Leavenworth, WA

We spent this past weekend in Leavenworth, WA - a quaint, Bavarian town a few hours away from our place.  We arrived on Friday just in time for dinner and bedtime.  On Saturday, Daddy took Hannah swimming at the hotel while Michael got in a morning nap, and then it was time to check out the festivities.  There were musical groups performing in the gazebo and on the streets, vendors with hot chocolate and roasted nuts for sale, shops selling everything you could imagine, and of course, Santa!  Santa Claus was our first stop.  Hannah has been telling us for weeks what she wants Santa to bring her and she was all set to sit on his lap and share her secret with him - until she saw him.  There was no screaming or crying this year, but she did insist on sitting on Mommy's lap rather than Santa's.  Michael, on the other hand, thought that Santa was delightful!  He had no qualms about sitting with him, and even gave him a great big grin  :)  After our visit with Santa, we wandered around the streets, did some shopping, and enjoyed our day outside.  The kids both napped in the stroller for a bit, and then it was time for some yummy brats for dinner while we watched the lighting ceremony.  Seeing all the trees light up one by one was neat, and when it was time for all the storefronts to light up, Hannah's eyes got as big as saucers!  We were hoping to stay out long enough to see the living nativity scene they have, but by that time we had 2 tired and cold kids, and it was starting to rain, so we made our way back to the hotel to warm up and go to bed. On Sunday we drove back home - we had a great weekend, but it's always good to be back home  :)

 

 

 

 

 

Our little EMT in training!

Our Little Man is ONE!

This year has gone by so fast!!  Michael is a smiley, happy toddler who LOVES to give hugs and kisses  :)  His favorite games this week include chasing the kitties (especially Rogue, who lets him catch her!), playing with balls (he plays fetch with himself and thinks it's hilarious!), and playing with his truck (he can even say vroom vroom pretty clearly!).  He sings and dances along with any music we come across, and when there is no music, he dances to whatever he hears in his head  :)  Michael LOVES food - all food, especially meat!  While still nursing every 4 hours around the clock, he somehow still manages to pack away several large meals each day.  My favorite "milestone" for my big boy happened the other night at dinner - we were all just sitting down, I said it's time to say Grace, and Michael promptly put down the fist full of food he was about to devour and reached for my hand  :)
We had a couple of Christmas/Birthday parties last week.  The first was at our friend Melissa's house.  The kids had a blast sharing Isabella's toys, opening gifts, and eating cake  :)

Baby Braeden thought he was one of the present under the tree :)

Michael and his first birthday cake

 

Our second party was at our house.  The kids decorated gingerbread cookies, ate cupcakes, and ran wild all morning  :)  It was especially fun to see Michael and his buddy Easton running around with the older kids!

 

 

 

Michael and Liam thought Hero's crate would be a fun place to hang out. . . .

Michael had a pile of birthday present to open, but he really wasn't interested. . . . hopefully this was just a warm up, because there's more to come on Christmas!!

Mommy's favorite birthday present of Michael's  :)  A nativity scene that he and Hannah can play with!

Daddy needed to keep Michael out of trouble while he switched the carseats around

Michael playing with Hannah's prayer lamb

Michael, going up the slide all by himself . . . .

Michael and Hannah in the bath. . . .   :)

SNOW!

We enjoyed our first snow of the season last week - - it wasn't much (although it was enough to cause some school cancellations - but that's Western Washington for you!), but the kids had fun getting bundled up and playing in it  :)

 

The ABC's of Christmas

This year the Sunday school classes put together a Christmas program called the ABC's of Christmas.  Each class was responsible for a portion of the alphabet.  They came up with Christmas words for each letter, and during the program they recited these words.  It was adorable!!  Hannah, as part of the preschool class, did participate. . . . . in her own way.  She stood with her friends during practice, holding her baby (the Christmas Child) and ringing her bells, although she was not interested in reciting anything!  :)  During the performance, however, she found a better use for her time - by driving a toy car around and around the alter railings!!  We are very proud of our little girl for going up there without us, and who knows, maybe next year she'll even stand next to her friends while they deliver their lines!  :)

Hannah with her baby, Molly, on her way in to church.  

Hannah's class

The whole Sunday school singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing at the end of the program.

Hannah was worn out after her theatrical debut, and found a cozy place close to the baby Jesus to lay down and take a nap!

A New Addition to the Family. . . . .

We have a new family member, as of this week.  Her name is Rogue and she is a darling, super sweet kitty!  We were not expecting to have any more pets join our menagerie, but Rogue's previous family, good friends of ours, were moving, expecting another baby, and needing to downsize a little.  We've now had her for a week on a "trial run" to see how she would do with our other cats.  Bella and Jule were not thrilled about meeting their new sister, and there was a LOT of hissing. . . . . . but, as the days go by, the hissing has been dying down and they seem to be warming up to each other.  We were expecting our Queen Kitty, Bella, to bully Rogue at least a little. . . . While she did hiss, a LOT, Rogue ignored her for the first few days and just went about her merry way  :)  Then, she got a little tired of being hissed at - - she now chases Bella each and every time she gets hissed at.  Jule, not surprisingly, warmed up quite a bit faster.  They're still not best buds, but I see a day in the not so distant future when they will team up against Bella. . . . .   :) 
Rogue is a total love - she is super friendly with both of us, and with both of the kids.  She loves to be petted, even if it IS Michael, and he is grabbing more than petting  :)  We think that she will make a great addition to our family. 

Lighted Parade

It was COLD, but we bundled up and headed to the Lynden Lighted Parade  :)  Hannah enjoyed all of the lighted floats, and waving to people passing by - - but I'm pretty sure her favorite part was the cup of hot cocoa that Daddy got her!!  Michael enjoyed most of the parade from his cozy seat in the stroller.  Towards the end, it was getting a little close to bedtime and he let us know that he wanted out! 

Oh, Christmas Tree. . . .

Yay!!!   Time to put up the tree!  Hannah and Michael had a great time decorating our Christmas tree. . . . well, kind of.  Michael had fun throwing the balls around the living room, and Hannah had fun taking those balls away from him to put on the tree. . . . :)

 

Michael has done pretty well with the tree so far - - - he's only taken ornaments off a couple of times, and he usually attempts to put them back on when they do come off.  

He is definitely more interested in finding the kitties that like to hang out UNDER the tree. . . . .

Our tree

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I know it's belated - - but Happy Thanksgiving!!!  :)  We had a great family day for Thanksgiving this year!  The kids had colds most of the week, but were feeling a little better by that day.  Hannah didn't have much of an appetite for her dinner, but Michael more than made up for it by eating his weight in turkey, stuffing, potatoes, scalloped corn, and of course, pumpkin pie! 

 

 

Michael tried to help Mommy cook. . . . . .