AloooooHa

We are having a great time here in Maui. The kids LOVE the sand. I would have posted sooner, but the internet wasn't working in our room. Our trip has gone by so quickly. I can't believe we fly out Sunday morning. The airplane ride went perfectly on the way here, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the way home. Both kids are such good little travelers and perfect little vacationers. I can't wait to get home and start planning our next excursion. More pictures to come after we're home. Aloha for now. :o)

A Little Visit to Alderbrook

We love Alderbrook! The kids enjoyed a day of swimming, followed by a few S'Mores to finish the night. Can't wait to go back again for my birthday.

Nutcracker and First Slumber Party!

Nutcracker 2010 - we love taking the girls to Studio West's production in Olympia. It's a great show. Sophia and Lauren were both so excited this year - and even more excited to have Lauren spend the night with us for the first time!

Griffin was in love with Lauren's hair.

I know he wanted to sleep right next to her!

It was a lot of fun, and Lauren had a great night with Sophia in their sleeping bags in the living room. I think they are both ready for another slumber party.

Calgon, Take Me Away...

It's not just this room, either!!! If only I could find my magic wand. Then Christmas would be perfect. :o)

Tree Decorating Story

Oh yes, I forgot to include the little story about our helper, Griffin. I was busy getting the lower branches clipped and getting the needles vacuumed up and the lights on while the rest of the family was busy ignoring all of my directions to stay out of the ornaments until I was ready to help unpack them. Kyle was letting the kids get into all the breakable ornaments and all of the sudden they came across the Huskies ornaments. Sophia was so excited and pulled a few out and then Griffin found a glass ball. Well what do little boys do best with something that looks like a baseball??? He threw it across the living room to his Daddy. Unfortunately it hit the step stool first and shattered! I rushed over to clean up the glass and was about to basically say "I told you so" to Kyle, but realized I didn't need to. It was his favorite Rose Bowl ornament... I figured that would help him remember that sometimes he should listen to the Mommy also. :o)

Oh Christmas Tree

And what a big one it is this year! Wow. I'm glad Nick and Kora were at the tree farm with us to help Kyle get it cut down and loaded up.

Griffin loved helping with the decorations.

Sophia did the lower half of the tree practically

by herself and did a great job!

The kids went up on the ladder much higher

than Daddy - he's not really one for heights. :o)

It is probably the prettiest tree we've had. But, we

will probably try to scale it back next year to save our backs, though!

Happy Birthday, Papa Dan!

I can't believe that my Dad turned 60 this year! I guess that means I'm getting pretty old, too! The kids helped me make a cake. Sophia is very good at cracking eggs. Griffin helped pour in water and oil. They both helped clean the beaters!

We just made a small cake (dark chocolate), so I had leftover batter for mini cupcakes that I topped with white frosting and sprinkled with candy cane.

Happy Birthday, Dad. We love you very much.

Choo Choo!

Alderbrook & Santa

We stayed the night at Alderbrook on the Hood Canal this weekend. We love it there so much! The kids both had a great time and so did Kyle and I. It was so festive and everything was lit up and decorated so adorable. We had a Christmas tree in our cottage and it was all so perfect. Sophia really had a lot to tell Santa this year. Griffin payed absolutely no attention to him. He was too preoccupied with the electric train circling the giant mantle of the fireplace.

Our pretty girl!

Santa is Sophia's new best friend.

This was the second time she went to talk to him!

The kids both loved swimming.

Griffin loved the top step in the hot tub (which was perfect for me, as I'm not much of a cold water person.)

Sophia swam and swam. She's such a little fish!

I need to get her into swim lessons. I know she would love it!

So tired by the end of the adventure.

They both fell asleep on the way home.

A perfect end to a perfect weekend!

I Still Can't Believe It!!

Sophia has been going back and forth on wanting to cut her hair short ("like Piper's"). I asked her again on Tuesday and she still said she wanted to cut it short, so I took her to Jack & Jill's and we had it chopped off! It looks amazingly cute. I just keep staring at her. She looks about 2 years older now. Most importantly, though, she loves it! So I'm glad I got the courage to do it.

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all. We had a lovely time with the Hussey family at Kora and Nick's house. We tried to get a few family pictures this year, which was fun and challenging! Sophia is and always has been a perfect little poser, but Griffin is not. He is too busy to sit still for pictures! Abigail (pictured below) is like her big cousin Sophia - a pretty good little model! She is so cute!

Griffin was a little nervous about the game Uncle Richie was playing with his baby cousin Abby... He had to remind her that she was upside down!

And finally the feast! Ours was delicious - Sophia's was interesting. She had a piece of chocolate pudding pie, cheese and ritz crackers, the little peas out of the center of one sugar snap pea, and a sucker from Uncle Richie. Awesome.

Motorcycle Ride

Griffin had his first motorcycle ride with Uncle Joe today. He luuved it!