Christmas Festivities!

December and the Christmas festivities started off of course with the hunt for the perfect tree.  We had a serious cold snap, reminiscent of Eastern WA with  teen temperatures and clear blue skies....ahhh!  Definitely started the Christmas spirit!  Cassidy and Sawyer found the one that we brought home, how could you have said no to those faces?

After that it seemed we had something every weekend; work parties where Sawyer actually went up to a Santa

 Then it was off to our local "lights of Christmas" where different service organizations decorate campsites and we got to see Frosty (Rylee), drink hot chocolate and slog through mud with our closest friends as a family

 And then family came, snow came and Christmas was in full gear.  Papa Doug showed the girls how to make a proper snowman...even in the dark

 and those two cuties (Cass and Sawyer) convinced me to pull them around the yard in the toboggan and call it sledding

 And sugar cookies were made, and made, and made

 and decorated, and decorated, and decorated

 The girls loved having Grandma and Grandpa around to snuggle

and tickle.  I had left to go get groceries and this is what I found when I got back...they were supposed to have had baths and been in bed!

Christmas Eve up north was wonderful

 Grandma Kit and Papa Jerry with all the grand kids; 16 to 2 years old

 The girls; Alexa, Cass, Lindsay, and Sawyer

Always stayin' busy, thanks to Auntie Lori and Granma 

 Tracking Santa

 PJs!

 and desert, doesn't get much better

 Once we got home Cassidy quickly got Santa's plate together careful not to forget his reindeer

 and then we all snuggled up to read "T'was the Night Before Christmas" and then it was off to bed

 I don't think we could have gotten another present around the tree.  Santa brought the girls the lego table and we officially outgrew the loft for opening presents

 After an "bucket line" to get the presents downstairs we were all ready to go

 Bryce and Jess made us brunch as we got the living room cleaned up and presents sorted

 So many fun things

 Sawyer may be our engineer...she was determined to build track by herself

 Mackenzie joined us for a little while

 and Cassidy took great care in decorating her Christmas tree with Grandma Margie

 dinners almost ready....

Let's eat!

 With Christmas being in the middle of the week, everyone was gone by the next day, but we had a wonderful Christmas with wonderful family.

Ohh, isn't this a sweet picture?  No! This has been the bain of my existence since Christmas!  

One of our traditions is new Christmas Eve pajamas.  Not wanting to do the matching thing, we got the babies different sets....oh, little did we know.  Turns out the "Ho Ho Ho" jammies were a huge hit and we have spent every night since (I'm writing this the end of Feb.) alternating between "HoHoHo" and "Coco lights" and sneaking in a washing as often as we can.  Seriously, they wake up asking "my turn for hohoho?" but thankfully they are taking turns really well.  Just consider this your warning, they may have matching jammies next year!

 At the end of winter break we got to see cousin Kristen play in a basketball game somewhat close by and then go out to lunch with her, Shannon and Stan.  It was really nice to see them and get to visit since we don't get the chance very often.  In fact they hadn't met the twins and maybe had seen Cass when she was just a babe.  Kristen was the flower girl in Chad and I's wedding, almost 13 years ago! We've made a serious goal to make this happen a whole lot more often!

November

November started off with some beautiful weather and our annual "Turkey Trot".  Cassidy ran the 1 mile fun run again this year with me.  Our only rule was to never stop and  to not come in last, and she did great!  Then Kate and I were off for our 5K part.  I have to say it was wonderful crossing the finish line with my cheering section!

By the beginning of November, Cassidy had met her ABC challenge at school.  This mean she can sing and sign language all the letters, their sounds and something that starts with the letter.  She is amazing, and loves it too!  

We made a quick trip down to Woodland to see Howard and Sue, Bob and Bette and Sheryl, Scott and MacKenzie.  We had a great time and I love that my girls love going.  

I have to admit, Costco is our favorite place to shop...so much good stuff AND everyone fits in the cart!!

Then it was over the mountains to Dayton...with a kitchen crew like this, you knew dinner had to be good!

Our friends Bobbe (a retired K-1st grade teacher) and John helped entertain the girls with great projects, fun games and stories

It was cool but beautiful outside so before dinner I had to take advantage.  Just look at this girl

and this was pretty much what I got when I tried to get all 3

except for one last hail mary with Papa Doug helping to herd...Rylee has the pink plaid and Sawyer the purple plaid (sorry, I know they are pretty matching)

Dinner!

And then of course it was out to the shop to get the wagon ready to go for the next days' Christmas Kickoff

Dad did a different hitch this year, 4 abreast, to help with the heavy loads...seems his reputation is spreading.  The girls all did wonderfully, despite a couple little hiccups and it was another successful hay ride adventure

After prying Cassidy off the wagon, Grandma Margie got her special time too-she and Cassidy went into town to watch Peter Pan and of course had to get all dressed up for their special night

Ok, this picture is just too funny not to share.  The town puts on a "Living Nativity" and Izzy the camel just ate Sawyer...not really of course, but it sure looks like it!  I can't tell if Rylee was thinking "Oh no" or "Oh yeah"

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and soooo much to be thankful for. Oh and we broke down and got a new pick-up...yes it's orange and yes we have an amazing amount of room!  No one is kicking the back of the seat, even with the seats back where they are comfortable.  I have to admit though, I'm going to miss our old pick-up...she's been great and we have lots of memories, but we are keeping her in the "coug" family, and the new one does run very nice, hehehehe