Wrapping up 2016

 It's New Year's Eve.

Christmas has come and gone.

Kids go back to school in 3 days (yes!!)

It'll be 2017.

This year I pulled together another home made advent calendar for the kids.   Here's what was included:

1. Skittles
2. Coupon for a bakery item at Central Market
3. Money from Grandma Kathie.  $20 for each - to be used on a toy that was donated in a toy drive
4. Cinnamon raisin peanut butter packet
5. Puzzle pieces
6. Gum
7. Movie ticket
8. Caramel corn
9. Band-aids
10. Note from Aunt Kerri
11. Menchie's coupon
12. $7 for pizza at school that week
13. Slurpee coupon from Paul
14. Note and candy from Aunt Korryn
15. More puzzle pieces
16. Gum
17. tiny boxes of raisin's
18. Box of Mac 'n Cheese for Ryan, packs of fruit cocktail for Kathryn
19. Coupon for Chuckie Cheese or Bullwinkle's - from Paul
20. Coupon for Mom to clean their room
21. Fruit leather
22. last of the puzzle pieces
23. Goldfish crackers
24. Lego set for Kathryn, Minecraft building set for Ryan. Wrapped and placed under the tree.

I used muffin tins, covered with a thin magnet  - decorated with the number and stickers.  Often times the item was too big, so I put in a slip of paper to hand to Mom and redeem the treat.  This is a lot of fun for me.  Wonder how it will morph as they grow.

 A bit of delightfulness (I know, it's not a real word) from Kathryn.
She gave me this bag of "hugs & kisses" to keep with me.

And this little one loves her - whatever these creatures are called. Sparkly eye'd fluffy things

Annual baking day at Korryn's.

The unfamiliar face photo bombing the picture is Jade.  Michael's college friend, and also Korryn's boyfriends daughter

 Kathryn participated in a local church choir and Christmas pageant this yeas with her friend Lexi. They were both angels.

Then there was Christmas.

Top gifts this year were:

For Ryan:

A electronic football game

A drone

Baseball cards

Pokemon card set

and

Pokemon Monopoly

For Kathryn:

2 stuffed bunnies to join her other bunny friend "Bun Bun"

And ASPCA stuffed kitty

American Girl doll horse with saddle

and

 a pink fluffy robe

For Joey:

milk bones

and

toy duckie (a favorite toy she's had in years past)

For Demeter:

kitty treats

and

more kitty treats

 The aftermath and no one in sight to pull it back under control

 Mini snowman that's just as adorable as she is.

 Lastly, a blessed day to spend at the zoo with these two.

Honored beyond words to be a part of their lives.

Kathryn's 6th year of life interview

Here's my annual interview about Kathryn. 

 She contemplates and reflects on what she liked about being "6"

I asked what's your favorite.......?

Food:  pizza

Vegetable: snap peas

Fruit: peaches

Dessert:  home made apple pie

Color:  pink

Outdoor activity:  playing at a park

TV show:  Lab Rats

Movie:  The Peanuts Movie

Person:   "it's a tie" - Mom, Dad & Ryan

Toy:  "Bun-Bun" - her stuffed bunny

Animal:  bunny

Pet:  Lexi's guinea pig

Place:  my bed

Sport:  Gymnastics

Flower:  sunflower

Car:  Mom's car

Clothing:  striped tank top dress

School subject:  Gym

How do you feel about Ryan?  "so-so"   (same answer Ryan gave!)

What advice do you have for Ryan?  "to be nicer and to like me more"

Best part about being 6 years old?  1st grade

Ryan's 8th year of life interview

Here's my annual interview about Ryan. 

 He contemplates and reflects on what he liked about being "8"

(I apparently missed doing this for his 7th year!  Oops!!)

I asked what's your favorite.......?

Food: Macaroni n Cheese
Veggie: lettuce
Fruit: apple
Dessert:  Mom's chocolate cake
Color: Red
Outdoor Activity: Baseball
Indoor Activity: playing on the Kindle
TV show: Lego Ninjago Masters
Movie:  Planes, Fire & Rescue
Person:  Dad
Toy:  Hot Wheels
Animal: Rhinoceros
Pet:  Demeter-kitty
Place:  Shoreline skate park
Vacation:  Great Wolf Lodge
Sport:  Baseball or Football
Flower: Rose
Car: Mustang
School subject: Math & Recess

The best part about being 8 years old?   "The memory of the night before I turned 8, I cried and cried because I wanted to stay 7.  I was sad to turn 8, but it turned out to be ok."

