If you only knew how often this took place. Stella would squeal or scream for a cookie if she saw anyone else with it. Then she figured out how to take the lid off the tupperware to get her own.. these were not small cookies people.
We took the girls to Seattle and walked around the Seattle center area. HOLY COW... I forgot how fortunate we are here in St. Louis...everything is either free or really cheap. The zoo=free, science center=free botanical gardens=$6 the arch=free to see the museum and a nominal fee to ride to the top. Seattle= NO FREE. We went up to the Space Needle and ate lunch at the 360 degree restaurant. Isabel LOVED it. The food was delicious. It was really a fantastic family date. Afterwards we went to see the troll under the Freemont bridge. I just love my little family!
We found the toy soliders
Love this picture of Daddy and Stella!
It was so cold!
Bunny ears when they don't know are the best.
Troll under the bridge, and no, I have no idea why on earth I am standing like that.
Izzy spent most every morning out feeding the horses, Stella did go one time but it was so cold. Leslie even indoctrinated Isabel on how to properly climb to the top of the hay bales and camp out.
The girls feeding
We played with the Bonnell's again. We got a picture of Averi and Stella hanging out in the swing together... they were not too amused.
This was taken one night after we got back from seeing Eric and Amy Radimak. I forgot to get pictures with them.. but Stella loved her Grandpa.
Stella talking with Grandpa
We did an advent calender while we were there. It was not as fantastic as I had hoped, but it was a start... and more importantly got me FINALLY using something I had pinned on pintrest. :) So the activity one night was to make smore's. So downstairs we went in front of the fireplace. We let Isabel roast her own marshmellows this time. She was pretty excited.
We did have a great visit the Great Gpa and Ma.. Aunt Sue and Uncle Jerry along with the rest of the McLees family. It was been too long since we have really visited with everyone and 8 Christmas's ago since I was there. Leslie and I each received a newspaper from the Seattle-Post Intelligencer from the day we were born. Pretty cool.
All the men on my Dad's side.
Gpa Gerry, Uncle Jerry, Jacob, Dad and Mike
And the Ladies.. I had to get on of my mom smiling. We were all laughing at how hard it is to make her smile with eyes open
Grandma Donna, Mom, my, Aunt Sue, Leslie and of course, Isabel and Stella
One tradition many of my friends do with their families is to have matching pajamas for Christmas. So I decided I would make them for my family... then added mom and dad since it was just two more.. then added Leslie and Jacob because I thought it would be fun. After MANY tears and frustrations and a few laughs all eight pairs of pajama pants were made. most didn't fit right but everyone wore them and at least pretended to like them!
Here are all 8 pairs of pajama pants I made!!! Oh and my awesome family.
This was Christmas eve... hanging out and Leslie and I reliving life when we were kids.
Isabel's favorite cookie she left for Santa.
Christmas morning we woke up with this.
The following moments were so fun... Isabel was able to finally join the tradition of the littlest passing out gifts.. she got sidetract a few times and wanted to just start opening her own. We got a couple of great pictures of Gma smiling and looking happy... just imagine for those that might know mom.... eyes open AND smiling. IT's A MIRACLE!!!
The girls enjoyed their matching glowing rings... Stella was pretty much done after opening this... and it was in her stocking.
Isabel was SO excited that she received all four boy barbie dolls that she wanted. Flynn is her favorite.
And after Christmas... mom and dad played a board game with us.. yea my parents playing pictionary is PRICELESS.. especially for a dad who thinks so technically.
We had such a great trip and can't wait to do it again.. although Mike may not be able to stay for as long! :)
And saying goodbye to Auntie Leslie!
2 comments:
So I've looked at this a few times and shown everyone within shouting distance and my sister has sent me four (!) messages about why I haven't commented. All within less than twenty-four hours. Which is pretty rich considering it took her over THREE WEEKS to post it! Well, I'm busy sometimes and I wanted to have enough time to write a funny and engaging response.
So, here it goes. The family pic turned out so cute! Though I wish we'd gotten one of me in my pj pants. I could fit both of my legs in one pj leg. They were roomy, though. We missed pics on the hay bales, which was one of the highlights of my trip. Isabel was so worried that she wasn't supposed to do it, but I convinced her that if she was with me, it would be OK. Uncle Jacob had a blast climbing all over them with her a couple days later, too.
It was an adventure and a kick in the pants having you up for the month... even though we discovered that you have some Clark Griswald expectations around good, old-fashioned fun family Christmases.
So, I'll be stealing a few of these pics for my own personal delight. Thanks for (finally!) posting!
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