery

Halloween 2010, Ward Party/Truck or Treat

It was a menagerie of costumes, but everyone was happy. Rick as himself, I mean a nerd! myself as a bumblebee, Tyson as Jack Sparrow, Bradley as an astronaut, Kate a cheerleader, and Paige a unicorn with her belly hanging out. And all I bought was a shirt from Value Village that I cut into Tyson's vest. And I made Bradley's space helmet out of paper mache (Ok, I just upcycled a paper mache pumpkin from last year so all I had to do was spray paint and cut!)
We went to our ward party, trunk or treat and an Egyptian themed carnival.
Since Halloween was on Sunday we chose not to trick-or-treat, but thought we'd be neighborly and hand out candy, which the kids enjoyed doing. The Hatch family joined us. We went to decorate brownies and discovered that Bradley and Kate were missing. Sure enough they had gone out trick or treating, Kate wearing a red and black tutu and a random t-shirt and a witch's hat, and Bradley with his astronaut costume, but a baseball helmet. It's no wonder a few neighbors asked where their parents were. They had gone to half the neighborhood and had collected quite a haul of candy, which of course was confiscated for disobeying. Their story was that they decided to just go next door, and then they just couldn't stop....(can't wait for them to be teenagers). When we asked if they had gone to their friends' house, Bradley replied "Of course not, I'm way too smart for that!" When Rick went to that friend's house to see if they'd seen him, his friend said "Man, he's so smart!" So I guess Rick and I got the trick that night....

Kids Cook-off Winner

So Tyson, with my help, entered a Kids Cook-off Contest at Red Robin where you get to make up your own burger recipe with 10 ingredients or less and the winner has their burger featured at stores nationwide. Tyson didn't win the whole contest, but managed to win for the Kent store. He got a $25 gift card and his name on two posters at our local Red Robin. His burger was call the Fajita Avocado-inator, a chicken burger on a ciabatta bun with roasted peppers and onions...So we went out at celebrated as a family. We had a great time.

Tyson for President

Tyson decided to go for it in the 6th grade year at Meridian Elementary. He ran for Student Body President. With Bradley as a diligent campaign manager they went to work.

His slogan was 'Play your cards right, I'm dynamite'. He handed out hundreds of playing cards with his name and slogan.

The voting was on election day. Tyson stayed after school for volleyball practice. Bradley came home with a forlorn face....and then gave every detail and emotion of the annoucement, and then said "HE WON!" and gave me a big hug!


We celebrated with confetti.

Tyson had promised the student body in his speech that he would color his hair school colors if he won....

Congrats Tyson, and big thanks to Bradley for all his help.

Fall Ball

Tyson's true love: baseball, so he plays it twice a year. A practice season in the fall, and a competive season with Little League in the spring.

He had a lot of friends on his team, did well fielding the ball and enjoyed the season overall.

Sixth Soccer Season!

Bradley played soccer for his 6th year! He scored a goal in the jamboree. I think his best position is midfielder, he has the energy to run the whole game and is not afraid of the ball or the other players. He is very aggressive and does well at turning the ball around. And after all these years and hundreds of pictures, I actually captured a pretty cool one, which is tough to do in soccer. Great season Bradley.

Happy Birthday Paige

Our baby is growing up! A tea party with her new two-year old proof tea set.

After the pumpkin patch till 3, then parent teacher conferences and a quick party we had to move the tea party down to a baseball game for Tyson in Tacoma!

A new fancy dress from Grandma that she promptly insisted on trying on.

A new piggy, pots and pans, color wonder...

A giant cupcake for the birthday girl.

The cupcake concoction I created in about 2 minutes....my excuse, 4th child. Sorry Paige, but some things will be to your advantage being the last...

Nothing says a two-year old party like party hats and noisemaker you blow--do they have a name???

She caught right on to those. Happy Birthday, we love you.

A Trip to the Farm

It was Paige's 2nd birthday, a what a better way to celebrate than at the farm. It was a gorgeous sunny day. We headed down to Maris Farms in Buckley. We went with Tia and her kids and met up with Michelle and many of her friends and their kids. We watched the pig races.

Went down some giant slides

Is that picturesque or what?

The kids loved the 'tractors'.

Of course there was a hayride and a corn maze. And mom's favorite part, free pizza for lunch!

And a cow ride. It was so sunny the kids couldn't pose for a picture.

Plenty to keep us busy all day long.