Snow, snow and more snow!!!

Church when snowed in...

We couldn't make it to our church building so we went to separate member's homes to have a mini Sacrament/Testimony meeting. It is so wonderful that we could still have church even though we couldnt' meet at our building.

Walking home from church - we felt like the early pioneers.

Our house in this winter wonderland. We are now at about 24 inches of snow! (Did I move to Utah and no one told me???)

and a very WHITE Christmas to us all!

Nathaniel went out and measured the snow on our trampoline - almost 9 inches!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Nathaniel's Band Concert

Nathaniel had his first band concert this week. He plays baritone in the 6th grade Intermediate band at Tolt.

SNOW!!!

It snowed alot while we were gone...

Nice icy roads...

Needless to say we won't be going anywhere for a little while!

Parents weekend away...

Roxanne and Kevin were very very kind and they paid for us to still go on our planned weekend away to Seattle. They even watched our kids for us while we were gone (and did some home improvements!). We were celebrating Mike's upcoming birthday (he is turing 26...).

It was cold but beautiful!

Our hotel was right on the water (Marriott - Roxanne's discount) and within walking distance of the famous Pike Place Market. We walked over there and had the most fabulous crepes for lunch and then bought fresh little donuts to take back to the hotel. We had a great time and returned home to SNOW!!!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

It was time to decorate our Christmas tree. I asked the kids if they wanted a real one this year and they told me that they liked "putting together" their Christmas tree. (All the branches are labeled different letters...)

We have lots of fun ornaments collected throughout the years.

The youngest (Bella) always gets to put the angel on the top.

Our beautiful tree!

Sad times during Christmas

I guess a blog isn't just for the good things but to share everything that goes on in our lives. Mike was laid off yesterday from the best job he ever had (he loved the people and work he was doing). Needless to say this is going to be a sad Christmas for us - luckily I already gave Santa our lists and he won't take anything back...

There really is a Santa Claus!

I have been a bad mom for all these years and not taken my kids to see Santa Claus. I have made a new resolution for them to see him every year! (Even the ones who don't believe...)

Ami's Fantabulous Solo and the Duvall Tree Lighting

Every year Duvall has a tree lighting ceremony and the Cherry Valley Elementary choir sings. Nathaniel has participated since he was in 3rd grade (he is in 6th now) and Ami is a 4th grader and it is her second year in the choir. We love to freeze our tails off to hear our children sing! Sometimes we even stay to see Santa and to see them light the tree and other times we leave early because we are just too cold! This year we had Nathaniel stay home with Bella (she has a cold already) and we just took Alexa and Ami - it was so nice, we may have to to do it again the same way next year... Anyway, Ami auditioned for a solo and got it! She practiced for days before and even mouthed to me that she was nervous but she did a fantabulous job!

Playing dress-up

Mommy got a new toy from Santa... The new flip mino camcorder which I can take everywhere! Yeah Santa!

Thanksgiving

Grandma and Bella

Aunt Tiffie, Helena, Alexa and Davey

Give me food, give me food!

Halloween!

Our pretty fairy - Bella.

Nathaniel stayed home this year playing the computer. Ami was pippy longstocking, Bella a fairy and Lexie a cat.

Roxanne came to go trick or treating with us! She was some kind of rocker chick (I think!). Kevin came also and slept on our couch...

Ami is a fabulous goalie!

and soccer player!

Alexa plays soccer in the rain!

Alexa and Bella

More Celine!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tacoma Dome

A picture of us in our seats in the Tacoma Dome!

There she is.....

It was such a fun concert - she is so awesome live!

Celine Dion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After buying tickets last November it was finally time to go!!! Roxanne met us there and checked us into our hotel (nice having a sister who works for Marriott!). We went out to eat at McGill's Fish House.

I convinced my friend Kim to come with us and I gave a ticket to my mom as her Christmas/Birthday present - we all waited so long...

Phantom in Seattle!

I bought tickets to Phantom of the Opera earlier in the year and it was finally time to go!

The girls and I drove to Seattle (by ourselves!!!) and after driving around looking for a parking spot and then walking a ways to the theater... we made it just in time!

We were all the way up on the 3rd balcony but we brought Nathaniel's binoculars to help us see better. Alexa was too short to see when she sat back on her seat so she spent much of the show on my lap.

We loved all the singing, dancing and acting (the costumes were also spectacular!). The two sopranos (Carlotta and Christine) were fabulous as were the Phantom and Raoul (though the phantoms face was scary...)

You moved what....????

A lady in our ward sent around an email asking if anyone wanted to buy their trampoline since they were moving and we have always wanted a big one! So... she just lived up the hill from us and rather than have to take it apart and then put it back together... We carried it all the way home!

Mike and the kids were balancing it on their heads for most of the way.

We passed the home of another friend and she offered to take our picture! (Notice Bella's lovely pants...).