Christmas Tree 2016

I swear we never used to fight this much when picking out a Christmas tree!!  Here's how it went this year:

Anita

-wants Mike to hold up just about every tree (well only every tree in the 8-10ft range)

-wants everyone to look at each tree with her, trying to determine if it's the perfect tree

-wants to take her time and make sure she gets the right tree

Mike

-wants to hold up as few trees as possible

-wants to leave as soon as he gets to the tree lot

-thinks every tree is fine

Jordan

-wants to leave...didn't really want to come in the first place

Kya

-wants to play 

-doesn't want to miss out on picking out a tree but is too busy playing and before she knows Mom is forced to make a quick decision and we are done and she doesn't get to help

Tyson

-wants to play

-doesn't want to watch Sumner

Summer

-wants to play with Tyson 

-wants to stay and play at the tree lot all day

So we ended up leaving with a tree Mom didn't love, Kya was sad that she didn't get to help pick it out, Mom lectured everyone about making the whole experience miserable.  Then we got home and Mom hated the tree.  

After the lights and decorations were on it, everyone agreed that it was one of our most beautiful trees...even Mom.  Maybe next year we should skip all the bad stuff and just get to the good stuff...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas Lights ✔

Looking at Christmas lights is something that truly makes me feel Christmassy.  We are so lucky to have a church about 5 minutes from our house that puts on a beautiful little light show, with music, lights, cookies and hot chocolate and they even have a little train that travels through a miniature village.

Snow ✔

It's not every year we get snow around here, so when we do it is super special...and of course super Christmassy.  We were lucky enough to get  a day off school to play in the snow.  Summer absolutely LOVED it and we had to force her inside after probably 3 hours.  Her favorite was making snow angels and eating the snow.

I-fly or I-die?

It's a rare occurrence as adults that you get invited to a location birthday party...but I guess now that our friends are all turning 40, it's not quite as rare.  A few weeks ago we went to a 40th birthday party at a place called Ifly, an indoor skydiving party.  I had heard of some kids around Tyson's age having their parties there, and even though the thought of skydiving--even if it's indoor, scared me, if 11 year old boys could do it, then I could too!

As the day of the party grew nearer, I grew more nervous.  When we got to the party room, we got to watch a few groups "fly," which made me even more nervous.  Mostly I was worried it would make me dizzy, which would make me feel nauseous, which would make me throw up.  Or that the instructor would let go of me and I would go flying up to the ceiling and die.  Anyway, we were with a group of maybe 6 couples, and most of the women were a bit scared, which helped me feel a little better.  Little did I know, it wasn't me who should be worried;)

We suited up in our flight suits, helmets, and goggles and after listening to about 5 minutes of instruction, we were ready to go.   We lined up in no particular order...except maybe the scaredy cats going last!!  The line of party guests watched as each person took their turn.  Basically, the instructor takes you into a giant tube with fans blowing a ton of air to simulate skydiving.  When it was my turn, I jumped into the tube towards the instructor, he grabbed me and helped me get into the proper position (tummy down, arms and legs out, fingers spread, and head up) and then just kind of held on to me making sure I didn't lose control or fly away.  It was actually kind of fun...besides the air blowing straight up my nose and in my mouth.  Then after my minute (yes it's only a single minute) was up it was Mike's turn.

After I got out, I talked to the other people from our party waiting for their turn to fly.  There was also a TV set up to watch myself and the flyers that had already gone.  I started watching the TV, until I heard somebody gasp.  I looked into the flying cylinder and saw my husband...he was on his side against the wall (in the fetal position), with the instructor practically on top of him!!  Then I watched as the instructor struggled to get Mike back in the correct position and out the door to safety (practically carrying him like a little baby).

