Christmas tree 2012

Off we went to Enebo tree farm again this year.  I thought I'd get some really great pictures this year with my new professional camera...but a professional camera with a dead battery most definitely makes me an amateur, or an idiot.  So instead I get to share with you my lovely camera pictures!

Jamie helps cut down the tree.

This was also the year I got to drive into our carport with the tree still on the roof....OOPS!

Jamie's class performance

Last month in November, Jamie's class put on a small skit for the Kindergarten class (Abby's class).  Their skit was based on a book (The Mushroom in the Rain, or something similar).  Jamie's was the mushroom, which didn't have any lines, so he was also the narrator. I came to watch and since Chad was working in Abby's class, he got to see it too.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was pretty low-key this year. Chad was working in Everett all week, so we didn't want to come back home just for the day and have Chad need to come back to Everett to work on Friday. So we hung out at the hotel all day and then went out to eat at the Crossroads Bar&Grill which we found open in Bellevue. In the morning, I went to the local QFC and got some Top Pot doughnuts and also a few fun things for us to have for lunch while watching football, or scrapbooking, or shopping on the ipad, or whatever it is we were doing. Then we all went swimming together (even me) and afterwards gave the kids naps. At that time we headed out to the restaurant, it was only 6 by the time we got there but they were closing at 7 and I think we were one of the last customers. The kids got the turkey dinner and the parents got prime rib. They tried to send us away without dessert but I protested (it was included in the price of dinner) and we were instead sent away with 5 boxes of dessert to go! On the way back to the hotel we rented Brave and then watched it as a family all together on the king bed. I think it was actually one of the nicest thanksgivings I've ever had!

Tristan gets fearless and starts jumping across the hot tub even when Chad doesn't have his arms out to catch him.  We let him sink just for a second to remind him that he CANNOT swim!

Mr. Grumpy-Pants

That's more like it!

Tristan tries to butter his own roll - he eventually just smooshes it on with his fingers.

...and then licks the knife.

Fall Family photos 2012

My favorite!

Swimming time!

Definitely the kids favorite part about the hotel. And a chance for me to try out my new camera ;)

Pretty good photo considering this backlit from the window behind him.

Abby practices her star floating.

Chubby baby legs!

My favorite pic!

Going down for a dive.

And back up!

A different perspective.

Abby is doing circles.

Abby's birthday

On Abby's birthday she came down into our bedroom and Chad and I started singing Happy Birthday to her. She walked out and slammed our door before we could even finish (she's not a morning person). Then when I got up she asked why I had covered her doorway with ribbons (streamers) and I told her it was for fun. She told that she didn't like it. Well, anyways, she had requested a stack of pancakes with a number 6 candle on them for her birthday breakfast so I made her those and that seemed to at least warm her spirits a bit! She wore her new dress I made her and we took a snack to school to share for her birthday. Her classmates and teacher each drew her a picture and they stapled them all together and sent her home with a happy birthday book! That evening we had friends and family over for pizza and cake. I went with the low-stress option this year and just ordered pizza and made box cakemix! Abby seemed to have a great time despite her grouchiness in the morning ;)