News from November

We have certainly been enjoying our time down here in CA and we are continuing to keep busy (sometimes too busy).

 The soccer seasons came to an end. Jaydon's team went undefeated and were pretty dominant throughout the season! They had fun. Lucy's team won a game and tied a game and they improved a ton this season.

 My team spoiled me with this fun gift basket and an individual gift card from every family, it was crazy but super sweet.

 

I got 'volunteered' to be the BINGO night chairperson. I had a great committee and we pulled off the first Stone Lake Bingo Night, it was such a success we are now doing another one in a couple months! The prize baskets are above, then one of me MCing and a couple of the kids. It was a lot of fun and I am sure glad I have quite a bit of experience putting on events!

Our church hosted a pups and pies event to help sponsor the new animal shelter that was built in our city. We got to pie the pastors and the kids had a good time.

Lucy had to disguise a turkey to make it through the Thanksgiving holiday, she decided to make her turkey into a peacock, I think it will live!

We let Jaydon play fantasy football this year (he has begged for a couple seasons). It is a random league with strangers but he is having a great time and learning a lot. He started off not doing so hot but his team has scored the most points for the entire season (and he has had the most points scored against him which is why he struggled early) but now he is doing pretty well.

We bid on dinner out with the second grade teachers at the Fall Festival and won, so Jaydon, Lucy and Kate got to eat a fun dinner with teachers (Jaydon's teacher from last year and Lucy's current teacher) while Jeremy and I snuck in a dinner date on the other side of the wall. It was great!

Science Night! Our school put on an amazing science night and the kids had a great time.

The shirt from one of the college science clubs that came to present, Jeremy has one that says "talk Nerdy to me" with nerdy made the same way out of the periodic table.

Working hard on her booklet (they had to write something they wondered and something they discovered about each station they went to)

I didn't get a pic but all three of mine ended up being prize winners in the raffle so they were extra thrilled.

Jaydon and Jeremy got to go on an adventure! They were able to fly up to Sea (barely, with a cancelled flight and another delay on the way) and make it in time for the Sounders MLS Cup game against Toronto. What an experience for them both! A trip they will always remember. And the Sounders won!!!

Jeremy and Jaydon with a friend of Jeremy's from HS (and his wife) and a friend from college (and his wife). Awesome!

December Fun

Hard to believe how fast December is going. We have had a ton of fun and crammed in a lot of great activities already!

Note Kate and I were alone in this bed, the amount of space I had...the small spot to left in the photo. My little snuggler!

We even managed to go to a Seahawks party down here! Our friends family were in town and the brother in law is a huge Hawks fan. We managed to enjoy celebrating a W together. Kate even got a makeover from 6 year old Lilah, she was thrilled

Last day of gymnastics - ta da. Kate brought little cards for each kid and handed them out at the end.

Breakfast with Santa

Our HOA did a fun breakfast with Santa thing

Cookie decorating

Santa performed the telling of the Night Before Christmas

It was a fun family event.

Church Santa Pics

Right after breakfast with Santa we ran to our church and got more pics with Santa and did fun crafts.

Sirens with Santa

Our local fire/police work together to host a big parade called Sirens with Santa. They collect toys for tots and have all kinds of emergency vehicles with sirens blaring and one decorated sleigh with Santa. It was a pretty fun outing.

This house (above video) is less than .5 miles from our house, it does a huge light show/display every year. Pretty fun to see.

We headed to WA for the weekend and were able to get in to see our favorite Santa, this year they also took these additional pics of the kids.

Same Santa for our 5th year

Cookie Decorating

 While I was sad to miss cookie day in WA this year I did have each kid pick out a type of cookie they wanted to make with me. Lucy went for chocolate chips with mint M&Ms, Kate did gingerbread cutouts and Jaydon picked snicker doodles. I then made no bake cookies for Jeremy and he got in on the decorating action.

 

 

 

Kate's Christmas Concert

We got ourselves on the wrong side of the sanctuary but Kate enjoyed her Christmas concert and I attempted to get a couple pics.

Croatian Hall Santa Dinner

Immediately after Kate's concert we ran to the Croatian Hall to enjoy a lovely dinner and visit with Santa. The kids had fun playing with their friends and we enjoyed another lovely meal and socializing time. Above Kate with her friend Gavin. Below Lucy with Lilah and Mia.

Jaydon with Marco, Mateo and Luca

The kids sing some songs and in order for Santa to arrive they have to sing really loudly because he gets lost. It was great.

Sharing the mic or just trying not to be the one holding it at the end.

Santa!

Kate was thrilled, Lucy was not happy. Also we found out about 7 hours later that Lucy had the flu so that may have contributed to her not being super happy.

Yummm...dessert

The 5 of us

Our friends Erica, Lilah and Gavin

All of us together with Santa

As I mentioned Lucy came down with the flu, poor girl it always hits her hard and she can't seem to stop throwing up until she gets a zofran in her system. I had neglected to take pics the week before when both Jaydon and I came down with the 12 hour flu! So at this point Jeremy fought it hard and seems to have been successful and I can only hope that Kate doesn't get it.

Hard to believe it is only about half way through December - we have had a lot of fun so far!