Cook Offs

Sometimes it's tricky to find something two adults, a 19 year old (who is an adult too I guess), and a 10 year old actually enjoy doing together.  This winter break, we discovered cooking.  So far we have done 2 cook offs and everyone has had a lot of fun.

Steak Cook Off

Summer and Tyson both attempted a pan fried steak...one was under cooked and one was overcooked:)

Dad was of course the winner...cooking his steak on the grill and even grilling up some yummy potatoes as a side.

Dessert Cook Off

Summer's was a little rich (just nutella and whipped cream mixed together, but look at that presentation!

Tyson's gluten free mug cake actually turned out delicious!

Mom's won overall best, but both were yummier when you added Summer's to them haha.

We didn't get a picture of Dad's because his took to long.  

He made chocolate covered Oreos which took a while to set.

Now we need to come up with some more categories...

Canada Christmas

 This year we headed up to Canada December 27th to celebrated with the Kurki Clan.  I wanted to stop at Dad's grave, since Jordan had never been there and Kya hadn't been there since the funeral.  I thought we should all be there together at least once.  I so wish Dad was still with us.  He is missed everyday.

Tina took more pictures than normal this year because Becca wasn't with us (she and Brody are in Florida doing her cancer treatment until the end of January) and she wanted to send them to her.  We really missed Becca and Brody...it really wasn't the same without them.  Janae and Jason were missing too because they were skiing.  Luckily we got to see them before we headed home.

Tyler and Trevor were in a pretty bad car accident a coupe days before Christmas, so it was extra special to be able to see them.  So grateful they were ok.

The cousins are all grown up now.  Crazy.

On the way home I REALLY wanted to drive through the lights at the Tulalip Casino (30 min away). I am so glad we did because it was beautiful.  Next year we'll have to do it at a time when can park and get out and walk around.  Definitely worth the drive!

Christmas, Party of Eight

 The best part about Christmas this year was that we were all together.  

Kya and Clayton (tried to) surprised us by driving home a day early.  Then Jordan and Mikel had to day off so they (tried to) surprised us by coming over too!  So when Mike got home from picking Tyson up from the airport, everyone was here:)  

Practicing "Dress to Impress Poses" (pose 28 mostly haha)

Christmas Sunday

We decorated sugar cookies 

Traditional BAD picture at Evergreen Lights

We decided to give ice skating on Christmas Eve another go...I opted not to skate because of my PTSD from the tailbone incident two years ago.  Everyone had a good time except Summer who quit after maybe 3 laps and declared that next year we should skip skating.

Jordan and Mikel had to work just about every day until the evening of Christmas Eve.  We were so excited when they finally got home!  We went straight to sibling gifts:)  We drew names this year, just to keep the cost down for the kids.  Everyone was so happy with their gifts...especially Summer who got spoiled with FOUR presents from Jordan.

We then moved on to our gingerbread competition...Kya and Clayton's first test of their marriage--haha.

Christmas Jammies were fun this year.  Everyone got a "most likely to..."  And Summer got to do grown up PJs for the first time:)

Christmas morning was as magical as ever.  I was the first one up--shocker, but the kids quickly followed.  I think it was about 7:30am.

Callie was the star of the show, giving everyone so much love on Christmas.  We didn't realize until later that Stormi was actually sick (with a swollen lip) which is probably why she was MIA all day.

The girls made the traditional charcuterie board (wearing their matching Aritzia sets)

Gluten free brownie trifle was amazing

Delicious Turkey Dinner

And of course, the Christmas Cracker crowns...I think each boy went through two crowns before the picture haha.  Good thing I had extras!

And that's a wrap on another beautiful Christmas

Ukulele Recital

I miss Christmas Concerts!  When my older kids were young, their schools all seemed to do some type of Holiday/Winter/Christmas concert.  But Summer's school doesn't do anything like that, and when she was in piano, her teacher didn't do recitals at Christmas time.  So I was very excited to hear that Summer's Ukulele teacher was having a recital in December...even if they weren't play a Christmas song (they played "This Land is Your Land".  

Summer was super nervous and did NOT want to perform, but she did a fantastic job.  She even had a verse where she was the only one playing.  I have loved listening to her practice the ukulele, and hope I can get her to stick with it long enough for her to love it too.

Our Silver Anniversary

How old must we be to have been married for 25 years?!  Craziness! 

I felt a lot of pressure to do something significant since 25 years is kind of a big deal.  But with our anniversary in December, I never want to go anywhere.  The kids were due to come home in the next couple days, and I just wanted to get everything ready for Christmas.  

But, there was something I really wanted...something that I had wanted for a long time...something that we really didn't need....something that was expensive...something that I maybe could pass off as something for our anniversary....right?  Luckily, my husband was on board, or just got so sick of me asking.  So...for our anniversary, we got a new bedroom set--and I LOVE it:) 

25 Highlights

1.Our beautiful wedding, sealing, open house, reception

2.  Honeymoon in Niagara Falls (aka meeting Mike's family for the first time)

3.  Jordan's Birth (becoming parents)

4.  Moving to California (accepting a job at Sony)

5.  Kya's Birth

6.  Moving to Monterey/Marina 

7.  Tyson's Birth

8.  Getting our first kitty (Miley)

9. Moving to Los Angeles

10.  Season Passes to Disneyland

11.  Soccer, softball, and basketball games

12.  Dance recitals

13.  Trips to the beach

14.  Big Bear

15.  Palm Springs

16.  Summers in Canada

17.  Move to Washington

18.  Trip to Hawaii

19.  Summer's Birth

20.  Trip to Mexico

21.  Trip to Creston

22.  Trip to NY/DC/Toronto

23.  Trip to Europe (England/France)

24.  Trip to Finland/Sweden

25.  All the great talks and laughs 

Ok, the trips kind of took over the list haha.  But honestly, I think my absolute favorite memories are the times we spend at home with all our kiddos just laughing and talking and being together.  It really is a beautiful life we have created together.

What an amazing 25 years it has been!

November

Since November is the month of gratitude, let's make a list of things I am grateful for...that happened this November:)

-I took a solo trip to Canada 

(stocked up on scarves from Grandma and did a sisters/mom dinner at White Spot)

-I voted (for President) for the first time...although I wasn't happy with the results:/ Trump

-Mike and I saw Wicked (the musical)--Amazing!!!

-We had a huge wind storm that shut off power for most of Bothell and Woodinville, but ours stayed on:)  We had to find something (kitties) to entertain us while the rest of the town was shut down

-School was cancelled for 2 days because of the power outage

(which meant Summer got to go to Elevated Sportz with Genevieve)

-At Summer's parent/teacher conference her teacher raved about what a great student she was

-We got to go to the Scholastic Book Fair (for the last year)

-We made popcorn balls

-Tyson came home for Thanksgiving

-We set up and decorated the Christmas tree

-We went to the movies to see Wicked as a family

Why didn't I take a picture??

-We ate a delicious turkey dinner

No picture of the turkey dinner this year either.  I had high hopes for this gluten free pie, but the crumble wasn't great.  All the gluten free attempts for Thanksgiving weren't great...try again next year.

There are so many things to be thankful for each and every day.  I am blessed beyond measure.