December 31, 2010

New Years Eve.  We ended our year with a trip to the zoo.  Kellie, Mark and kids (minus Kendra) were in town doing the Seattle tourist thing.  They don’t make it over here very often so we had to take advantage of it when we could.  Tom had a half day at work, so after we picked him up we drove down and met up with them.  The high temperature for the day was 33.  It was COLD!!!  Even with all the walking, we never did really warm up except when going through the inside exhibits.  Despite the cold temperature, I’m glad we went and spent time with the Willms family.  Love them all!  A nice end to a great year.

L to R: Jesse, Morgan, Jenna, Marshall, Katie, Kolten (Kolten just asked Katie to marry him on Christmas eve!), Hannah, Brittney, Emmie and Brook.  We were quite the group walking around together.  :)

December 30, 2010

Grandma Judy and Grandpa Kevin were in Spokane for Christmas this year so when they came back we celebrated with them.  The girls went down on Tuesday night to spend some time with them and then we picked them up on Thursday and had our own little Christmas.  Just extending the holiday season.  :)

December 29, 2010

It snowed, and then it melted.  Before it melted it caused some havoc on the freeway and a lot of people to freak out.  It was pretty to look at from the window at work.  By the time I left it was all slush.  *sigh*

December 28, 2010

Time for the decorations to come down.

December 27, 2010

It was a sad day for me when my new Starbucks Gold card came.  My black Starbucks Reward  card that I won on the radio 2 years ago is no longer active.  No more discount off all my purchases.  :(  I’m pretty sure I was one of the very last discount cardholders.  Now I need to remember to reload this new one, so that I can save on syrups and get a free coffee every 15 drinks.  A picture devoted to my Starbucks addiction…pathetic, I know.  :)

December 26, 2010

We spent the day over at the Henry’s house watching movies, putting puzzles together and eating leftovers.

December 25, 2010

Christmas morning at Mom & Dad’s. 

December 24, 2010

The girls couldn’t wait until Christmas eve so they could wear their Christmas dresses.  They’ve been waiting and waiting.  I was excited when I bought them  because they’ll be able to wear them into Spring and Summer.  I’m all for Christmas dresses that can be worn more than once.

December 23, 2010

Time to get crackin’ on the holiday baking.  Christmas cut out cookies were first on the agenda.

December 22, 2010

Happy 3rd Birthday Emerson Grace!  We love you SO much!

December 21, 2010

The Pohl’s got Emerson Woody jammies for her birthday.  She LOVES them and wouldn’t go to bed tonight until she had them on.

December 20, 2010

We got to celebrate Christmas with the Pohl’s tonight, something we’ve never been able to do.  Such a treat!

December 19, 2010

We celebrated Emerson’s birthday today.  Her request was for a Pinkalicious party and by golly that’s what she got.

December 18, 2010

The Pohl’s got here today for what is sure to be a fun weekend.  Hannah’s class had a book published about the kids’ favorite places.  Hannah was super excited to share with Auntie Jen.

December 17, 2010

Hannah’s class had a holiday party today.  Lots of Christmas carols, cookies, root beer floats, laughs, candy canes and excitement.  I love being able to help out in her class on days like this. So fun.

Mia, Leatha and Hannah – first grade friends.

December 16, 2010

Caitlin and Joey came over so that Tom and I could do a little shopping.  When we came home we found out that Joey likes to dance and they had to show us.

December 15, 2010

Finally got our Christmas cards ordered.  I hope I can get them out before Christmas.  :)

December 14, 2010

Quiet possibly one of my favorite pictures of the year.  I love her braided piggy tails just about as much as she does.  Oh I could eat her up!

December 13, 2010

We took the girls for a drive tonight.  We went out looking for Christmas lights. We went to a neighborhood by my parents house but they weren’t at all as I remember them. We drove around for a while and then just gave up.  Next year we’ll be making a trip up to the The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach.

December 12, 2010

It’s been raining around here…a LOT.  This is the sidewalk at work.

December 11, 2010

Tonight we went to my company Christmas party.  They  had dancing, Vegas tables, a Henna tattoo table and a photo booth.  Becky and I had LOTS of fun in the photo booth.  Once we found out they  had “wigs” the fun just seemed to multiply.  I laugh just looking at them all.  I’m thinking a photo collage is in order for the many, many photos.

December 10, 2010

This picture is actually from earlier in the week.  We all went to a birthday party for Hannah’s friend from preschool.  3-2-1 Bounce was the location.  We all had fun playing on the toys.  I love that these two have become friends again after not seeing each other for a year.  They are so cute.  Every morning on their way to their classrooms, they always greet each other with a hug.  So sweet.

December 9, 2010

Working on another little project for Christmas.  Next year I need to start in March, so I don’t feel so overwhelmed with all the holiday projects. :)

December 8, 2010

I wanted to try and capture some holiday bokeh*, after reading this post online.

