Santa!

Cookie Party 2014

Happy Cookie Party!

We had our annual Cookie Party this past weekend and it was a smashing success!  Lots of friends gathered at our home, kids decorated Christmas cutouts (read here: gobbed on frosting and heaped sprinkles), and a fun time was had by all.  We were more pressed for time this year so the cookie spread was thinner than in years past, but no one seemed to notice (we have kind friends).  Overall, it was wonderful spending time with our friends and catching up.

Each year I ask everyone to bring a food donation, and this year we collected three bags of non-perishable food items for the local food shelf.  It is nice to be able to give to those in need, especially during the holidays.

The Decorating Station

Cookie spread

Baking with Maddy - she loves sifting flour

Grama's Puffballs

Rolling out the cut-outs!

Thanksgiving 2014

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Seattle with the DeCock family again this year and had a fantastic time. We drove up to Seattle after work/school Tuesday arriving just after 8:00.  Dave, Jane, Kim and Riley had not arrived from Wisconsin yet, so Maddy, Steve and I settled in, then hung out with Chris and his boxer, Koda, for a bit before Maddy went to bed.  The plane from Wisconsin was delayed, so I also went to bed before their arrival.

It was great to see everyone in the morning, and after a short time, Maddy lost her shyness and showed her true silly Maddy colors.  Late morning we went to Snoqualmie Falls, where the waterfall was rushing due to high water levels/lots of rain.  Although there was flooding in the area, the upper viewing area was safe.  We went out to lunch afterwards then back to Chris's home.  Maddy absolutely loved hanging out with everyone. Maddy spent a good deal of time that afternoon giving away her stickers by sticking them to everyone's faces, thinking it was hilarious! Everyone was a good sport and accepted the face-stickers graciously. Later that night after Maddy went to bed, we watched a movie.

Thanksgiving was a very mellow day filled with appetizers, then the magnificent feast of fried turkey, gravy, lefse (made by me and Steve a few days earlier), pearl onions, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, salad and for dessert...pumpkin pie!  Everything was scrumptious. Sadly, I had to leave Thursday night and took a Bolt Bus back to Portland so I could work on Friday.  All went smoothly for my trip home.

Steve and Maddy spent one more day with the DeCock family, and it was dubbed "tickle day."  Maddy had made an agreement with Dave the night before: no more tickling Thursday night...but he could tickle her all he wanted the next day (I would have advised against this, but figured Maddy could learn this lesson on her own).  They had a great time, went to a mall with a carousel where Maddy rode a dragon, then Maddy and Steve headed back to Portland.   Overall, an excellent Thanksgiving holiday! Maddy  already asked if we can go back to Chris's house next year.

Maddy and Dave

Path at Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie Falls

Maddy and Koda

Chris gets his stickers

Jane gets her stickers

Kim gets her stickers

Turkey Frying Crew

Maddy riding a dragon

Letter to Santa

A couple of weeks ago, Maddy and I went shopping at a local mall and stopped at Macy's. It was still early in the holiday season, but there was a station set up for children to write a letter to Santa Clause so we took advantage of the opportunity. With a little help from Mommy, Maddy wrote and mailed her first letter to Santa.