Adventures in North Bend and Seattle

We spent two of the last three days with our friends, the Cassidys; Sunday in their stomping grounds, North Bend, and today in Seattle.

John was asked to fill in as pastor for the Mt. Si Lutheran church on Sunday since their interim pastor was away on vacation. We thought it would be a great opportunity to support John and to experience a different type of worship.

The services started at 10:00, but since there is no 7:55 ferry on Sunday mornings and the 8:45 would put us there a little late, we hopped on the 7:05 and had a few minutes (about 90) to kill before we had to be there. We stopped by Twede's cafe, of Twin Peak's fame, for some hot chocolate, (a very rich concoction topped with a mound of real whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles)

and then drove over to Snoqualmie Falls. We got soaked standing on the observatory; the spray was so heavy it was like being enveloped in a blanket of fog. This picture was taken from up the path a little way, not the best head on view, but the best I could do under the circumstances. The roar was deafening, and it was exhilirating to see the power of the water.

Then it was finally time for church to start.

I was immediately struck by how "churchish" their building is. I love the front door. Inside the chapel was decorated with greenery and candles, and they have a beautiful stained glass window in the very front. (click the link and scroll down a little to see a picture and read about the symbolism.) John presented a wonderful sermon reminding us that Jesus gave us the best gift of all and the importance of not being wrapped up in worldly gifts. After the service was "coffee fellowship" hour. It was nice to meet a few members of their congregation and talk to John more about his family's church. Then we headed back to the Cassidy's for lunch and a nice afternoon visiting.

Today, we spent the day in Seattle. Every year at Christmas time there is carousel at Westlake Park and gingerbread houses in the Sheraton Hotel, so for the past three years, we've met up with the Cassidy's to see those sites and then watch a movie. It was fun walking around the city, seeing the Christmas lights and colorful stalls in Pike Place Market.

Here's an example of the detail in one of the gingerbread houses. Puts ours to shame!

And here are the kids in the Sheraton lobby (plus one of Nate's friends we brought along). Thanks Cassidy's, for two fun days together!

Merry Christmas!

We had a very nice Christmas and I hope you all did, too! We told the kids they couldn't wake up before 5:30 to get their stockings and they couldn't wake us up until after 7:00. We were woken at 7:30 by Nate saying "Breakfast is ready!" He and Kylie had prepared a feast of crepes, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and bacon. Yes, I know I have amazing kids! (Although a few hours later they were fighting over the wii remote, so don't worry, they're normal.) After breakfast we opened presents, a low-key affair this year. We didn't give them anything big or expensive, which I liked.

We spent Christmas Eve with Brad's family. Every year we have a big gift exchange game with his extended family. With all the snow and ice we were afraid not everyone would come this year, but fortunately all 29 people made it there safely. Brad's two sisters and brother-in-law were home from Hawaii, so that made it even more fun.

We went to my parent's house for Christmas dinner. Once again, I forgot to take a picture of everyone at the dinner table. We were a smallish group this year, Corey's family, my family and my parents. Tifanie and Tad came by to exchange gifts, then went to Tad's parent's for dinner.

It was the "year of the hat" this Christmas. I made 10 knitted hats! I wanted to make each family's matching, but I ran out of yarn and with all the snow wasn't able to make it to Silverdale to buy more.

Alicia will probably only wear hers when she's here. I don't think she'll need it in Hawaii!

Corey's family matches because I made theirs first. Sorry Pat and Sarah! Pat's family got Christmas colors, boys in green and girls in red.

We actually had a white Christmas this year, something that rarely happens in the Pacific Northwest! It even snowed ON Christmas. It was very peaceful watching it fall as we opened presents. Merry Christmas!

Our Little Eskimo

I saw this cool igloo on a friend's blog and told Brad about it. Fifteen minutes later, he was out with the kids building one! They took the recycling bins, filled them with snow and made perfect, 18" thick bricks.

Here it is about half-way done...

and the final product! Not quite as big as my friend's, but Kylie and Jillian were able to fit inside together. I won't say who got stuck trying to get inside...just had to turn those hips a little...

