Christmastime Fun

Ok, I have been on a bit of a blogging hiatus. It wasn't planned. Life just got too busy and my poor blog got put on the back burner. I will try and be better. I promise.

Here are a few highlights of our Holiday Season. 2010.

Snowflake Lane in Bellevue - We met the Kronemeyers for dinner once again at Red Robin and all the kids rocked out to the drummers. This is a must-see for our family every year. It is getting quite popular so the crowds were pretty big, but we staked out the best spot and had a great view.


We did the Issaquah Zoo Reindeer festival this year. The girls were pretty amazed that the 'real' reindeer were there. Chase just loved that he was able to walk around and wasn't strapped in his stroller.


Our annual tradition on gingerbread houses with Abi and Kelsey.


Claire's first preschool recital. If I was better, I would post a video because it was so dang cute. She is definitely our little performer. She loved the spotlight.


Growing up we always went to brunch at the Space Needle with the Drevniak Family. We haven't gone in quite some time, so we thought we would try it out again. My parents took us, Ryan Amber, and Anthony. We fortunately were there on an absolutely gorgeous Seattle winter day. We all had a great time. After brunch and visiting Santa at the top of the Needle, we rode the carousel at Westlake and then oooh'd and ahhh'd over the amazing gingerbread houses at the Westin. Thank you to the Doehne Family for taking such good care of our little man so we could enjoy this day out! :)



Christmas Eve
We hosted Christmas Eve for the Worsley Family this year. We had our usual of dungeness crab. The day started out well, and right about the time that everyone arrived at our house Claire became very sleepy. She is normally the life of the party, but she just went to lie on the couch. We tried to wake her up for dinner (mac and cheese for the kiddos) and she wouldn't budge. Not even ice cream would lure her off the couch.


She did wake up for a bit to open presents, but she definitely wasn't herself.


Colin and Cameron showing off their new pajama bottoms.


A little present time fun



Spreading the 'Magic Reindeer Food' so the Reindeer have a visual of our house, and a treat when they stop.


Leaving treats for Santa and Reindeer



Christmas morning wasn't much better. We initially thought that Claire was ok, but RIGHT after she opened her presents she started to throw up. So sad... not a fun way to spend Christmas. We called my parents and luckily everyone was willing and able to postpone Christmas for one day in hopes that everyone would be healthy the next day.

Atleast she got to open some before the illness really set in.


Yay! Boy Toys!!


Stocking Time


Poor Claire


Christmas Day - one day late
We went to my parents house for Christmas dinner. We had yummy prime rib like usual and had a great time hanging out.

Our usual family picture in front of the tree


The silly one




**swooon** Flynn Ryder





And, it doesn't end there. A week later, we celebrated AGAIN with my extended family. It was fun to catch up with relatives that we really don't see that often, even though we don't live all that far away.

The two older cousins who only wanted their two front teeth for Christmas. (the best picture we could get of them)


Cutie Baby Gavin


The bigger kids


The little kids

Happy Holiday's From the Worsley Family

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Happy Thanksgiving!

The day started out with getting out of bed to see the perfect snow falling to make snowmen. So we all got bundled up *again* and Colin made the girls each a HUGE snowman. Go, Colin, Go! What a smart man.







little helpers


half-way there


all done - apparently that wore the girls out.


That afternoon we headed down the street to the Kronemeyer's for Thanksgiving dinner.


Chase and Parker taking turns pushing each other around
















We never seem to get a family picture on Thanksgiving, and this year was no different. Oh well.

SNOW?!?!

It had been almost two years since we had any snow in our yard to play in. When the forecast called for snow - kids in our house got VEEERRY excited. It did not disappoint. We had 4 days of good snow play time. I was ready for it to melt away. Getting three kids bundled up and undressed 3 times a day is pretty exhausting. Regen thought it was great that school was canceled for 2 days to make an extra long Thanksgiving break. I think I burst her bubble when I told her that she had to make them up in the summer. Leave it to mom to ruin the fun! ;)

Guinness is definitely a snow dog. He loves it! He acts like a puppy when he gets to play in the snow. It is pretty cute.




Colin took the day off of work, so we made cookies and hot chocolate.

Regen and Mom go to Cali....

Regen and I planned a special trip for just the two of us. She had a hard time adjusting to 1st grade, so we thought a little one on one time may help. We had so much fun in Monterey visiting the Hovey Family. It was a beautiful weekend catching up with friends and playing in sunny CA.

Our first stop was at the Monarch Butterfly Preserve at Natural Arches State Park in Santa Cruz. We all know how much Regen LOVES butterflies and when the nice man sitting next to us on our flight down told us about this Regen's eyes just lit up and I knew we had to go see it. It definitely didn't disappoint. It felt as though we were in this magical fairy garden (can you tell I have girls?) There were literally thousands of butterflies flying all around us.


Walking down to the butterflies. They were in a eucalyptus grove, so it smelled wonderful too.


Monarch Butterflies everywhere


Those are big 'clumps' of butterflies


The kids found a nice viewing spot


I am pretty sure Regen could have waited for hours for one to land on her.



Next, we walked ACROSS the street at played in the sand and water for the rest of the afternoon. Gotta love California.












The next day we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Another must-see for Regen.



Regen's favorite exhibit was touching the rays. That girl doesn't have a whole lot of fear of animals - except raccoons.




They have a pretty impressive jellyfish exhibit



The aquarium teaches kids about conservation and ways to keep the Earth clean and healthy. Here is Regen's suggestion: "We clean garbage up"



What a view


Having fun watching the waves crash


Waiting for the waves to crash over them in the glass tube



After playing at the aquarium, we took a walk and got ice-cream at Ghirardell's and did a little tourist shopping. Regen really loves the beach and wanted to play in the ocean again, so we took one last walk in the sand.






MMMMmmmm - Ice Cream!!




We had such a good time and may have to do another trip next year - but I have a feeling that I will be taking two little girls with me.

On a side note - Colin did just fine with the two other kids. He took them to the zoo - here they are acting like the monkey's that they are. I think it was good for him to get a little taste of what it is like to stay at home with the little monsters all the time. Chase is pretty challenging -and at a difficult age. Now he knows why when he walks in the door at 5pm that I am ready to give him away. :)