It's a Wonderful Life

If only I knew how to brighten pics, but we started off the month going to the movies.  We saw the sweetest movie - Star, telling the story of Christ's birth through the eyes of the animals.  I recommend it for all ages (with the exception that Herod's dogs are quite scary/intense).

We went to the tree lot on a rainy day to pick out our tree.  Todd cut it down and we drove it home.  We let it dry before we decorated it!  This year we added a mommy-baby giraffe to represent the birth of Lulu the giraffe at the zoo.  My aunt found it for M - which is just perfect.  I'm going to try to pick out an ornament every year that represents a highlight so that when M moves out, she might have enough to start her own tree  =)

Front Porch

I saw the "JOY" sign in a shop, and decided I could make it myself.  My grandparents made the wreath for us.  The sled is an original from my childhood. 

Zoo lights

Driving to see lights

We went on a driver around town to see Zoo Lights and also drove around town to look at the lights.  We grabbed our hot chocolate and cookies, and of course our pjs.

I ran a Santa 10k - my first 10k - completing all the different traditional race lengths - and I WON! It was a cold, cold morning - in the low 30's. 

We made Christmas cookies!  Spritz with Nana and sugar cookies with me

Christmas Program

Mikaela had her first Christmas program, singing Jingle Bells & We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  She sang very well and seemed to be enjoying herself with her friends.

#traditions

We continued our tradition of celebrating my aunt's birthday on the 23rd by going to downtown Seattle and taking in the gingerbread houses.  The theme this year was Seattle past-present-future.  This was Todd's first time getting to join in on the fun

We had a fun month preparing for the birth of Jesus.  Enjoying old and newer traditions. Resting and preparing. 

SANTA

We had the best of luck with meeting Santa this year!  So much so that we are already signed up for 2018!   We went to a local garden store - with a specific time slot.  We paid to have this time and get a CD full of pictures.  What I didn't know was that the small fee that we paid was a donation to the "Forgotten Kids Fund".  We had Santa all to ourselves for 10 minutes.  It took Mikaela a quick minute to warm up, but she was quite engaged with him.  She asked him for an Elsa dress - I hope she has been a good girl this year!   Because I couldn't decide on just one picture... 

Meeting Santa

I'm THREE Santa

That's silly Santa

Turkey Day

Here is our Thanksgiving trip to California via pictures!!  It was fun to spend time with family, visit friends and enjoy some much needed vitamin D!

So thankful for this guy

Lunch at Grandma's

Great Grandma with her great granddaughters

Trip to the beach

Getting cake pops from cousins!

PT school friends Kelli

Outside of Staple Center

GO KINGS GO

KINGS tradition

Playing cards!

Halloween

This year we had a quite a few different Halloween fun activities.

 First we went to Uncle Paul's Pumpkin Patch to hand pick pumpkins he had been growing for M.  He had heard she had never carved a pumpkin before and decided to remedy the problem.  He sent videos that showed progress of the pumpkins growth.  It was quite endearing and M enjoys watching them on repeat.

 2. We then carved the pumpkins - that's right - all THREE of us got our hands dirty in pumpkin guts and seeds.

M

Todd

Amy

Finished projects

 3. We met cousin Jeff at "The Farm" for some three year old photos!

4. We went back the patch as a family to get our annual scarecrow picture.  Todd and I have been coming here every year since we were married to get our picture and to revisit The Farm where we were married. 

 

 5. Halloween Day - M chose to wear this festive dress to school. 

 6. We kept with tradition and went to my grandparents house for chili prior to trick-or-treating.  Unfortunately everyone else was busy or home sick, so it was a small crowd this year.

Passing candy out

 6.  M announced one day that she wanted to be a spider web for Halloween.  I had a Hawks cheer leading dress that I thought she could wear, but she insisted on being a web.  She has told me she doesn't like spiders or their webs, but she still wanted to dress up as one.   I took a box, bought some webbing and plastic spiders.  The whole thing was less then $5 - score!

