Holiday portraits

So, it's catch up time. You should see a bunch of holiday posts coming soon!

This year I took the kids to Tacoma for the day and we got their portraits taken at Tacoma mall. They did SO much better than last year, I was really quite impressed. Jamie was such a ham for the camera. Abby was really shy at first but then I figured out that all I had to do was play peek-a-boo behind the photographer!

holiday baking

I've been busy making cookies and treats! See for yourself:





I hope I get to share some with you!

sledding! *updated with video

We had so much fun sledding today with Pat&Kristy and Lulu, this was the first time the kids have ever been sledding. We did our sledding down at the park and it worked out nice for the little kids. Chad decided to do the double diamond run, he went way up on the hill above the playground and well, see for yourself:


and here's a few more videos from the day:




Walking to the park:

Abby and Ninja Lulu:

The girls were so cute going down the hill by themselves (but boy were they heavy to lug back up!)
thankfully Jamie could bring his own sled back up:
Pat's turn!
My turn!!
Getting a nice push:
Chad was so happy to get off work at 2!
Jamie had such a good time "racing" the girls (he usually won and he'd be like "I won, I won!"), get ready, get set, go!!Abby and mama:
It's starting to get a bit late, look at those rosy cheeks:
and Abby's getting a bit too cold:

Looks like we'll probably get another to go again tomorrow or this weekend, yay!

photo competitions - updated with 2 more

I decided to enter an online photo competition, I've known some other people that have entered and won a bit of cash. Your first entry is free, then each entry only $2.00. It is a bit of a popularity contest, so if you get a chance to vote, please do. Sydney's pic is also in the best smile category so you could vote for her too!

Registration is free and they don't spam. Here are the links:

http://www.competico.com/photo/la-jolla-sunset-2

http://www.competico.com/photo/a-girl-with-woody-s-hat

http://www.competico.com/photo/jamie-7


http://www.competico.com/photo/cool-dude-16

outdoor lights

Tonight Chad didn't have to work overtime so he actually got home before it was dark (yay!). He decided it would be a good night to have our first annual outdoor light hanging! The kids loved "helping" and "directing".

Testing out the ladder:

Either she's telling me where daddy is, or telling daddy where to put the lights...
A nice picture of the pink sky we had tonight:
So cute in her winter cap!
Getting out the lights for the tree:
Unpacking, and waiting...
Don't ask me what she thought she was going to do with that plug!
Okay, so we underestimated a bit how much we would need to decorate the tree and it looks a little, well, ridiculous...off to buy another strand tomorrow. We were going to put them around the window instead but Abby kept pointing up in the tree going "ite, ite" (lights)...so we gave in:
Our hero!
And here's the lights on the front of our house, Jamie picked out the color. I am really impressed how sharp this photo is considering I was not using a tripod (WTG me!)