Christmas 2010

If you haven't read the previous post, you should, it all goes together! It just tells a little more about our 2010 Christmas!


Colden woke up at 3:30 ready to see what Santa brought him! He climbed in our bed (thankfully he didn't wake Brindley) and I told him Santa hadn't come yet and he'd better go back to sleep! I think it was about 6:30 when we all woke up!


We had a fun Christmas morning and Santa really outdid himself this year! ; ) The kids each got a bike and Leap Frog Tag systems, amongst other things! We enjoyed a lovely breakfast...croissants from William Sonoma, my Mom's sticky buns, fruit and eggs!


After we were all done opening presents, we had some time to relax and then my Mom and I worked on dinner preparations! It was our first turkey in our house (I cannot take credit for cooking it, but it was in our oven...that counts right?)!


Kurtis and Sheena came later and joined us for dinner! The food was really good and we all had a wonderful Christmas!!Checking out the goods from Santa!

A new walking dog...I think we're still debating on a name..."Paws" or "Cindy Lou!" Having fun with a GI Joe's plane!

A tradition continued...lighting lanterns on Chrismas Eve so Santa can find our house easy (only they wouldn't stay lit, because it was so windy, so I ran out and lit them on Christmas morning)! I've done this since I was very little!

A little breakfast table for the kids!

The adult breakfast table (okay so I had a little fun with all this)!Brian carving the turkey! Yum!

The dinner table! Yes...again...I had fun with this!

Another tradition...poppers at the dinner table!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

This was our first year in Seattle for Christmas (I think my first one EVER!). So with that came lots of changes, a little sadness, excitement and Christmas spirit. Given the choice, I would always be in Spokane for Christmas, but this spring we lost my dear Grandma and that changed Christmas traditions for us (or I should say Christmas locations, because the traditions will live on)! We all handled everything very well and I think we owe that to the Christmas spirit & there is nothing better than watching Christmas unfold through your own children's eyes! It was nice being in our own home this year (we also had my Mom and Aunt Cindy stay overnight)! Not only was our heart heavy for missing Grandma, but my brother is also in Afghanistan and his family in Germany. My heart ached for all of them! The good news was, he called us on Christmas morning and it was great to hear him!


For Christmas Eve this year, we celebrated with Brian's side of the family (my Mom was lovingly included as well)! We exchanged presents on Christmas Eve with them and then had a lovely dinner as well!


After that, we went straight to church! We had to go to the candlelight service due to time constraints and there were some factors against my kids going to child care, so we brought them in with us. I had very low expectations because they had just had a fun-filled time opening tons of presents, it was 7:30 (so close to bed time) and it was an adult service! They were AWESOME! They both sat in our laps and listened the entire time! It really was a true gift!

While it was a late night for all, we had a great time and were anxious for Christmas morning!

A little sibling love on Christmas Eve!Grandma Bell was buried in presents!!! A tradition...a fun pair of boxers for Brian from Vicki! M & M's! Christmas cookies for Santa!

Colden gave up his room for Aunt Cindy! Luckily Brindley has a trundle in her room! The kids have always slept in the same room on Christmas Eve!

Santa delivers!

Cascade Christmas Party!

On Thursday night, Brian and I got to go to his work party!! We had so much fun! The wine was flowing (I might add...a LOT of flowing), and dinner was so good! They surprised everyone with gambling...they brought in dealers and tables of black jack and craps! They gave us each $5000 in chips and we played! I stayed at the same table and raked it in!!! Now only if it would have been real money!! However, the highest roller at each table recieved a raffle ticket to win an Ipad! My hubby was the highest roller, I thought for sure we had that Ipad! No such luck!

And then...there was dancing...I haven't danced in 10 years! I was "forced" onto the dance floor with a new friend (aka another wife) I made! We danced for 2 hours and the next morning, I felt like I had run a marathon...maybe not only from all the dancing, but perhaps my lovely hangover!

It was a great night! And most importantly, I need to add, that my awesome husband was rewarded (for the 2nd time) at their company meeting for being "consultant of the year!" He earned us a dinner and hotel night of our choice! I'm very proud of him!

Glory Days Singing and Cookie Party!

On the last day of school, parents were invited to enjoy some singing and cookies with their little ones! Only I have a problem with this because I have two kids in the same preschool in different classrooms! Brian, unfortunately, had his year-end company meeting that morning, so he couldn't make it...thank goodness...Gigi came to the rescue!