*Bokeh - a Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image.  Clear as mud, right?  :)

December 7, 2010

No picture today…

December 6, 2010

The girls decorated the tree tonight.  I had to laugh at Emerson.  With each and every ornament she put on the tree she proudly  exclaimed “oh my goodness!!  This is my most special ornament”. 

December 5, 2010

Tom hung the lights today.  That was the excitement for our day.

December 4, 2010

The girls got nail polish in the Advent box today.  Emerson did and excellent job doing her nails, don’t you think?

December 3, 2010

This little one was chosen to sit on the “seat of honor” today at her assembly.  We are so proud of her!

December 2, 2010

Oh no!  The Elf is back…

December 1, 2010

First item out of the Advent calendar…O’ Christmas tree, o’ Christmas tree, time to find our Christmas tree.

November 30, 2010

We put together our cute new Advent calendar tonight.  The girls are excited to start the countdown to Christmas!

November 29, 2010

I forgot to take a picture today, but thankfully Jen sent me this one.  I love this dog.  I’m thinking the Pohl’s might need to upgrade to a king size bed soon.  :)

November 28, 2010

We celebrated Dad’s 70th birthday today with a little party at Beck & Rob’s house.  Happy Birthday Dad – We Love You!!

November 27, 2010

We went down to the beach before we headed home.  The downpour started the moment we set foot on the sand.  It was a really quick trip to the beach.  :)

November 26, 2010

We made a quick trip to the beach today.  A short overnight trip to spend a little time with Rich, Leina and the boys.  We were all supposed to have Thanksgiving breakfast together, but some mechanical problems delayed their flight.  We were happy to see them, even if it was just for a short little bit.

November 25, 2010

No Thanksgiving is complete without olive-fingers!  Our neighbors Tiffany and Aubrey joined us this year.   The girls were so excited to have Aubrey there, even if she did eat a few of Emmie’s olives.  :)

November 24, 2010

This is what the kitchen looks like when my husband cooks. *sigh*  It’s a good thing he’s such a good cook, because this would get really old if there wasn’t yummy food to go along with it.  

November 23, 2010

Hannah’s very first snow day.  It wasn’t really a snow day, more like an ice day.  Our high temperature for today was 8.  I wouldn’t let the girls go out and play because it was just too cold and the snow wasn’t “play in the snow” snow. 

November 22, 2010

Due to the icy roads on Sunday night, we stayed at Nana’s house for an extra night.  Tom called in a vacation day at work, and we ventured out early in the morning.  It took us 8 hours to get home.  It was insane!  Almost 2 hours to get from Nana’s house to Jen’s house in Cheney, and 4 hours to get from Ellensburg to South Everett.  The pass was so bad, at points you could barely see right in front of the car.  Tom said it was the worst he’s ever seen it.  We managed to make it over right before they required chains. I’ve never been so happy to get home. 

November 21, 2010

We spent the day at Nana’s house.  We had a wonderful brunch with the entire gang.  All six kids and their families.  13 adults and 16 kids all in Nana’s little place. It was a wonderful day!

November 20, 2010

Jen called me a week before we went over letting me know that Disney on Ice would be there the same weekend.  We missed it when it was in Everett, so I was excited that she could get us tickets.  We surprised the girls and they LOVED it.  Emmie sat with her mouth open, in awe, almost the entire show.  It was pretty darn cute!

November 19, 2010

On our way to Spokane for the weekend...Pohl’s on Friday and Saturday and Nana’s on Sunday.  Thanks to the lack of snow on the roads we made really good time.

November 18, 2010

Emerson wanted popcorn today, really, really badly.  Who cares that it was only 10 in the morning.

November 17, 2010

After school, Hannah can usually be found at the table with her box of colored pencils and crayons.  She loves to color!

November 16, 2010

I’ve got nothing.  I almost didn’t have a picture.  Emerson eating an orange is as good as it gets.  I wished she would have looked at the camera because she was sporting some super cute piggy tails.  :)

November 15, 2010

Kira and I have been working on a little holiday project…

November 14, 2010

Hannah went to a friends birthday party today at Paradise Pony Rides.  The birthday girl requested that the ponies be dressed like unicorns, so that they were.  Hannah LOVED riding the horses.

November 13, 2010

Now that Aunt Kim is living in Idaho, we really don’t get to see her very often.  She made a trip over before her busy season at work starts so we made a quick trip down to Grandma Judy’s to have dinner with her.  The girls love their Aunt Kim.

November 12, 2010

We’ve been hit by the crud and hit hard.  Tonight Emerson was out before 6.  I laughed when she woke up, mumbled something, took her binky out and laid back down.  Apparently she was having a hard time breathing with Mo in her mouth.  Poor thing.

November 11, 2010

It’s like Christmas here at our house.  Yesterday the new washer and dryer and today Littlest Pet Shops.  Aunt Becca’s friend was cleaning out her sons toys and sent these home for Hannah.  Hannah was SO happy.