How do you feel about Kathryn?  "So-So"

What advice would you give Kathryn?  "Do not lie."      (Very interested and sage advice, because about an hour prior to doing this interview with Ryan, he got caught in a small lie.   And lost his beloved Kindle time because of it).

Some serious catching up to do...... April - September

Jog-a-thon 2016

It was a success yet again.  A beautiful day and lots of energy to be seen out on the track.

They kids beat their fund raising goal: 

 Ryan $634, Kathryn $632

Lucky kids to have such supportive people!

In May, Ryan experienced his first trip to urgent care for eye pain.  Some how, some way while playing next door a foreign body flew in to his eye and scratched his cornea.  It was a very minimal injury, but his amount of pain was significant.  A few days of eye drops and he was back to normal.

 Also this spring, Ryan's Little League team went all the way to the finals and won.

So proud of this young man.

 Ryan and his teammate Silas

Joey had an eventful summer.

Over the past few months she had a growth appear on top of her head that was worsening and impacting her life.  We decided to have it removed and did some teeth cleaning as well.  The surgery went really well..... although as I write this months later - she HATES when her head is touched.  I think she also associates me with bringing her pain.  : (   My girl does not seem as happy as she used to be.  She is quite slow, but when given the chance she'll still chase a tennis ball.

Seaside 2016

 Oh my gosh, this girl is wonderful.  

Look at that face!

 Cannon Beach - Haystack rock.

  Looking up to view the Puffins nesting up there.

 How delightful are these sand dollars?!

We found them here; there was a family near by that collected them and was letting the people walking on the boardwalk take as many as they wanted.  I love this picture.

The 9th birthday!

The 7th birthday!

Kathryn chose to spend the day at a "hotel" instead of a birthday party. 

We stayed at TrendWest in Birch Bay, WA.

There are water slides in town and a great pool at the condo. 

She loved it.

My adorable toothless wonder.

3 teeth out and as I write this, the other front tooth is within days of coming out.

Nothing more precious than a toothless grin 

2016-2017 First day of school pictures

Kathryn wanted short hair and got it.

 Pancakes are still a frequent Sunday morning request in this home.

 Playing taxi driver

 Some fun cakes I've done this summer/fall.

February & March

February was not very eventful except for some boring adult type stuff.  The City of Seattle decided to take a tree down out by our driveway.  It was interfering with power lines.  The tree was rather ugly, we didn't mind seeing it go.

 Last little bit.  We have a tiny stump there now.  Maybe a nice flower pot on there.  If the squirrels don't destroy it.

Paul and I were finally able to refinance the house after nearly 8 years of being here. His unemployment years ago messed with our financial plan for this home.  HUGE relief to have this done and more financial flexibility. 

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March rolls in and the day light saving change.  More light at night, the kids are outside more, everyone is happier.

Ryan started peer pitch baseball, with 1 practice and 2 games a week.  I have yet to get my act together and meal plan in advance.  The practice and one game falls at 5 pm.  Learning to adjust and just go with it!

We had the chance to see the kids cousin's Ruby and Kimberly perform in a Children's choir. 

Here's Bobbi Ann photo bombing a picture of my two.  And Kathryn getting a few swings in at the park they had at the venue.

Kathryn's room had another make-over, rather impulsively by me.  I saw an ad for a used bed I thought would be perfect for her and her small room.  

It does take up the whole room!  But, has a tremendous amount of storage, even little cubicles under the stairs. The big square storage box is on wheels and can be pulled out for more storage.

 She loves it and we'll get a few years use from the monstrosity.

Easter then rolls in.....

An Easter egg hunt for the "Broadview Bunch" - 7 children all living in the surrounding 4 houses.

 The comparison for who got what, after the hunt

 Kathryn and Mira, good buddies, helping each other out.

 Allison and Kathryn before the hunt

And the Broadview Bunch in the neighbors apple tree. Our neighbor took the same picture last year - hope to keep it a tradition. 

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And two more just for fun pictures.

The kids are amping up for the annual school jog-a-thon.  The elementary is trying to log 6000 miles in pre-training before the event.  If a parent walks with the child they get double the miles.  A pizza party is riding on this goal.

Ryan hounded me about hiking down and back to Carkeek Park - 6 miles round trip and it really is DOWN and back UP hill, all the way.  I was not sure Ryan was going to tackle the uphill the entire distance. Every time I asked  him how he was doing, he say "good, I said I would do this and I will!"

Half way through our hike:

Lastly, my Little Miss frolicking in some apple blossoms.