Brindley wanted Gigi to come to her classroom (I was happy about that because it's Colden's last year at Glory Days and I wanted to be with him this time). So I gave her our little camera and I took the other and we managed to capture some cuteness!

Oh so cool!

1st Annual Christmas Girls Getaway!

We are working on new traditions during the holidays...and our first try was this last weekend! All the big girls in the family (minus a few) got to stay downtown for the night. We enjoyed Christmas shopping, eating, drinking (maybe too much), a movie, & the art museum! We all had a great time and our heads are already spinning about next year! We stayed at Hotel Monaco which we were happy with and was very festive! Mom & Daughter enjoying Happy Hour!

Hillary & Sheena enjoying Happy Hour!Still enjoying Happy Hour...Cindy, Sheena & Amanda!And sisters enjoying Happy Hour!So who knew you could have a pet while staying in a hotel room? I thought the idea was fun, until we found dead Fred in Sheena & Cindy's room! We exchanged him for a Franklin!! My mom brought a mini Christmas tree! It was the perfect touch!!!

Group Shot! Can't wait for next year!

Glory Days Christmas Concert!

Sunday was our preschool's Christmas concert! And this year...both of the kids were in it! This was an emotional year for me!! Both of them being at the same preschool, Brindley's 1st year and Colden's last. I'm a proud Mommy and thoroughly enjoyed watching them perform!

Gingerbread Houses

We joined the Menold family for some Gingerbread Construction!! Always a fun time...this year Colden was there (last year it was just Brindley & Colden was at school)! It was so fun to see their imaginations and creativity...although Colden's lasted about 10 minutes!

Tree, Applecup, Nutcracker...Tis the Season!

We've been busy around here! All fun stuff!

I had to show Brindley's little masterpiece...well...I may have had a little to do with it!! We decided to decorate her dollhouse with wreaths, a Christmas tree and even lights!! The picture isn't great, but you get the idea!

We FINALLY got our tree, after 3 different stops! We just couldn't find the "right" one! We finally got a Fraser Fir...we usually get a Noble, but I love the look of a Fraser so we decided to try it!

There it is all done...just in time for Applecup!!! We are proud of the Cougars...they played a GREAT game! The kids have their own tree already up...this is Mommy and Daddy's tree...aka..."The Starbucks Tree!"


On Sunday, I had the treat to take my girl to the Nutcracker! It was a wonderful performance. Brindley did so great and is still talking about it! We went with my Mom and friends, Amanda and Savannah! I hope to make this an annual tradition! I didn't take many pictures...but this one was at intermission!

Thanksgiving and Ready for Christmas!

We had a fun week around here with all the snow, canceled school, Thanksgiving, and great friends! And we are ready for Christmas!! The house is decorated, the kids have seen Santa and Filbert the Elf has arrived! Now...I wish we'd get more snow! Really!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving at Brian's Aunt's house. It was so great to catch up with everyone! We then came home and put on our new Christmas P.J's (Thanks Gigi!) and watched our first Christmas movie of the season...wait for it...Polar Express!!!
The kids in their Christmas P.J's on Thanksgiving night!


On Friday after a quiet morning, we went bowling with the Menold Family! Colden had been one time before, but this was Brindley's first time! They loved it and we look forward to doing it again!!!

Couldn't resist this shot!

A little help for the very independent girl!

Snack Break (Colden, Jaxon, Brindley & Greta...missing Josh...I bet it was his turn!)


After a busy day decorating on Saturday (minus our live tree, which we will get next Saturday), we decided to visit Santa on Sunday! It was already crazy busy, yes, we waited in line for 1.5 hours! The kids were so awesome! Brian and I took turns shopping while we waited!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Spun Sugar

I had the opportunity to take pictures of Brindley and her dance class last week! The teacher asked that we come and take pictures now instead of using flash photography during the dance performance. It worked out well...they had a class picture, individual and then they ran through the dance one time!

The costumes are darling...all pink! I'm sure I was beaming the whole time as I'm so proud of my Brindley. She adores dance and is always trying her best! Here are a few shots and I hope to upload video of her actual dance performance in a couple weeks!

Group shot!

Brindley as "Spun Sugar!"

Performing their dance!

Brindley and Kylia ending their dance!