Christmas!

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Grand Daddy Herbert...

 He found some really great books for the kids (and football gloves for Edison which were a huge hit).

We woke up to a White Christmas! What a thrill!

 The kids were - all in all - more good than not this year and Santa stopped by with gifts in the stockings and Legos under the tree.

 Nana has been teaching the kids piano. They gave a lovely recital on Christmas!

Walking the neighborhood to make room for dessert...

Relaxing at the Cabin

We had Eben's college roommate, Dave, and his kids over to the cabin for a couple days before Christmas. Reed and Edison were sharing the queen. Looks like we could have gotten away with a twin for them.... We went skiing and got in our first few days on the mountain for the season. After a run of being crazy, Reed remembered how to ski and it was all downhill from there.

 Then Heidi, Max and Maggie came out to visit. We went up to Beaver Pass for a beautiful showshoe and look out over Plain Valley.

 Reed was in a backpack last year - pretty awesome he is doing so well this year on his own showshoes!

 

Heidi!

 Ever the trooper, Edison pressed on past one set of broken showshoes to another set and then a broken buckle, to just hiking in snow boots. Now that is persistence.

 Though Reed did hit a wall after a point.

 Charlotte loved the whole endeavor and raced up and back, always wanting to be in the front.

 First sledding of the season on the cabin's hill.

DECEMBER - Getting Ready for Christmas!

Charlotte and Edison helped decorate the tree.

 We went with Nana to "Mr. Popper's Penguins" at the Seattle Children's Theater and viewed the model train village afterwards.

 A beautiful, sunny afternoon in Seattle for goofing off by the fountain.

 

Playdate for us with Keira and her family: Trent, Rachelle and Kylee. Watching the Seahawks win a great game while the kids played - double win.

 The Social Studies Winter Gathering.... all the kids got presents from the secret Social Studies Santa. 12 kids now (Josie was taking a little break at this point...)

 Reed and Eevi hitting up the Curious George while grown ups did their White Elephant Gift Exchange.

 Maija, Lisa & Beth.

 Another Christmas tradition - making lefse with Auntie Kirstie. Reed was such a great helper this year!