Christmas

We went back to WA for 3 weeks over the holidays.  Now that we pay for 5 plane tickets, having the kids take school off for a few days was worth it.  We also opted for 1 week on my parents' boat, 1 week housesitting for a friend and 1 week back on the boat rather than having any hotel stays, we spent the money on a car rental which was a necessity now that we don't fit in most cars, especially with our luggage.  We were able to see both sides of E's family with double visits to the grandparents, spend time with friends and do a little sightseeing in Seattle.

We opened our own family's gifts before leaving since some would be nice to have on the plane:

 

 

Christmas Eve Candlelight service

 

 

Stockings! 

 

 

 

We took the boat out for a spin over to Langley as only Carter had been on the boat while it was in motion... the sun came out for beautiful views...

 

We go out past Everett Naval station. The boys were impressed by the battleships.

 

 

H is grandpa's little captain.  He's enthralled with EVERYTHING about the boat-esp the engine room.

We started our sightseeing at the Chihuly museum in Seattle in Seattle Center. It's pricey, but only V and I had gone before and it's definitely worth seeing once.  I was a little surprised when the kids sat happily through the video at the end of the exhibit showing information about Chihuly.

We checked out the Gingerbread exhibit at the Sheraton with some friends...these creations are taller than an adult...

Seattle from the Seattle Great Wheel . My impression?  I got a little sick on the 3 rotation ride and while it was fun and we enjoyed it, I probably would only take an out of towner on it or do it once just to have done it. I don't think it's one of those things I NEED to do every time I'm in Seattle.

 

We recalled the one thing we definitely don't miss... the traffic....

 

 

 

 

 

 

But we do miss this guy... Mt. Rainier on a sunny day....

 

 

Winter

The boys curled in a holiday bonspiel before we left.  Except for some fit throwing over playing positions, prizes and the coin toss (for Henri)... it went alright....  C's in the orange jacket, H's in the white helmet.

 

 

H being consoled on the coin toss loss by two lovely maidens as they make their way to the opposite end of the rink...

We got their school pictures back.  C is in 4th Grade, H in 1st Grade, V in Jr. Kindergarten

 

 

V in a dress by her grandmother 

 

 

and in a dress I wore at her age that my aunt saved for me... it may have been bought in Mexico circa 1985ish....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henri turned 6 in November

 

 

Carter made Henri a little comic book, which was sweet

 

 

 

 

The boys wore mustaches to school for Movember to support Prostate Cancer awareness

 

 

 

and, of course, it's been cold and snowy (a few days down to -1F and 0F)

 

 

 

 

 

Final pictures of the kitchen!

I can't believe I haven't posted these yet! All but the last two are the kitchen after the contractor was done.  Then I went and added the blacksplash a few weeks later.  We love, love, love it.  P says we spend more time in there now!

Menu board updated:

 

My large single basin sink:

 

looking into the dining room (we took the entire wall down)

 

 

 

My beautiful new pantry! No more going to the laundry room and linen closet every time I want to make dinner!

 

 

Looking up the stairs/living room

 

I love the natural stone tiles we found on clearance :D

 

 

 

 

 

Love the kitchen and we loved our contractor who was very upfront with pricing, did an excellent job on time and on budget.  Also added that you can't see was venting for the stove and for a bathroom fan on the other side of the wall-both were lacking before.

 

 

Halloween 2014

I guess I'm a little behind!  As I'm taking pictures off the camera I can update you all a little.

Halloween was fine, though wet like last year. C was some sort of wizard from a video game, H was a golden knight from Terraria (video game) and V was Merida from Brave.  This was the first year they all offered to degut the pumpkins themselves, but I still did most of the cutting, though they had input into what they wanted. C & H asked for angel and devil Creepers from Minecraft (video game-are you seeing a trend?)  V just wanted a regular jack o lantern.

Jamberry

I've signed up to be a Jamberry consultant.  Jamberry nail wraps/shields are fun covers for your nails.  The best part is that there's no drying time and they last longer than polish.  Just sharing a few manicures I've done with them.  If you want to try a sample, just let me know or you can order off my website in the US or Canada (if ordering from Canada contact me first as the shipping is from the US and I can usually combine some orders and save you some money!) www.jamberry.net  just pick me out from the consultants on the last page and the prices will work out when you put in your shipping address.  The wraps are $15 US/$17 CAN and are buy 3 get one free. I can get two manicures and pedicures from each sheet along with an accent nail or two left over.  (Have you seen this accent nail trend?  You paint your ring finger a different color.  You can also do all solids with a print nail for your ring finger-though my trend-setting daughter just did hers with an accent pinkie!)

Ombre without the dry time!

 

I have been able to use my samples for Valerie

 

but she finally got her own at Christmas, though I don't seem to have any pictures of those!  (They come in a smaller size for kids up to age 8)

Midnight celebration:

 

 

with metallic berry

 

Solid-they aren't all patterned....

Christmas

A very urban triangle and grey I did when I got back after Christmas

A dark peacock feather I'm currently sporting!

The difference a few weeks of skating lessons makes

Carter's been having to work on his writing skills, so these are two writing exercises I had him do a few weeks apart. One at week 2 of lessons, the other a few weeks later: