Seattle!

Our family's most favorite thing when we visit home is our trip to downtown Seattle. It always goes something like this; fish n' chips at the famous Ivar's resturant (really the only time we eat fish), feeding the seagulls our extra french fries (they weren't too hungry this year) and then getting on the ferry to take a ride on the beautiful Puget Sound. This adventure is only made better by having lots of fun cousins to go with.

Some of the girl cousins on the ferry. Look how beautfful our weather was!! Amazing!

Daddy and Lauren

The whole crew! Lauren and Emily really wanted their picture with this bear. Emily is giving her very best (and quite convincing) scared look.

Lake House and Family Pictures!

We got a chance to go out and stay a night at Jason's parents lakehouse. It was so amazing. The weather was perfect our entire trip but out at the lake was so beautiful. The house just gets more and more amazing everytime we go. It is the perfect getaway!
We attempted to get some family pictures after church on one of the Sundays! The kids weren't really feeling it and we didn't come away with much.
This is exactly how it felt trying to get pictures!
This is really the only one that turned out and of course with our new additions, Lauren's baby (and Emily's princess shoes!)

Christmas!!!

So once again, I did a bad job of taking pictures Christmas morning but that is probably because we were having such a great time. We opened presents at Jason's parents first and then continued the festivities over at my parents. The girls were thoroughly spoiled and loved it. We had so much family home this Christmas, it was so wonderful to spend time with all of them.

A Few of Our Favorite Things.....

Visits to Santa....wish it was one of Lauren's favs but it's not, so no picture for her.
Reading Christmas books each night in December....Polar Express, our very favorite!
Christmas dresses from Great Grandma Polson....she always comes through with great dresses. Thanks Grandma!

Sick Day!!

This last Monday, Lauren came down with a little bug. It was so sad. She is usually our crazy, wild kid. With a little fever, she was reduced to a sleeping machine. Anytime she laid down she would just fall asleep. Right after one of her many naps, she wanted to watch a movie on my bed. I took her in, set up the movie and came back about 10 minutes later to this. So cute, but so sad. Fortunately, she was back to herself the next day and no one else has been infected so far....keeping our fingers crossed!

Pre-Holiday, Pre-school Events!

Emily's cute preschool had a couple of fun holiday events. Right before Thanksgiving they put on the cutest program. They had a poem they recited and a couple of songs to sing, complete with costume. It was so fun. I was impressed by how well the kids knew their stuff. The teachers had obviously worked hard with them. And then, the last day of preschool before Christmas break, a special visitor came to see the kids. You should have seen their faces....some sheer joy and some sheer terror...when the man in the red suit came in. They all got a chance to sit on his lap and tell him all their Christmas wished!! Since I got to work that day at school, Lauren got to come with me. She had the most dramatic look of terror when he came in. I wish I had it on camera. Priceless. She had nothing to do with him.

Emily and her friend!
Emily and the cutest Santa ever.

Lauren loved being at preschool!!! Can't wait til next year!

Trimming the Tree!

Ok, so not really "trimming" it since last year we broke down and bought a cute little pre-lit tree, but we did decorate it. It was super fun this year since the girls really could do most of it themselves (it helps that the tree's about their size). I love the girls genuine amazement with every ornament, like they've never seen it before. They are so excited for Christmas this year...such a fun age.

Finished product...with really no help from Jason or I! Thus the clump of ornaments in front!I think Lauren in showing an ornament, which I cut out of the picture! Goofy kids!

Thanksgiving Fun!!!

We had a great Thanksgiving. Again this year, we spent Thanksgiving at my sister's in San Diego. We have gone to her house every Thanksgiving but one since we've been married and we love it!! This year one of my brothers and my other sister and their families joined in on the festivities as well. My girls were is cousin heaven. We always have serious withdrawals when we leave Deb's house, especially with so many cousins there this time!!! We had a pretty low-key weekend which was awesome. The food was the best and the company was perfect!!!

I didn't take great pictures.....too busy playing with family!!

Started out with some good Turkey Bowl fun!!

Ate wonderful food at a beautiful table....thanks to Ally!!

Serious cousin lovin'!!

Happy Halloween!!

So I've decided to just ignore the nearly two month gap of lost information on my blog and forge ahead. This year I wanted to do family costumes again, but October got away from me, thus the girls got to choose their own costumes!!! In the end, they are very happy and I think they're cute.

Last night we attended our ward's annual trunk or treat. I have to admit, in the past we've done a pretty bad job of decorating our trunk. So this year, to make up for the lack of costume by Jason and I, Jason decorated the back of the truck as a cemetary, complete with real grass. The end product was pretty cool and earned Jason the award of "Best decorate trunk!" We're so proud!

Still here, again....

So, I am the worlds worst blogger but we are still here and doing really well. Things have been busy but wonderful. One of these days (hopefully soon), I'll post pics and tell you all about it.