Mike came out laughing...and went back in for more when his next turn came.  We all had a good laugh at his expense, and now we have a great story to tell about how Mike almost died (not really) at an indoor skydiving party:)  After the flying was over, Mike asked the instructor what happened and he told him that Mike had hit his arm on the wall, causing his arm to go underneath him and the pressure from the air made him flip over.  Well...we got to download videos of us flying, so Mike watched his crash over and over (which is actually totally hilarious BTW) and he swears the instructor pushed his leg down and that's how the crash started:)  Good times.

  

Good Bye Cub Scouts

I can't even tell you how excited Tyson was to start Cub Scouts.  His sister had been going to Activity Days or Young Women activities for years and he just couldn't wait to have his turn.

Here he is at his very first pack meeting with his brand new uniform--no patches!

       

He made his rocket all by himself!

First Pinewood Derby!

First Day Camp!

Fist Cake (Wolf Paw)

Carrying the flag

 

2nd Cake (He's a bear now...we never did get that neckerchief!)

 

Rocket launching with the crazy scientist

 He's a Weebalo!!

Raingutter Regatta

Third cake (this one he did all by himself)

Bicycle Derby in the pouring rain

Last year of Day Camp

Meeting the Mayor of Bothell

Arrow of Light

Getting welcomed by the 11-year-old Scouts

We have LOVED being a part of Cub Scouts...well all except sitting through pack meeting:)  But we are even more excited to see what Tyson gets to do in Boy Scouts.  Bring on the Camp outs!!

Halloween 2016

Our family was very much divided this Halloween...and I'm pretty sure this is how it will be from here on out...oh how hard it is to let things change and to let kids grow up!  Oh, and we didn't even get a chance to carve pumpkins this year!!  Fail by Mom, I know....but at least they'll get to stay on my porch a little longer.

Jordan had a halloween party at a friends house with no costumes.  Then she had dance during the ward party, so she didn't even do a costume this year.  

Kya was a Mariner's fan/player.  She dressed up for the ward party, school, the family party in Canada, and she even went trick or treating with her friends.  I'm guessing this will be her last year trick or treating...but you never know.

Tyson was Frankenstein.  He dressed up for the ward party and went trick or treating with friends.  He said next year he wanted a costume that didn't require him to wear make-up! 

 

Summer was a baby chick.  She dressed up for the ward party.  When it came time for trunk or treat and the church, it was pouring rain so she stayed in the trunk and handed out candy most of the time.  She did go to a few trunks when the rain died down.  She didn't go trick or treating although she LOVED opening the door for the trick or treaters and gave them candy.  She would run full speed to the door, open it up and say "I have candy," 

Mike and I dressed up for the ward party and again for the Halloween party we had in Canada at Tina's house.  Mike was a male nurse (just like every year) and I was a tired housewife for the ward party (so I could wear jammies) and a farmer up in Canada.

After all the kids were off to their parties or trick or treating, it was a strange feeling just to be home with Summer.  Mike was still at work and Summer and I just watched Charlie Brown and handed out candy.  I guess next year she'll probably want to go trick or treating....

Overall it was a great Halloween...and Tyson is the only one with obscene amount of candy, so that's good.

Tyson Turns 11

Tyson spend his birthday at school, followed by soccer practice.  He didn't eve get cake until his party a few weeks later (which had to be rescheduled due to a devastating wind storm that was predicted but never happened).  He actually opted not to have cake because he wanted to go to a buffet for his birthday dinner...and with so may dessert options, we knew there wouldn't be room for cake.

Tyson party was pizza and cake at home...then we headed to the pool...and good thing too because a minute longer and my house would have been destroyed!!  I don't think he could have had a better birthday.

 

At 11 years old, Tyson is such a great kid.  He loves school, riding bikes with his friends, playing hide and go seek or tag, playing Minecraft (or watching youtube videos), he likes math and science, playing soccer and basketball, swimming, going to scouts, playing at the park, or playing board games.  He is such a good big brother to Summer and little brother to Jordan and Kya.  He is pretty easy going and has a good attitude.  We are just so grateful to have Tyson a part of our family!