January 2009

January ...

We started the year off with a fun little New Year's Eve party

with Bob's folks and the Hallers. Can't go wrong with chocolate fondue!

Ringing in the new year...

... and we made it until midnight!

Chinook/Dick Clark Dog turns 12 years old!

A crisp morning view of the Olymics.

Christmas 2008

We sure enjoyed our Christmas with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Mary. They might be from Tucson but they have had no trouble toughing out the cold weather here!

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If you drink enough hot cocoa...

If you drink enough hot cocoa, it will snow! So...

...you'll take a picture of it and it will snow some more.

Then you'll get a snow day and want to build a snowman.

It will be slippery, so you'll go sledding and see a bird.

The bird will be hungry so you will put up a bird feeder with your dad and the dog.

The dog will want to play in the snow some more.

So you'll play in the snow until you get thirsty.


So you'll go in and drink hot cocoa and it will snow again!

Holiday Party

This year we hosted the Staff Holiday Party. We really enjoyed it and feel fortunate that so many folks came. Since it was on Dec 5th, it was an excellent incentive to get the Christmas decor up early! We ate, visited, drank, played the dice/quarters game, ate, drank, did the white elephant thing and ate some more! (I just wish I took more pictures)

Bob takes his position!

Rhonda and some lady she picked up at a bar!

The beautiful Kristen

Jennie gets a keeper!

Amanda sporting her new shades!

Christmas! Off to a great start!

This year Christmas was off to a great start. It began with shopping on the day after Thanksgiving! Can you believe I have never shopped Black Friday before? So I hooked up with some fun teacher friends, Nancy and Kristen, for a not-too-early of a start and I had a ball! A lot was accomplished too! In addition to a good start on shopping, Bob had our lights up on the house early. Thanks, hun!

Next, it's time to get the tree. I love that fresh pine smell!

Brooke picked the "perfect" tree and enjoys her candy cane.

Yes... the tree is done!

A week or so later Brooke and I enjoyed the Sumner Santa Parade with our friend, Kris.

The highlight is always the firetruck with Santa on it! Here it comes...

Wait! Who is driving that truck? It's Kris' brother! We honestly didn't know about it! How funny!

Luckily, we know the right people so Santa slowed down to wave but mommy was too busy laughing to get a better picture.

Brooke was thrilled!

Soon it is gingerbread house time. A brave neighbor, Diana, had folks over to decorate gingerbread houses. Each one unique and beautiful. It was a lot of fun! Thanks, Diana.

Our masterpiece!

All 8 or 9 of them lined up!

We even went to Seattle to check out Stu's new pad ("Father Stu"). We saw

the Westlake Center Tree, Santa and ...

...rode the carousel!

Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving spent with family. Everyone contributed and we had a delicious feast!

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When I Grow Up

Today Brooke announced with certainty "Mom, I know what I want to be when I grow up!" I was sure she was going to say the usual ballerina teacher or sommier but no, she went on to say that she would like to be a newspaper delivery person or a doctor. I told her she could certainly do both! Like many discussions we needed to act on these words right away! Luckily, we had a legit delivery since we received some mail that didn't belong to us. Brooke informed me that she needed to deliver it herself and by bike although it was already dark out. So after I was "healed" by this doctor I watched her first delivery to the neighbors, Michael and Lesley. They played along so well and even gave Brooke a tip for a job well done!