She wasn't so sure about trick-or-treating, but we walked to just a few houses so she could have the experience.  She spent the whole ride home ~ 35 min talking about the evening, and then as we got off of our exit she was out like a light!

The Big Easy

 Our last and final state - LOUISIANA!!! (State number FIVE)

Our street corner

This was the final stop to our trip - and also what inspired our trip was the wedding of Todd's brother in New Orleans.  We stayed in this cute little hotel called the Olivier House Hotel  It was recommended by the bride - and it was lovely.  It had the old architecture, fountains and the feeling of stepping back in time a bit.   Not a place I would normally seek out, but as most of the family was staying there it made everything a bit easier.  We were one street off of the famous Bourbon Street.

View from the balcony

We enjoyed live music one night - M and Grandma playing their pianos.

While in NOLA - we were on hurricane watch.  Hurricane Nate was headed straight for us.  There was a curfew enforced and we were to all be home by 7pm.  According to the locals this was a fast moving hurricane and saw little damage.  For us from Seattle - it felt like nothing more then a typical rainstorm - just warmer then usual. 

M looking up at Dad

 I just love how this picture captures M's admiration of Todd.  We didn't let the weather stop us from having fun.  This hurricane was to hit the night before the wedding.  Last minute arrangements were made for the ceremony.  The bride and groom took everything with stride and rolled with the changes.  But Sunday the wedding day - we woke to blue skies and the heat and humidity.   Due to many prayers - the day turned out just as they planned!

BUSHES!

 The wedding was able to take place in Jackson Square with the cathedral as the backdrop.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  The reception took place at another neat location - and there was even a second line with dancing in the street.

The next day was our last day of vacation - we took the trolley to the Garden District where there are old home.  We also came to a cemetery, because NOLA is below sea level the graves are above ground.  The dates on some were so old from the 1800 and a few from the 1700s here. 

Family Vacation

This was our first 'official' family vacation!  We had done a few staycations, several family trips down to California or with to Chelan with my family.  But this was the first trip - just the three of us - and where we left our house for more then a night!  I can't believe it took us THREE years to do this.  We had so much fun enjoying our time together.  M is such a great traveler and we were amazed by her flexibility and minimal need for bribing!

We managed to hit FIVE states!  We started off the weekend by heading to OR to visit my sis and bro-in-law.  The boys were going to be fishing, but no fish this year and the trip was canceled.  That didn't stop us from seeing each other!

After a pit stop at home - we were off to the South!

Airplane!

 After landing at the Louis Armstrong Airport in NOLA, we picked up our rental car and headed to Pensacola Beach, FL.  We stopped for dinner in state number TWO!  Mississippi

Someone was napping ...

We stopped for dinner at BBQ (so YUMMY!!!) in Biloxi, Mississippi. 

We were soon on the road for state number THREE - FLORIDA.  Most pictures at the state lines were taken on the way back to NOLA, because it was pitch black when we originally drove through.

We stayed at a cute little motel that was on the beach, had live music and was on the main drag of town. 

M's 6th state - Florida

It was a bit breezy in the Gulf and there was a red flag warning - meaning no swimming in the water. 

Family Photo

Pensacola Beach

The sand is super sugary soft - like a powder! 

F14 TomKat

 We visited the Naval Aviation Museum - getting to view quite a few planes!  We had originally planned our trip to see the Blue Angels as they practice Tues/Wednesdays, but they were out of town.  Todd was in his element enjoying all the history.

Our next state FOUR!  was sweet home ALABAMA.  I fell in love with this cute little state.   We stopped in Mobile for lunch at this corner restaurant - it was in the middle of the neighborhood.  Everyone sat outside, and it was everything I imagined about the south.

We then also stopped at the USS ALABAMA.  I learned I would not be a good sailor - especially as we climbed down several hatches.

M and Todd climbing in a door

On the top deck

M captured this sweet pic

We then stayed in Fairhope, Alabama - a cute little town on the bay. 

Bush Fam

We had the best time together and we still had more vacation left.