Lights at Warm Beach

 We went to see the lights at Warm Beach with the Mugleston's this year.  It was our first time going. The place was strung with millions of light and it looked so pretty.  Unfortunately we chose an extremely cold day, and we aren't used to it being cold here in WA, so I'm afraid we were all under-dressed, and the kids got cold very quickly.  They did have fire pits all over where you could go warm up.

 Sam thought the lights were fun!

 Spencer with Sabrina and Victoria

 Brielle, Hyrum, Brendon, Cassandra

December

 Jumping

 At the aquarium with Grandma and Grandpa

 Clara started ballet some time ago, I can't remember when, so I'm documenting it now!

 Sam with one of my parents' dogs, Liesl.

 Sam with Nephi

 Nephi likes to cuddle.  Sam likes to share.

Sam with our bunny, Elsa.

Christmas

 On Christmas Eve, we read about the birth of Jesus in the Bible, and then the kids opened one present each, pajamas and a stuffed animal.

And then they went right to sleep!  ; )

The next morning we let them get up at 8:00 to open presents. 

 Clara was so excited to get a doll that she could wear matching outfits with!

 Hyrum's robotic dog.

(which broke in the first week, so we took it back)

 Brielle got an MP3 player with all of her favorite songs already on it.

 Sammy's first Christmas!!

 He was deeply interested in anything we handed him!

 Clara collects Schleich horses, and now she has a whole pasture full.

 Brielle with her sloth and sloth book.

 The children were spoiled by their Grandparents on both sides.  Such lucky children!

 It was so much fun having my parents with us for Christmas!

Clara spent the next several days matching her doll in their various outfits.

After presents we ate breakfast, played with toys, and then later had the Mugleston's over for Christmas dinner/ Brendon's birthday dinner.  It was a wonderful Christmas!

Nap or Nap Not

(Flash back to early December)

 The force is strong with this one.

Soccer

 Brielle and Hyrum played soccer from August through November, every Saturday, and twice or three times during the week as well for Brielle.  I have a few shots of Hyrum, but I'll have to search for some of Brielle this year.  Both kids love playing soccer, and it's Russell's favorite sport, so they'll probably continue to play for a long time.  I enjoy being outside in the sunshine and watching the kids run around.  I've almost learned all of the rules.  : )

 Waiting while Brielle practices soccer one day.

Clara kicking Brielle's ball around.

Clara's Birthday

The night before Clara's birthday we let her pick one present to open.  She picked a present from Grandma Francis that had been sitting on our fireplace for a month.  She was VERY curious to see what was in it.

Clara loves the barn with all the little horses.  She organizes the horses into family groups every day.

 On Clara's actual birthday we went to down town Seattle.  We were planning on going to the Aquarium, but the line was all the way out the door and wrapped around the building.  So we went up to Pike Place instead.  We visited the Gum Wall (above) and bought some flowers (below) and some treats at the French Bakery.

 That night we had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, one of our kids' favorite restaurants!

 After dinner we shopped around the mall, hit the Disney store, and Clara ended the day by riding the escalator over and over.

 With her birthday money, Clara bought a stuffed animal at Build A Bear.

 Back to the night of Clara's birthday, here she is opening her presents.

 She was one happy girl!

 Here the kids are trying to figure out which palace pets Clara still needs.  I like the looks of concentration on their faces!

We had Clara's birthday party a few weeks later, so it will be on a different post.