Klondike #1

We sent our little boy out camping in the winter with the scouts from our ward...

He came home...3+ hours later than expected...missing his brand new wool socks...and without my very best gloves...and sporting a scratched up face!!

I'm guessing this is what the next 4+ years of scouting we have ahead is kind of going to look like...BOYS--Yikes.

I should have expected this...

It happens every year, yet every year it still seems just as unexpected as the year before.  After all the hype of Christmas and New Years is over, I can't quite seem avoid the gaping hole that it leaves behind.  I set resolutions and it actually feels good to clean up and take down all the Christmas decorations, and the kids head back to school and I finally have a little time to get things done and catch my breath.  Yet, there is always still that little sadness that creeps in...and the resolutions and fresh start feel more like hard work than exciting possibilities.  We've got head colds, early morning seminary in below freezing weather, church from 1-4pm (with a toddler and as nursery leader), and no immediate plans for anything exciting.  Welcome to January.

Written by Kya in the snow at midnight

Summer asleep at 5pm on the first Sunday of 2017--ugh

Boxing Day in Canada

Since moving to Washington, we've always headed to Canada the day after Christmas (I guess that's fitting since there is no "boxing day" in America).  This year, I was a little worried that the snow would keep us from the trip.  But there was no snow was in the forecast for the 26th...

Well, sure enough as soon as we hit the border, we ran into some snow.  And of course we planned on driving the back roads since it was closer to Tina's house...you see where this is going?

That's right.  We got stuck...in the snow....driving up a hill...on a curvy country road...with no gloves or boots...and a car full of kids.

Jordan and I tried pushing...then Mike and Jordan...then we accepted defeat and called family to come help.  Luckily less than 5 minutes after I called, a couple of friendly Canadians (fitting every stereotype) stopped and helped us push.  After just a minute or two we were up the hill and on our way.

And just like that, we arrived safe and sound for 5 days in The Great White North!

Snuggles from Grandpa

Even for me

Stories with Grandma

Black light, 5 Pin Bowling with these grumps and The Tambres

Snuggles with Peetah

And finally (after who knows how many years) Tim Hortons!

Christmas 2016

Another wonderful Christmas has come and gone...too quickly, as usual.

Christmas Break

We were lucky enough to have some of our friends (The Boyntons) staying with us for a few days.  We went to Bellevue Botanical Gardens, which were beautiful but we walked through the entire display in about 10 minutes.

We also went roller skating!  Super fun and brought back childhood memories of birthday parties.

Christmas Baking

This year we only made sugar cookies, pulla, and naniomo bars...Summer loves to be "Mom's Little Helper!"

The kids got a little out of control with the decorating of the sugar cookies this year...we ended up with quite a few black ones (due to mixing food coloring) and even a few broken ones.  But I'm sure they'll agree it was more fun.

Christmas Skating

As cute as those tiny size 8 toddler skates are, and as excited as Summer looks...she absolutely HATED ice skating.  Jordan and Kya didn't last too long either this year, so I think we were done in under an hour.  Hopefully it'll go a little better next year.

Christmas Jammies

Christmas Presents

A lot of clothes and shoes for the girls this year...and a lot of toys for Tyson and Summer.

Christmas Naps

There's nothing I can do to stop these two from falling asleep once we put on a movie.

Christmas Sunday

I actually loved having Christmas on Sunday this year (it helped that church wasn't until 11).  It was a beautiful way to honor our Savior and celebrate his birth.

Christmas Dinner

 Yum, Yum, Yum!

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!!