"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree"

On Sunday afternoon I wrangled my husband away from the wreath business for all of about 1 hour to search for our perfect Christmas tree. We headed down to Brewer's Christmas Tree Farm as we have the past few years. They close at 4pm on Sunday and of course we pulled in right at 3:45pm. Luckily for us we have been going there for years and know the sweet spot on the farm for the perfect tree.


The Long Walk Out to the Sweet Spot

We found the tree in about 5 minutes and it only took that long because Georgia and I were actually looking at all the trees. Andy started calling over to us that he had found the perfect tree and while his was pretty perfect, I turned around and found the ONE.



Nat and the ONE





                          

                                         Too bad the Christmas cards were already done...this would have been a great picture.



Decorating the tree



Natalie

Here's something you may notice in the above picture...LED lights are horribly bright and with a blue tint. The old fashioned lights are on the bottom...I will be redoing the tree with the old lights.

Pumpkin Carving

It's that time of year. Although we missed our pumpkin patch outing with the Bennetts this year we were still able to get pumpkins. Thank goodness for Wal-mart (never thought I would utter those words in my life). I picked the girls up each a pumpkin and told them we would go online to find some stencils the designs. The girls selected Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, and Tinkerbell. Note to everyone: triangle eyes, square nose and a big mouth with random teeth are much easy to cut out than the Disney stencils.



Natalie scooping the seeds out.



Andy carving and Georgia putting on her stencil outline.



I think they turned out ok, and the girls had a blast helping.

Natalie's Maleficent pumpkin.

Georgia's Tinkerbell pumpkin.

Andy's design from scratch...took the least amount of time and looks awesome.

Ahhh Vacation

Finally a vacation. At home. This is the first time in two years that I have taken a week off of work and stayed in Washington. Granted we were still busy but it is just more relaxing when you are not flying off some where, trying to cram all the sights of your vacation destination into one week.

On Sunday we headed over to Lincoln Rock State Park in Wenatchee and went camping with my parents and sister and brother in law. It was wonderful. That is a wonderful state park with a huge play area for the kids and nice swimming area too. On Tuesday we went river rafting down the Wenatchee River. And on Wednesday headed back home.

Painting and playing bubbles...waiting for Grammy & Grampy to arrive.

Soccer star

Auntie and her girls "driving" to the play area

Nat hanging out with Grampy in the tent.

Friday Georgia's friend Katie came over and we went to see a movie, play at the water fountain in Olympia and then back to our house for some play time.

Natalie and Katie

Georgia on the slip 'n slide

On Saturday morning after a nice 9 mile walk with my sister, Julie called and asked what we were doing? What a nice surprise...she drove down with her kiddos and had dinner with us.

Baby Kenyon...so cute.

We made ice cream sandwiches for dessert...thanks Auntie Julie!

Nat and Liv, best friends.

Ahhh what a great vacation.

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale

There was a time when I was just out of college, working in downtown Seattle, when I shopped frequently at Nordstrom. However the last 8 years I have been in Shelton. Now I know this may shock some of you, but there is no Nordstrom in Shelton...or Olympia.

I am also a wife and a mother and own a home and have a car payment, so needless to say I do not get to spend my money on my clothing anymore. This is why I end up shopping at Target. I do however like for my girls to dress adorable so today when I read several people on Facebook talk about the Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale I decided to get online (remember I live at least an hour from a Nordstrom). I found the cutest coat and boots for my soon to be kindergartener!!!

 

$100 dollars later I still have nothing from Nordstrom, but my 5 year old will look adorable for her first day of Kindergarten.

California Here We Come...California!!!

For the second time this year Andy and I headed down to California, this time we brought the girls with us. Disneyland here we come! The girls were very excited to go to Disney, they really wanted to meet Tink and Mickey Mouse, both dreams came true.

Tink asked Georgia about the Tooth Fairy...it made her day!

Christmas card photo...get ready.

Minnie, me and Nat

We flew down on Thursday, did Disney on Friday, California Adventure on Saturday and headed down San Diego for a relaxing beach day on Sunday.

Disney proved to be a bit too much for the girls, by 1:00pm each afternoon the girls were begging to go back to the motel and go swimming. But they were troopers and after a swim and some what of a nap we were back at the theme parks.

Natalie was determined to get the sword out...we went back several times.

Georgia tried her hardest, but showed up empty.

Day one at disney = exhausted Natalie

Rocket launch at California Adventure

Best day over all was Sunday visiting with Andy's good friend Mike and his lovely/adorable girlfriend Michelle. A picnic was packed and off to Coronado we went. I have two beach girls. They loved San Diego, as did we.

My beach girls.

The group enjoying ice cream.

Memorial Day Weekend - Annual Camping Trip!!

Andy and I started camping in Long Beach before we were married and the tradition continues...rain, shine or wind we camp. Once again this year we were joined with our partners in camping crime, the Bennett Family, Sparks Family and Gragg Family. We had a great time, got some great garage sale finds, and the kiddos enjoyed every minute. Georgia would ask every night if we had to go home in the morning and when I would tell her no she was over the moon excited.

This was our camp mascot. He came around everyday to see what leftovers we had.

Lily and Natalie playing in the rain.

The 3 Amigos...that is until Lily came over and told us that they (nat and lils) weren't best friends with Olivia anymore, because she lost their caterpiller...gotta love girls!

York and Bago still cruising 20 years later : )

Julie and her girls: Olivia and Kate

Georgia and me

Kate, Georgia, Natalie and Olivia

Georgia decided to take up woodworking and built a bench...Uncle Jimmy or Uncle Tony if you are looking for a summer employee, this girls got some skills!

Graduation

Georgia has graduated from Pre-School!! In Shelton they do a big graduation ceremony just like we had in high school, including cap, gown & tassle. It was really cute and she was really excited.

Georgia & BFF/Cousin Morgen

Georgia, Morgen, Kennadi, Claire
First Day of Pre-K

Claire, Kennadi, Morgen & Georgia
at Graduation