Superbowl party

In Jamie's words: "This was one of the bests days of my life."
I'll admit: It was pretty awesome.

Lots of hugging going on.

Tristan and "Keffin"

Jamie's face should just about say it all.

Victory!

Here are some pics and videos from the victory parade that the kids and I attended yesterday.  It was estimated that nearly 700,000 people attended.  That number is hard to imagine but let me tell you what that meant for us:

I tried to catch the 8:45 ferry from Bremerton to Seattle.  My plan was to park in the garage right next to the ferry and walk on.  However, once I got within a mile of the ferry, all traffic was backed-up and many people in Seahawks attire were walking AWAY from the ferry.  I was puzzled until my friend called and told me that they were turning away walk-on passengers as they already had enough to fill up the next THREE ferries (8:45, 9:45, and 11:10 - parade was supposed to start at 11:00).  I knew from listening to the radio that traffic was backed up around Seattle in every direction for hours. So, I headed for Bainbridge knowing that their ferries were significantly larger than Bremerton and ran more often with a shorter trip.  However, traffic getting onto Bainbridge Island was backed up for over 10 miles all the way into Poulsbo.  But, I wasn't going to give up until I knew for sure that we couldn't make it.  Once onto the island, traffic sped up a bit and I took backroads all the way into the downtown.  My friend called again and said that she had called the ferry and they told her they were full for walk-ons for the next ferry but that we could drive-on as apparently no one was attempting that.  I thought it was crazy (wasn't it supposed to be gridlocked in Seattle?) but since I knew it was our only hope of ever getting there on time, I took it and made it onto the 10:25 Bainbridge ferry with only minutes to spare (remember that I had left Bremerton at 8:45 - normally only a 45 minute drive).  Once in Seattle I realized that with 4th avenue completely blocked, the streets down by the ferry were clear of traffic and I easily found a parking garage that was only 3 blocks from the parade.  We got up to 4th Avenue and Spring St at about 11:15.

I held this boy up for hours and my arms are burning today!

Jamie was SO happy!

It was below freezing.

The players rode in the back of Duck vehicles and military trucks.

Russell Wilson!!

We were opposite the library - I was jealous of the people in there watching .

The parade started really late because the Seahawks got stuck in traffic (go figure).  I held up Tristan waiting and waiting for over an hour, listening to him say "I see nofing (nothing)" over and over!  I had to get out toe warmers for everyone - Jamie and Tristan used them for their hands in their pockets, Abby had them in her pockets and her shoes.  When the parade was over, Tristan couldn't walk because his feet were so frozen (mine were too but I'm used to that!).  We went out to lunch at Specialty's cafe and bakery and thawed out with some soup and hot cocoa.  On the way home we were able to make it onto the next ferry with our car but the entire ferry terminal (and surrounding it) was filled with people trying to get home, so I was glad I had drove across even though it cost a bit more.

Videos:

A look around:

The first player to come through was Lynch throwing skittles from atop a Duck (at first you can't see much because I'm pointing the camera through the people in front of me but I switched as the parade moved forward - my best view was as they went by):

Each section had their own truck (Quarterbacks, Defensive Line, etc.). Pete Carroll was a in car with his wife leading the Seahawks chant (didn't get that):

Houston trip

On January 16th I took Abby and Tristan to visit Carrie, Jason, Sydney and Makenzie.  The kids were so excited - Abby was going to be able to go to Sydney's birthday party, and Tristan was just happy to go on the airplane. ("flo").  In fact, for two whole days he asked when we were going to fly home.  I thought maybe he didn't like being there but then I figured out that he just wanted another airplane ride...

That first night we just ate dinner then put the kids to bed.  I had to move Tristan out of Kenzie's room after they wouldn't go to sleep before 10pm (it was after all, only 8pm for Tristan).  The next day we went to the gym in the morning then met Sydney at her school lunch. Carrie checked her out of school then and we went shopping for her slumber party that night.  There were 12 kids in all, and 3 adults.  We survived.  The next day after all the kids left, we pretty much just chilled out...and worried about jumping out of a plane the next day!

On Sunday morning, Carrie and I went skydiving.  We did a tandem jump from 14,000 feet with approx. 60 seconds of free fall.  It was amazing!

Meanwhile, Jason was back at home smoking ribs for dinner - they were also amazing!!

We watched the Seahawks game and since Tristan wouldn't wear his jersey - Carrie teased him and put it on herself.

On Monday, it was a holiday so we took 2 cars and all went to the Houston zoo for a few hours.  The kids had a great time and it was beautiful weather.

The little ones throw pennies in the fountain while the big girls buy a souvenir.

Then the little ones got to go on train ride - Tristan was ecstatic!! (and can you tell Carrie is too?)

Later that day it was dinner at Smashburger!

And a quick chocolate sheet cake for Sydney's real birthday.

Too soon to say goodbye :(  Can't wait to see everyone this summer!

Happy New Year!

I promise a blog post soon!

Christmas trees and gingerbread houses

Since we waited til mom&dad were back from texas to get our tree, it was already the 2nd week of December. We decided to try out another tree farm that we hadn't been to before after hearing that they were both open during the week and that all their trees were only $20. Well, it became abundantly clear why all their trees were only $20. I'm not too picky when it comes to Christmas trees, but almost every one had tons of brown needles all throughout the middle of the tree. We finally found one that wasn't too bad (or at least we could hide the bad side against the wall), so we grabbed it. However, mom and dad couldn't find one that they liked so they ended up going somewhere else (I think they actually got a free tree from my aunt Pet). Maybe it's just something about living in the Evergreen state that makes us not want to have pay an arm and a leg for an evergreen tree!

Cutting down the tree is tough work!

Jamie cuts

While the little watch!

Gingerbread house

The gingerbread house kits from Costco are amazing - they already come assembled! Enough said - enjoy the pictures...