Christmas Lights

Today we braved the cold, drizzly weather to get our outside lights strung up. We were pleasantly surprised to see quite a few of our neighbors putting theirs up, too! I never understood people who waited til the last minute to put up their lights. It's so much work, you might as well enjoy them as long as you can!



Corey getting a boost from Scott.

I'm glad I bought all those lights at half off yesterday at Fred Meyer!

Untangling lights.

Scott loves using the electric staple gun. Luckily no one shot their eye out :)

Gabby posing while Scott is waiting for that ornament.

Corey

Our little lighted snowman. He has lasted 3 whole seasons which is way longer than our poor deer did.

The finished product-not quite dark enough to see all the lights lit up.

Putting up the Christmas Tree 2009

Ok, why does it feel like I just blogged us putting up the Christmas tree? I swear this year has gone by at lightning speed! Here we are again........

The girls putting the tree up-I love my new snowmen tree skirt!

The usual suspects-Scott lounging & Winston incessantly licking his paws!

The girls finally got Scott to help put the tree together. Guess Winston wanted to help, too! If only he had opposable thumbs.

There he is hiding.

Scott doing his regular job of putting hooks on the ornaments. Winston is lounging again. What a rough life he has.

Naughty dog.

This was Gabby's year to put on the angel.

Our Cougar wreath. Wonder how they will do tomorrow at the Apple Cup? It has been a really long, hard season for us Coug fans.

The finished product.

Christmas Forest

For the past several years we have talked about going to the view the Christmas trees at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. But somehow we never made it there. Today we finally went, and wouldn't you know it, I didn't have my camera with me! I was still able to take some pics with my phone though the quality was not the best. The trees were amazing! The funny thing was that some people in Gabby's dance company were there performing bits of The Nutcracker, and we didn't even know it was going on! They did a great job and we are excited to see their performance (with Gabby, of course!) in December.


Gabby with one of the trees.

Cool gingerbread house. Those roof tiles are made from ginger snaps and the porch front is made up of jelly bellies.

Another pretty tree.

By the entrance.

Corey by a nutcracker.

It's kind of hard to see, but this was a Seattle Sounders themed tree. That monkey is wearing a Sounders jersey.

Candy cane tree. Can you see where Gabby recently lost her tooth?

Thanksgiving 2009

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We sure did! It was great to see my family in Puyallup whom we haven't seen since last Thanksgiving. After A LOT of yummy food we played cards and ate even MORE food! Gabby had seconds of the pumpkin pie and I can't even count how many chocolate chip cookies Corey ate :) There is so much to be thankful for this year.......

Scott & Susan

Gabby & Ronny with a run of six 3's...I guess it only happens once in a blue moon. It gave them 1200 points to win the lead from Corey & Scott.

Playing canasta-Gina, Corey, Rebecca & Scott

Ronny teaching Gabby some strategy.

Julie & Gina

Gabs took this one of herself :)

Corey getting coached by Gina.

Corey!

Weather Blues

This is so where I want to be right now.

Unfortunately this is where I am right now. We have had many wind/rain storms over the past few weeks. I want it to END! NOW! I think the hardest month to live here is November.

Winstonian

Winston is so photogenic!

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Wishes go out to Alex Bass who turns 14 today!

Group Photo

This is a group photo from when the girls made their monster pillows at the Mitchell's house. It was too cute not to post. They all did a great job!

Turkey Feast

Scott & I attended the Turkey Feast at MTS on Friday with Gabby. I look forward to this event every year. This was the first year that Scott was able to go. We surprised her with a mug of hot cocoa-her favorite. The meal was mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, a roll, fruit salad, a mini pumpkin pie and chocolate milk. I ate all of my food, but Scott barely ate his. He said it was too yucky. Come on, it's a school lunch. You need to set your expectations low :)

5th Grade Conference

Here are Scott, Corey & Gabby at Olive Garden. We took Gabby there last week to celebrate a great school conference.

Vancouver Volksmarch

We finished our 11th Volksmarch today in Vancouver, Wa. The weather forecast called for a wet & windy morning. Luckily we had perfect timing because we finished the entire 5k during the driest part of the morning. Afterwards we went to a diner I found on-line, the Stardust, which was actually really good. While we were eating it started to rain, and by the time we were done, it was pouring. Thankfully we made it home safe & sound. I miss the summer!


Scott & the girls by the Volkssport flag.

We walked by the Clark County Court House.

We also passed by Fort Vancouver. Here is Scott by a cannon.

Gabby with some artwork I thought was cool.

The Stardust Diner. Corey ran out in the pouring rain to get this photo for me. What a sport! And she did a darn good job, too! They are lucky to have her on the yearbook staff :)

Corey got a chocolate shake (what else?).

Gabby's was hot fudge.

By the juke box.

Here is Corey passed out after eating too much yummy food.