Monica and Mom's Special Day

I planned a day of surprises for Monica and I to enjoy together. I only told her we would leave in the morning and it was going to be FUN! We started with a ride on the train to Westlake Center downtown.

Our first activity was a ride on the carousel: Next we met up with Kristine for lunch at Mod Pizza.
Then Kristine took us back to her office and gave us a tour. We checked out the view from the conference room:

And Monica tried out Kristine's desk.

Then we headed back home on the train. Monica had a grand time!

Post-Christmas Candids

Playing with her Bendaroos:

PickUp Sticks with Nanie and cousin Maria:
Playing at the park:

Beautiful Seattle:

Silliness on the Stairs:

Making Dippin' Dots with Dad:

Playing Polly Pocket Roller Coaster:

Making her first weaving project:

Still mesmerized by that dog!

Playing sleepover (again):

Xmas Day candids

What did Santa bring?

Pancakes and sausage at Great Grandma's:
Look out, Uncle Victor's gonna get you!

Mugs that could hold an entire can of soup:

Getting tired, but not too tired for cookies:

TWO tables at the Gunn's this year!

Watching a movie, snuggled in their new sleeping bags from Uncle Buck and Auntie Tina:

Car ride home:

Xmas Eve candids

Dessert time:

A hug for dad:

With Great Nana C:

And with Grandpa:

Lots of helpers to open gifts:

The many faces of Jack

Lots of Fun... being 31!

We started my birthday off with Anton heading to work at 6:30 in the morning (thank you, Kent teacher's strike) leaving me to deal with enjoy our children all day. We headed down to the mall to check out the new play area with the Martins. It was fun except for the collision between Kyle and Monica that left Mo with a bleeding tongue. But she was more freaked out than injured. Then we went shoe shopping for Monica, had lunch at the food court, and I bought the kids Ben and Jerry's for dessert (gee, who's birthday is it anyway?)

In the evening we headed back to the mall with my parents for dinner at BJ's, chosen because of their delicious skillet cookies for dessert. And then finally, the highlight: my dad and I watched the UW men's basketball team defeat ranked Texas A&M at a sold-out Hec Ed. It was awesome!!!

Cozy time

Rum-pum-pum-pum

Monica's class sang "Little Drummer Boy" in the school Christmas pageant this year. Of course this meant that we've heard nothing but "Rum-pum-pum-pum" for three weeks straight. It's enough to drive a sane person mad. But anyway, she and her class did a great job at the performance, which was Thursday night.

Waiting with her classmates beforehand:

The big show! Monica is in the front row on the right.

Visiting her classroom after the performance with her grandparents:

Haircut

Yesterday Monica gave Jack a "haircut" using the handy manny tools. It' probably the first time we've had a trim by a philips screwdriver in our house!

Old Car, New Car!

Downtown tradition part 2

At last: our turn for Santa. Jack was quite nervous (but thankfully not crying). We compromised and let him set on a step next to St. Nick instead.

Kyle and Tyler's turn!

A quick stop at the train display before dinner at an Italian restaurant.

And now back down to the train. This is the way to travel!

Happy Holidays!

Downtown tradition part 1

Every year we go downtown at Christmas time to visit Santa and have dinner. We usually go with the Martins, often coiniciding with Keri's birthday. This year we all decided to take the Light Rail to Westlake Center. I figured we suffered through the construction of this darn thing we might as well enjoy it! The kids were fascinated with the train...

Quick shot of the space needle in the distance:

Waiting patiently in line for Santa: