Holiday Festivities!

To start:

New window construction!

I love love love love love my new windows.

Love them!

No draft when I walk into the living room. I no longer feel the furnace kick on and then feel it get sucked right out that big window.

The kids room also got a new window and it's cozy, warm and beautiful in there now!

I have yet to take a picture of their window. Whenever I have a chance to think about it, one or both of the kids is sleeping.

These windows would not have been possible without the help of Ryan & Kathryn's Grandma Soon and Papa.

Thank you - thank you - thank you.

I am grateful beyond words.

On to Christmas Eve at my parents home

Snacks before dinner

Grandma Kathie reading the story of MooselToe.

That Moose has been in our family for about 25 years now

One of Ryan's favorite gifts. You ask him what he got for Christmas and "Basketball!" comes out of his mouth.

His other faves are a remote control truck from his Papa & a polar bear pillow pet from his Grandma and Grandad.

Christmas morning.

The best part for me - the stockings

My best attempt to get a photo of both kids in front of the tree.

4 tries, and this is the best I got.

I gave up after that.

"To Ryan, Love Santa"

I love this.

My babies and Christmas fun

First ever attempt at home made cinnamon rolls.

I think it was successful!

Christmas Morning aftermath

Off to Whidbey Island

Christmas dinner and fun with Paul's side of the family.

The dress Kathryn is wearing was also worn by Kathryn's cousins, Ruby and Kimberly.

12/26/10

Watching the birds frolic around the bird feeder.

We saw at least 2 bald eagles flying out in that pasture that morning

The Long Night

Before I get to one of the longer nights of my life. . . .

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Ryan completed his first session of swimming lessons.

Did he learn anything? Ummm, a little.

Does he need a lot more time in the water and instruction for swimming and water safety?

Heck yes!

We are going to skip the Winter session for swim lessons and probably jump back in, Spring session. Instead he is going to learn basketball - on a Rookie Basketball team, offered at the Y.

He's way more excited about that, than he ever was swim lessons.

And now on to a very very very long night for Paul and I. Kathryn started with a stomach bug early Thursday morning. No details needed as I know everyone has experienced the fun of said stomach bug. She was tired and not real happy on Thursday, but seemed to rally a bit on Friday. Friday night, oh about 10 pm we heard, "I'm all messy!!!" And sure enough, Miss Kathryn was nice enough to share her nasty bug with Ryan. For sympathy I guess, Kathryn again joined in on Ryan's fun all Friday night as well. Simultaneously with Ryan I might add. Every hour to two hours we had our work cut out for us. I have honestly lost count of how many loads of laundry I've done. I quit counting after 7 loads. Oh and in the midst of this the washing machine plumbing acts up and we have puddling water all over the kitchen floor (yes my laundry facilities are in my kitchen - it's a small house). Thank you Drano for fixing that problem. Here it is Sunday and I am crossing my fingers we've passed the worst of it. Ryan has no appetite and Kathryn seems to still be struggling with some digestive issues - but they are both happy. Here's Demeter-kitty keeping watch over Ryan as he slept off his sickness. He napped for a total of 6 hours on Saturday! And then slept another 12 Saturday night. More Christmas fun

Helping Daddy with the Christmas tree lights

We went with a mini tree this year.

I love the big one we had last year, but I felt claustrophobic in my own living room.

This one is a bit on the small side, but functional and nicely priced.

And take your last look at that ugly window in our living room!

Come the 23rd that window and the kids room window are being replaced with new ones - WAHOOOOO!

The windows are circa 1940's and horrible at keeping the cold out.

A very good friend of mine pointed out that "old people" get excited about new windows - and well I am going to be 40 in February. This is just practice at thinking like an old person. Ha!

Happy Birthday Paul!

Beef stroganoff for dinner

Triple chocolate cupcakes for birthday dessert.

I cheated and used store bought frosting - and I thought I bought white.

Apparently not!

And come to find out, Ryan ratted me out and told Paul what his birthday gift was (knife suitable for cutting sushi), before his birthday.

A three year old can't keep a secret worth a darn. :-)

Here's the video of Kathryn sledding and doing a face plant.

Remember, no harm done because once I picked her up and dusted her off, she said, "Again!"

Traditions

I'm thinking there is nothing better than enjoying a holiday with a 3 year old.

Every morning the question is, "Is it Christmas time yet?"

The lights, decorations, activities all have Ryan bouncing with excitement.

We're about 50% decorated in the house - with lights up outside and in.

Stockings up (one of my favorite traditions)

Gingerbread house complete (see below)

Big Santa Snoopy has come out of hiding. Paul and I had no idea of knowing that when he bought me that big Snoopy - oh 8 or 9 years ago, how much fun we would have watching our kids delight when Big Santa Snoopy comes out.

The tree will be next.

Paul's birthday is the 13th of December, we'll celebrate that and then within a few days get a tree. I am excited to see Ryan's excitement when we bring it in and decorate it.

I'm a little bit apprehensive with little Miss Kathryn and the tree. She doesn't take no-no, don't touch, very well. I am predicting a few pulled down ornaments, broken tree branches and some tears.

It was Apple Cup day, when the Snoopy picture was taken

Nice win, Dawgs! Gingerbread construction. Fun and oh so messy

the best part - candy!

Catching Up

It has been a fun, busy few weeks. The first snow of the season to start with. . . on 11/22/10 Then Thanksgiving # 1. . . on 11/25/10 Then Thanksgiving # 2. . . on 11/26/10 Then Dad's Birthday celebration on 11/27/10 And lastly a day to recoup and relax on 11/28/10

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The snow was a blast to play in with the kids and Joey.

The preparation to get the kids bundled up and outside is a work out!

I was seriously sweating by the time we walked outside.

Kathryn cried the entire time she was in her snowsuit, in the house because she could not move at all. She kept saying, "Stuck, Stuck!" Which sounds a lot like, "Guck, Guck!"

Once outside there were lots of grins and giggles. She's seen snow before but not in Seattle.

Thankgiving Day.

Pulling the kids to the park to get some hill sledding in. We may never have snow on Thanksgiving Day again, in our life time, it was very fun memory making.

One minor incident that is funny in an odd way while we were at the park.

Paul was pulling the sled, with both kids in it, like pictured below. I was walking along side of him. We stopped at the hill we were going to sled next and looked back in the sled, only to find Kathryn was not there!

She had slipped out of the sled some 20 feet back and we didn't hear a thing! She was on her back, kicking her legs, flapping her arms, yelling, "Daddddddyyyy, Dadddddyyyyy!!" Not crying, but obviously stuck like turtle upside down on its shell. So funny, but it made my heart sink when I looked to the sled and saw her not there and for an instant didn't know where she was. Once I laid eyes on her I had to laugh a little!

We also sent Kathryn down a small hill on a solo sledding trip and the sled had a mind of its own that particular time and went off the path, dumping Kathryn in the snow head/face first! She's a good sport though. A face full of snow and she says, "Again!"

Thanksgiving Dinner at the O'Neill's.

Fabulous dinner, outstanding smoked turkey and lots of laughs.

Me, Kels and Kerri

Grandad and his biggest fan

Umm, yea.

That's mashed potato's in her hair.

Thanksgiving # 2 at Paul's sister's home.

Ryan & Kimberly

A year apart in age, they play so well togetherKennedy side Grandkids

Ryan, 3

Kimberly, 4

Kathryn, 1

Ruby, 8

Downtown Snohomish, awaiting Santa! It was a long day for her.

Her first 2010 Santa sighting with have to be another day

And dessert after the Santa sighting.

Kathryn getting a bit of ice cream from her Papa.

And lastly. . . A big Happy Birthday wish to my Dad. It was a treat to spend some time with you Dad, day before your birthday. The kids adore you and talk about you all the time. We love you!

Goodness

Time for a top 5 favorite things

Since we are in the season of thankfulness - these are things I am thankful for For Ryan

1. Imagination - A 3 year old has an imagination is never ending. It's so much fun to see what he'll come up with next
2. Helpful - If he's in the mood, he can be a tremendous help in whatever task is at hand. Now if he's thinking he's not in the mood . . . . well you know how that goes
3. Inquisitive - The other day, out of extreme frustration I said sh*t. The conversation was as follows: Why sh*t Mommy? Did you say sh*t Mommy? Hmmm, sh*t. Why sh*t Mommy? Nothing like being called on an error in verbal judgment! It did lighten the mood however.
4. Compassion - Ryan's got it. Choosing to use it with his sister, especially when she is within arms reach of something he deems his. Momentarily forgetting she's just one and assuming she is going to steal it forever. "Noooooooooo Kaff-rinnnnn!!!" I hear that a lot.

5. Observation - I'm pretty sure his keen eye about things and amazing memory is going to come back around when I least want it to. For Kathryn

1. Toddle - She totally toddles with her walk and I love it!
2. Reckless abandon - As with most toddlers the 'that might hurt if I do that' filter is not there. She fell into a tub full of water, after she had just gotten out, got dried, jammies on, and was ready for bed. Ryan was still in the tub, she reached for a toy and oopsies, reached to far. Swan dive, fully clothed, tub style. I was right there, but a few seconds too slow to stop the momentum. The look on Ryan's face was priceless!
3. Verbal skills - Her cute little voice saying, "Hi Mommy" or "Hi Daddy" melts my heart each time.
4. Snuggles - The amount of time I get snuggled is limited to about 5 seconds prior to sleeping. The amount of time she'll snuggle anything plush is unending. She's taken a liking to a little puppy, she calls puppy. And a big plush Snoopy, she calls poopy. Teeheehee

5. Sociability - Kathryn has recently started to wave to strangers at the market, YMCA or wherever we are. It's entertaining to watch people's response. Usually prompts a smile and in these days where everyone is in a hurry, smiling is good.