Last Whidbey Weekend of the Year

We headed up to Whidbey for a long New Year's weekend.  The Warmes joined us for one night, which is when we actually celebrated...on the 29th.  Our neighbors probably thought we were crazy while we were banging pots and pans and yelling happy new year at 8pm two days early : ) Otherwise, we enjoyed family time, played games, relaxed, worked on puzzles, put together legos, and watched movies.  It was a perfect little getaway.

During this weekend, Abi really came alive with smiles.  I spent much of the weekend feeding and holding her...actually, I do that every day : )  She was dealing with pretty bad baby acne too, but now it's gone.  It's funny how babies go through different phases.

And, I didn't use my camera, just my phone.  So...pictures aren't the best quality...but at least I captured some of the weekend!

The boys cuddling with Henry : )

Abi looks so big in this picture...she's really not that chubby.  I wish she had a few more lbs on her!

Oh, and we had a little miscommunication and didn't pack enough of her diapers. So, she was sporting size 5 diapers most of the weekend.  They took up her whole body!

Trains!

After we took down Christmas, we decided to go on an outing in Seattle.  We've always talked about going to the see the trains at the Seattle Center, but never have.  So, given Andy and Katie received their big train set for Christmas, we thought it was the right time.  I'm not sure who had more fun - Andy, Katie, or Kyle : )  

 Oh, and Abi was bundled up and tucked away.

Christmas!

We had a fun Christmas morning - especially since the kids slept in until 9AM!  Andy woke up first, but we told him he had to wait upstairs until Katie woke up.  And he did.  I have a feeling next year will be a lot different.  The kids must have been REALLY good this year as they got a lot of loot.  Most notably was the full set up Thomas the Train.  Andy received 2 out of 3 of his requests from Santa - his pillow pet and his lego space station.  He was bummed that he didn't get his stuffy...but we told him Santa doesn't always deliver everything that is asked and surprises are fun (darn stuffy commercials on TV!!).  Katie just liked to open her gifts and LOVED everything and had to show it off to everyone.  Abi slept through it all : )  Christmas through kids' eyes is pretty magical.  I loved just sitting and watching and taking it all in.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve night with the Ketterings.  We love the tradition that we have created with them.  It's low key and fun.  Dinner was really good - and Andy wanted to sit all by himself at the big table...which we allowed until he started flicking tomato soup.  Hmmmm.  We played the game Apples to Apples, which was a blast.  It was fun seeing James and Sam (home from Chicago) and visiting with Marko and Wendy.  Thanks Ketterings!

 

When we got home, we gave Andy and Katie their Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve.  We set out carrots and cookies for Santa and went to bed.  Actually...I fed Abi while Kyle and the kids got everything ready for Santa.  Divide and conquer!

Someone's excited...

Love how Kyle captured Andy's "excited" face and Katie is focused on giving kisses to "her baby Abi"

 

Christmas with Gamma

We celebrated Christmas with Gamma during the morning and afternoon of Christmas Eve.  The kids were very excited about their thoughtful gifts - a Husky Football for Andy and dress up magnet doll for Katie.  After the morning at home, we headed to Maggie Bluff's for lunch - our favorite!  It was a beautiful day and the kids could have sat and started at the boats all afternoon.  Thanks Gamma!

 

 

The Polar Express

Thanks again to my sister, Betsy, and to Pinterest, we had a fun adventure on the evening of the 23rd.  Andy has been obsessed with the movie The Polar Express.  He wanted to watch it all day long.  So, we decided to copy Betsy's family outing and create our own Polar Express.  We turned the movie on and then had their tickets (thanks Pinterest!), "warm chocolate" and goody bags all ready to go. 

 

I yelled, "ALL ABOARD!!!" and both of my kids looked at me with confusion.  When we explained we were boarding the Polar Express, both kids looked at me with complete FEAR.  They both are so literal and were afraid to leave on a train without us.  So, after some explanation that the Polar Express was "Big White" - our Suburban, they caught on that we were pretending.  Andy "lost" his ticket just like the boy in the movie.  I punched their tickets as the boarded the "train." Katie sang Jingle Bells pretty much the whole way.  We drove through Candy Cane Lane in the U-District and the kids had a blast pretending to see things along the way.  It was pouring down rain and we all were in our jammies.  It was a fun little outing and the kids were thrilled to be on their own Polar Express.

 

 

Anderson Christmas

This year, due to two newborns in the family, Abi and Manning, we decided that nobody should host Christmas this year.  Adele came up with a fun new idea of meeting at a restaurant downtown and taking in the festivities in the city.  We ate at the Daily Grill and then took a spin on the Merry-Go-Round and toured the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton.  Fun was had by all!

Katie specifically wanted the blue horse, since that's what she rode last time.

 

Letter to Santa

This was the first year that Andy understood the concept of Santa.  After visiting Santa twice (Christmas Creek and Santa Pictures) and asking a lot of questions about Santa, Andy wanted to write a letter to Santa.  Kyle helped with the letter and Andy mailed it.  Pretty cute.  The letter reads as follows:

 

Dear Santa,

 

I've been a good boy this year.  I would please like a space station.  A lego one.  A dreamlight...a doggy one.  And a stuffy.  My sister Katie would like a giraffe. 

 

Merry Christmas and thank you Santa.  Andy and Katie