Christmas 2016

Hello friends, I have to tell you Christmas is my most favorite time of year.I absolutely love everything about it,except maybe the crowds at the stores,so during the holiday season I go either very early or very late and problem avoided.This year was extra special,because Nick came home for Christmas.He is now serving in South Korea.I'm so very behind on this blog.It's now May and I'm updating Christmas,sorry about that. Before he came I took the boys to The Port Gamble Country Christmas complete with tree lighting.Something we do every year and it's so much fun.They have this amazing fireworks show that is just great.We walk around the area with hot chocolate and whatever the vendors are selling.This year it was potato chips on sticks and some great treats from a gal who is opening a bakery and had all sorts of samples of cookies,fruit breads and other treats along with hot apple cider.It was so much fun. 

 Another fun thing we did at Christmas time was going ice skating with The Seattle Thunderbirds at The Showare Center in Kent.

  Daniel and Michael with Brandon Schuldhaus and Ryan Gropp

                             Skating with Reece Harsch

Sami Moilanen , Zack Andrusiak and Anthony Bishop. 

                              Daniel and Ethan Bear.

                     
     Daniel and Turner Ottenbreit.

                    
                                                                      Daniel and Rylan Toth.

                  
                                                                   Daniel and Sami Moilanen..

                                                            
                                                             Daniel and Anthony Bishop.

                                                  
                                                                Daniel and Donovan Neuls.

                        
                                                                Daniel and Matthew Barzal.

                              
                                                                     Daniel and Alexander True.

                          
                                                                     Daniel and Elijah Brown.

                 
          Daniel and Brandon Schuldhaus.

               
                                                                   Daniel and Nolan Volcan.

 Daniel and Michael with Bryan Albee who was our bowling partner last year.

                  
       Daniel and Michael with Ian Briscoe.

                   
                                                                         Daniel and Luke Ormsby.

                      
                                                                         Daniel and Jarret Tyszka

                  
                                 Michael and Rylan Toth.
 

After that Daniel and I got to pick up Nick at the airport.We were so thrilled to see him and I got to keep him for two weeks.

      Ariel loved going to the movies with her brother.

 Decorations

Our church Christmas party.Nick came in second with the ugliest sweater.

Gilbert and I took Nick to see Singing in the rain.He loved it!

 Making Christmas cookies.

                             Cookies for Santa.

                     Opening Christmas presents.

We had some fun playing in the snow.

    We went to a holiday party with The Thunderbirds.

Our traditional Christmas breakfast eggs Benedict and strawberry Belgian waffles.

We had a wonderful Christmas together watching Christmas specials,shopping,making cookies,playing games and just spending time together.What a blessing family is. 

                                 

 

Thanksgiving

Hello friends,Sorry I'm so late getting this post out,I've just been incredibly busy.We had a very nice and quiet Thanksgiving.For the past couple of years it's just been us.The grandparents used to come,but they say it's too cold for their old bones.lol!

So we just did our usual starting off with making a lot of phone calls wishing relatives a Happy Thanksgiving and talking to our son who's in Georgia.

Next we sat down while waiting for the turkey to get done and watched some specials we always watch.
The first is The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

                                 and The Macy's parade.

Then we ate our Thanksgiving dinner.We always have turkey and all the trimmings.
Mashed potatoes and gravy,stuffing,green bean casserole,sweet potatoes,pistachio salad (Ariel's favorite),cranberry sauce,rolls,deviled eggs,sparkling cider and usually four or five kinds of pies.

                MMMM turkey just out of the oven.
               Sandwiches the next day are our fav!!!

         After that we sat down and watched some more of our traditional shows.
 The Ultimate gift is our absolute favorite movies to    watch for Thanksgiving.    
 If you've never seen it,it's a wonderful movie that really shows you what is important in life.A good reminder especially this time of year.

Then we ate pie as we watched the musical Newsies I personally love musicals my kids not so much,well they like some better than others and The Disney Holiday Spectacular,which I thought was way better than the Macy's parade.
It was a mellow,yet very enjoyable day.I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Military Member of The Night.

As everyone knows my family loves hockey,especially Daniel,Ariel and I and we go often,especially now that we are season ticket holders.
One day I was cleaning out my inbox and found out my hubby was chosen to be Military Member of the night.I was quite surprised as I had put him in for it last year.

So we were given 4 extra tickets and went off to the game.We stopped first at Jack in the box,where Ariel decided to share her food with a homeless man.She's very sweet that way,although I often have to caution her about her safety.She figures that's what Jesus tells us to do.

Since we had extra tickets we were able to invite Daniel's wonderful hockey coach Gary and his son Andrew to come with us and enjoy the game. 

We had fun watching the hockey game and they announced Gilbert's service and put his name on the big screen.He was so funny before hand asking me should I wave,should I salute,should I do the Hawaiian sign for hang loose? Lol! 
I nixed that idea. 
It was neat to see everyone standing and waving for my hubby's service.I love the patriotism that's in hockey.No sitting down here.
They even gave him patriotic cookies that were quite delicious.

                                         

The only down side was our seats were right behind the hockey players.If you have ever smelt a hockey bag you will know what I mean.We'll just say it was pretty ripe where we were sitting.That's just hockey for you.Daniel often tries to get me to smell his stinky equipment.Must be all that testosterone.

Some exciting times during the game.Always interesting watching the glass shatter.Thankfully no one was hurt.

                    It was a fun night had by all.

October fun!

We have had a pretty fun October with lots of events and activities.

                               Pumpkin carving at the zoo.

                                                             

                              Ariel decorating her cookie house.

                                 Bear wants to eat the cookie house.

           Our hockey booth for our churches candy carnival.

Ariel and her dad having fun at the candy carnival.

                                     Plenty of hockey games this month.

 

Our little party for home.We just watched a bunch of movies and ate a bunch of goodies.