The Boys went to Ballard

To the FALLS with FAMILY

It had been years since we had been out to see Snoqualmie Falls. Having company in town was the perfect excuse to get us there. Rick's sister Angie and her husband, Craig, come into town for a long weekend.
The kids gave us resistance at first, because they thought they'd rather play with their friends...but halfway into the hike they said they never wanted to leave.
The weather was phenomenal for early January.

Our little hiker with a walking stick

And our big climber, monkeying around.

We also got to go out to the Marakesh, a Moroccan restaurant downtown. We were disappointed we forgot our cameras, but it was a fun and memorable experience.

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Fun with Great Aunt Kay

Lucky for me, my Aunt Kay never had children, so she just spoils me and mine. Over flowing bubble baths... always tattoos, as many as you want, wherever you want (even if mom says no tattoos where they can't be hidden by clothes).

great treasures from countries around the world. This year were items from Africa such as bracelets, key chains, necklaces, whistles..
and a wonderful 'bag of tricks' luring all of the children. Tyson scored a pen with a secret thumb drive inside, as well as cool posters, books, and all sorts of items.

And even though Kate told her she looked old, she still helped take care of her while Rick and I went off skiing for the day.

Wow she really is a GREAT Aunt Kay. Thanks!! We love you.

Not for the Squeemish

Rick said "I took one for the team tonight." after Paige threw-up all over him! Oh the joys of sick children. We've done much laundry, carpet cleaning, medicating, holding.... Rick was later quoted saying "it actually felt pretty good at first, being warm and all."?????

Sick kids are so nice and cuddly though. The silver lining of sickness I guess.

I Still Believe

Our German Pancakes were atleast 12" high, but by the time I grabbed the camera they had fallen, but they were still delicious. No, we didn't eat first...but the kids slept in until 8am:-).

Tyson trying out the wii. When asked what he had to say about receiving it he said he was speechless.

Bradley showing off his Bakugan. When asked what he thought about getting the wii, he said "I would have screamed, but there were too many people watching."

Paige was happy with her little red purse from her stocking, until she got ahold of Kate's FurReal and wouldn't let go for me to get it out of the packaging.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 8am. That's what a new Barbie can bring I guess.

Wii had a very merry Christmas this year.

The next day we went to my parents house. I told Tyson that I still believe,because I got what I wanted for Christmas this year, a new laptop! (Thanks Mom and Dad)

The Angry Angel

One moment she's DOWN. The next moment she's UP. We just always hope she ends on an UP moment.

Shepherds abiding their flocks by night.

Joseph (Logan), Wisemen (Tyson and Christian), Mary (Chloe), baby Jesus (Crew), Shepherds (Bradley and Tyler). The 3 angels had piedered out by the end and they were never all happy at once to get a picture. But all in all, it was a fun time having enough people to act out the nativity on Christmas Eve after some soup and salad at our house.

We also had the missionaries join us for a thought and dinner.

The adults taking a moment for a picture before sorting out the miriad of costumes thrown about. And then off to their Christmas Eve duties.

Tyson on Trumpet

The whole family, including Grandma and Grandpa Hoyle, Aunt Kay, and Uncle Jeff were all able to attend Tyson's first band concert at Meridian Elementary. It was fun to listen to them, and Tyson even got to announce one of the songs.

Bradley and his friend, Alicia watching the performance.

Paige, distracted reading some ads.

Seasons Greetings

Our annual holiday celebrations. Clam lights in Renton where we sang along with professional carolers that rode by on an Argosy Cruise.

Kate, (one of the best singers in her class according to her teacher) didn't want to sing at her preschool Christmas performance because her Daddy wasn't there. She is VERY much a Daddy's girl.

We decorated a gingerbread house with friends.

We walked around the Garden d'Lights in Bellevue.

We attended a few new events this year. We watched a live nativity performance at a church in Covington. It was a cold night, but we had warm soup while we enjoyed a nice reinactment of the Savior's birth. I think we'll add it to our annual list.

One we may not was the Messiah. It was a little much for our young family. Rick and I tried to enjoy the many talents of the multistake performance, but I finally gave up and took the youngest three kids home after rounding them up from playing hide-and-go-seek through the building.

Where was Jesus born?

Creche: a small or large modeled representation or tableau of Mary, Joseph, and others around the crib of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem, as is displayed in homes or erected for exhibition in a community at Christmas season (dictionary.com).I had to look up the meaning to this word the first year we went. Now it is a family tradition for the third year. What a wonderful way to feel the true spirit of the season as a family. We enjoyed looking at the hundreds of nativities, being the nativity (pretty good picture for the first shot), visiting with old friends, and goodies of course, but most of all we enjoyed the music. There was a group playing several instruments including percussion, guitars, a picalo, and three vocalists. We listened to them perform for almost an hour. No one wanted to leave. It was peaceful and wonderful.
At the end Kate had found some fliers for the Messiah and was handing them out to people passing by. Then she told me she wanted to be a 'teller'. "Just ask me a question" So I asked her who Jesus's parents were, which she knew, then where he was born, which she didn't know. After the last song Kate came running up to me and exclaimed "Now I know where Jesus was born, on a mountain, I learned it from them!" They had just finished "Go Tell it on a Mountain"
So, we've been reading some Christmas stories including the stable this week!

Happy Thanksgiving

If you're spending too much time worrying about what you're making for Thanksgiving dinner, or Black Friday deals, don't forget what Thanksgiving is all about.... Here's Kate's version that she got from preschool yestereday.

It reminded me what I am thankful for. Happy, healthy, sweet children.

Paige Walks

She's official. We have a walking near accident on our hands at all moments. She has two big bruises on her head already. But it's cute watching her toddle around the house collecting things in her purses or stroller.

Busy Mama

Here's a few pictures of some of the projects I've been up to lately.

Thankful blocks at Super Saturday.

Gordon B. Hinckley's BE's. (The square at the top is a metal bee). A project that has been in progress for over a year.

A growth chart for the kids from Super Saturday.

An update to the kids' bathroom.

And I cleaned out and painted the boy's room. Wow, what a project and what an improvement.

And while I was at it I painted the entry and upstairs hallway. No one else would probably notice, but I love it. It's warm and clean.

And if all that in October wasn't enough I started making gift baskets. A friend of mine works for a Periodontist who gives food gift baskets to the dental offices that refer to him. I made up samples of three sizes and then took them in for his approval. Luckily, he liked what I came up with and hired me to make about 80 more! It's been a really fun project for me so far.

I love food and being creative. I thought it all came together nicely.I found a container wholesaler in Kirkland, but had to spray paint the large baskets red.

This large one would be about $150 retail. It's full of all sorts of yummy things. I'd love to eat them all!

I got everything from Costco, Sam's, Grocery Outlet, and Trader Joe's. The best part about the project is that I was paid a lump sum and I just buy everything, put them together, and keep the change. Perfect project for frugal me.