Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve celebrations began with dinner and gifts with Grandma Juju and Papa Brad. Homemade Manhatten clam chowder, salad, and bread... yum! Then gifts and off to the candlelight service at church. We always finish the night at our house for cookies and treats. Now that Charlotte is getting a little older we are trying to bring in other fun traditions like setting out cookies for Santa, putting out the Stockings, read "The Night Before Christmas"... well... maybe next year!

It's Almost Here Charlotte!

Almost Christmas!

Getting Ready for Christmas

The holiday season is such a busy time at work, and with family gatherings that often by the time Christmas arrives I am super sick and worn out. This year, I was really trying to avoid being sick at Christmas. Unfortunately, the most wretched strain of stomach flu hit the school about the second week of December... Charlotte was the first in our family to get it and threw up all over our bed at 3am on the 14th. Then as I was mid set-up for the 2nd out of 3 waves of guests at the school Christmas Program (over 1000 people attended that night)I started throwing up in the church kitchen- fun! A few days later, as hard as he fought it... daddy succumbed to the flu as well- with baby Mallorie the same day! YUCK! What a way to launch into our Christmas break! Eventually we all recovered and Charlotte and I got to have a baking day right before Christmas!

The Light Zoo

As many times as we told Charlotte that it is called Zoo lights... she still refers to it as "The Light Zoo". It was quite a chilly night, so we breezed through the zoo, enjoying the lights and music and then went for a treat. Charlotte requested eggnog icecream!

Christmas in Vancouver 2010

We traveled down to Vancouver on Saturday the 18th of December to see the both the Kohler and Donahue families. On Saturday we visited Grandpa Kohler and Nana's house with almost the whole Kohler family in attendance. This was the first Christmas spent with Chad, Leslee, Maiya and Madelyn. Charlotte had so much fun playing all day and night with her cousins. On Sunday we had brunch at Grandma Kohler's house with the Donahue side of the family. This was the first time that Mallorie met her Great Grandpa and Grandma Donahue. The weekend was very busy, but we were fortunate to get to see so much family. Thank you to everyone who traveled up (or down) to Vancouver to see us.

Go Tell it to Tacoma!

Charlotte had a great time and did a great job singing at her Preschol Christmas Program! Songs included... "Come on Ring THose Bells", "Go Tell it on the Mountains" (with a Tacoma twist), "J-E-S-U-S", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". Great job Charlotte!

Santa!

Mallorie was amazing at her first Santa visit and I think this was the first time Charlotte actually enjoyed meeting Santa! She told him she wants, "toys and treats" for Christmas. Santa replied, "Well that shouldn't be a problem!"

A White Thanksgiving?

Just days before Thanksgiving it snowed! It really dumped snow- not like past November snow flurries that are usually too wet to stick- this was beautiful! There was even enough for Charlotte to make her first snowman. She called it a snow Charlotte, because it was just her size. Thanksgiving this year was spent with Grandma Juju, Papa Brad, Uncle Sean, and Caitlin!

Halloween 2010

Just about the cutest Dorothy you've ever seen!

Sunshiny Mothers Day

It was a sunshiny perfect mother's day! It started with thick cinnamon french toast with strawberries and cream in bed! Then we took a little trip to Home Depot for some yard supplies and a stop at Metropolitan market for some delicious food for the day and two new little Lemon Spruce trees for our yard. We spent the rest of the day eating good food, BBQing, enjoying the sun, and loving our time together! Thank you family for a lovely and relaxing day. I didn't want it to end!

Easter 2010

2010 and beyond...

It is weird to think that the last time we entered a new decade I was only 18! Whoa. And you can’t help but do the math… right?... I will be 38 the next time we close a decade… and Charlotte will be beginning her journey as a teenager! AHHHH! Life is funny! I got a feelin’ though that 2010-2020 is gonna be my favorite decade yet! Happy New Year! Cheers to 2010 and beyond!

Christmas Morning 2009

Christmas Card 2009

Merry Christmas 2009

Santa Train

We recently were invited to join Mia Mae and the Fix kids on the Santa Train! The train left from North Bend and went to the town of Snoqualmie (about 2 miles). When we arrived we got to meet Santa- Charlotte was super excited until the moment it was her turn to sit on Santa's lap. It was quite the adventure, but this is one fun group to hang out with- so a good time was had by all.

Thanksgiving 2009

The Holidays are here!  We kicked off Thanksgiving day with the Macy's Parade!  Charlotte loved it!  After a while I got started cooking in the kitchen, and Charlotte would run in to tell me what was going on in the parade... "Momma!!!  It's Chari BOWN (Charlie Brown)!!" ... or.. "MOMMA!!  It's Mickey, It's Mickey!  YEAH!"  Sooo cute!

For dinner, we had a pretty quiet evening at our home with Charlotte's Auntie Lindsay, her boyfriend Andy, Uncle Sean, Grandpa Coury and six dogs... ok maybe "quiet" wasn't the right word.  My dad (Grandpa Coury) brought his two dogs and 3 puppies (from a recent litter) over to play.

 I was feeling quite maternal this week, which was good, because I did almost all the cooking myself!  Everything turned out great... including the turkey which I brined over night! 

Yeah, Thanksgiving Dinner is almost ready!

I perfected my mash potatoes last week, and they were a hit at Thanksgiving dinner!  Yum!