merry christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve with Brian's family and had a wonderful time catching up with our nieces and nephews! After we spent the day with them, we headed to church for a Christmas Eve service! It was so lovely and my favorite part was all the candles!

My mom and aunt spent the night with us on Christmas Eve so we could all wake up together and see the excitement through Colden and Brindley! It was so fun and exciting. Santa did well this year!

We made a yummy Christmas brunch instead of a dinner this year. This would be the first year we did something different! It was less work, but still so good! We may have found a new tradition!

Setting out goodies for Santa on Xmas Eve

"Twas the Night Before Christmas..." Colden and Brindley get to sleep in the same room every Christmas Eve!

Christmas Morning!

Trying out the new remote control helicopter!

Dessert time!

christmas pageant

Brindley had her Christmas Pageant today at preschool! We have quite the little singer on our hands! So proud of how well she did and how enthusiastic she was!

(don't mind the red-eye)

Santa!

We went and saw Santa today! The kids look so big sitting in his lap now! The magic in their eyes was priceless! We mailed our Christmas Lists to Santa as well!
Brindley's List Colden's List

Christmas Tree Hunt!

We found our "perfect" tree! We opted for a Frasier Fur this year, this would be our second Frasier and we love it!

We let the kids do a "kid" tree in their play area and then Brian and I do a Starbucks tree! Starbucks is really just a part of our family!

Ladies of the Court

Brindley had a her annual holiday dance recital! This year her group was Ladies of the Court! Darling!

Halloween!

Halloween was so much fun this year! The bonus was that everyone was healthy and could trick o' treat!

We had a Rapunzel and Captain Jack Sparrow!

Remlinger Farm with Brindley's Preschool!

Yesterday Brindley and I went to Remlinger Farm with her preschool! It was one of the best field trips I have been on! They were so organized! We fed animals, went through a hay maze, rode on a train, saw a puppet show and picked out a pumpkin! So much fun! It was also great fun to see Brindley interact with her new friends! Brindley jumping into a big hay pile!

Finding her way through the maze!

Brindley and her new friend Mia!

Getting ready for a class photo!

There's the rest of the class!

my sweet boy turns 6!

Birthdays are such bitter-sweet! It means my babies are growing up, yet I love seeing their personalities blossom! Colden turned 6 on Saturday! We celebrated family style at Great Wolf Lodge! We had a great time spoiling our boy! He requested a Star Wars theme, so we did our best to decorate the hotel room!

He was also student of the week at school and you get the privledge of taking Curious George wherever you go on the weekend! George had quite the trip and we got some great pictures so all his friends at school can see the adventure Colden and George had!

Happy 6th Birthday Colden! I'm incredibly proud of you and blessed that I was chosen to be YOUR mom! You make me smile everyday!They had a dance party in the lobby before bedtime! So fun!

Kindergarten Field Trip

Colden had his first Kindergarten field trip! His class went by bus (this is a big deal) to Jubilee Farms! They got to pick out a pumpkin, ride on a hay ride, learn about the farm animals and play in a hay maze!

Did the Puyallup!

We went to the fair today! It was a blast! It had been a few years since we had been! The kids are at a perfect age to go, didn't even need a stroller! We enjoyed some rides and of course yummy treats!

PreK for Brindley & No more training wheels for Colden!

Today was Brindley's 1st day of PreK at In the Beginnings Preschool! She was very excited! I can't wait to pick her up to see how her day went!

Last week Colden learned how to ride his bike without training wheels! Honestly, it was so spur of the moment to take off his training wheels. He had fabulous balance on the Razor scooter, so I thought maybe he would feel the same way on his bike...once I took them off and he got on, he was putting his legs out like a "V" and balancing the bike...so I told him to put his legs up on the pedals and he's good to go...he did it!!! Just like that...a pro without training wheels!!

1st day of kindergarten

It was a BIG day in our house yesterday! Colden started Kindergarten! He was beyond excited and ready for this day! Mommy is so proud and excited for Colden, but I'm not gonna lie...I shed some tears! After I picked him up, he didn't stop talking about school until it was bedtime!

It is a very strange feeling being on the other side...as a parent, not the teacher. I loved every moment of being a teacher and I love every moment of being a mother. I feel blessed that I've experienced both sides! I'm excited for Colden and his adventures in Kindergarten and I'm also excited for Mrs. Dolen as she teaches my son!

Brindley starts school next week and we are thrilled with the new preschool she will be going to. Brian and I went to the parent meeting last night, and I'm very impressed. She will be a busy little girl, but I think she is going to blossom this year! She also had her first gymnastics class yesterday and did wonderfully!

This mommy is beaming and smiling from ear to ear! (All pics again are from my phone...camera battery dead-awesome).
The only pic I got of Brindley sitting on her mat! She was darling in her gymnastics outfit...Listening to the teacher!
So Proud!

Lincoln City 2011

We just got back from another fabulous trip to Lincoln City, OR. It seriously has to be one of my favorite spots to vacation! We went with our wonderful friends, the Fontaine Family! Even though the Fontaine Fam lives in Spokane and us in Seattle, each year we reconnect on this vacation like we've never been apart!

We had fabulous weather, I think the best year yet! We ate great food, enjoyed lots of wine, and had good conversations! The kids do so well together...they even all sleep in the same room...although there were many late nights...it's vacation right? We were able to get to the Newport Aquarium, Tillamook Cheese Factory (by the way...Sticky Bun Ice Cream, best ice cream I have ever had and I don't even like ice cream), to the beach everyday, out to some lovely lunches, and even found a skate park!

We also got to enjoy the company of a great college friend, Tami and her darling kids, Tucker and Addie! It was so incredible to catch up with her and have our kids play together, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!

We are seriously already planning next year's vacation! And sorry for the lack of pictures, I simply was not a good photographer this year!
At the Newport Aquarium!

Cute boys...Colden and CamBrandon and Colden looking at some huge jelly fish!

Flying our kites!

Fun at the world's smallest river!

Building a sand castle...I believe it turned into Rapunzel's tower!

Couldn't resist this pic!