Kylie loved it so much, she wanted to sleep in it last night. We decided it would be OK, since every winter the boyscouts go up to Hurricane Ridge, build igloos, and sleep in them. She tried to get Matzo to sleep in there with her, but he was too scared. Fortunately, we're dog-sitting another dog and he was more than willing to camp out with her. She said she stayed pretty warm, just got a little wet on her feet since they stuck out of the opening a bit!

We've had about a foot of snow in the past week, way more than we usually see around here! It seriously feels like we've moved to another state. I finally ventured out in Brad's 4WD truck and have been able to get around without any problems. The forecast says it's going to stick around for a few more days, so it looks like we'll have a white Christmas!

Jillian finally got her snow day...

after three days of wishing and hoping! And we're getting another one tomorrow, so it looks like Christmas Break (yes, I still call it Christmas Break even though I know the PC term is Winter Break) is starting early. I'm so glad I got all the shopping done last Friday before the snow hit! Now we can sit back, make and eat tons of Christmas cookies, play in the snow, and enjoy our hard earned break. I'm mostly excited about sleeping in.

By noon, Kylie was on the hunt for a good sledding spot. Our yard is pretty flat, the only hill is in the woods and heads straight to the highway. She really wanted to go to her friend's house about 4 miles up the highway, but she has a mom who is a big chicken and refused to drive in the snow. We ended up walking up to our neighbor's house and taking advantage of their multi-hilled yard.

This is Ben standing on the road we walked up to our neighbor's. Looks pretty icy, doesn't it? See why I didn't want to drive?! I know all you Utahns and Idahoans and Coloradans and everyone else who isn't from Bainbridge Island (and maybe some who are) are laughing at me, but I don't care. I'm safe and cozy!

The kids all got their fill of sledding for the day. I'm sure we'll be back at it tomorrow! Let it snow!

Snow Day!

Jillian's power of positive thinking worked! As she went to bed last night, she said, "OK everyone, think SNOW!" And we woke up to 2-3". It's very cold, too, highs for the next few days are supposed to be in the mid-20s, which is pretty unusual for us. I'm more worried about icy roads than snow. Going to church this morning there were three "Mormon-mobiles" going up the hill to the church and one got stuck. The next one pulled over to help, blocking the lane. I was the third and made it past both in the wrong-way lane, slipping and sliding into the parking lot! Whew!

The kids and Matzo kids rushed out this morning at 7:45 to play and we discovered that Matzo loves the snow. He tries to catch snowballs and then he's confused because he can't figure out what happened to them!

Tonight as she goes to bed, I'm sure Jillian will be thinking, "NO SCHOOL!" and it will probably work!

Will you marry me?

Ben to me: "Which one of your kids would you marry if you could marry one of us, and not dad?"

Me: "I can't marry one of my kids!"

Ben: "I know, but if you could."

Me: "You!"

Ben: "Really?" (with a HUGE grin on his face!)

It's nice to be so loved!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas...

I go around the house singing this almost every day! I love seeing all the lights and decorations when I'm out driving around. I haven't gotten around to putting up the lights on the outside of my house yet, but the inside is as decorated as it will get. I'm not a big "accessorizer" and I have no talent for interior decorating, but I do love Christmas and I'm gradually collecting things that I like. We decided on the tall, skinny tree because we didn't have a lot of space. It's actually one of the best looking trees we've cut on the mountain! And it looks much better in person!

For family night this week, we decorated gingerbread houses (graham cracker style!)

I think it's interesting how my kids' personalities come out in an activity like this. Nate is a minimalist, Kylie digs in with both hands, Jill is very careful and precise, and Ben sits back and lets someone else do the work!

Time for a new post

but I don't have much to say! Brad's been sick all week and I've been sticking pretty close to home. I've tried to take care of him, but I'll admit I am a terrible nurse. I don't know how the women in all the English lit. novels I read could sit by the sick person's side all day and night and wipe his/her fevered brow with a cool cloth or gently spoon broth into his/her mouth. I would go insane! Yes, I do realize these are fictitious characters, but I'm sure that's what people used to do 200 years ago. Our car was also in the shop for a few days, so that kept me close to home, too.


I did make an advent calendar with Jillian and Ben this week, which turned out nicely.


I haven't ever had one before and after seeing the prices for a nice one, we decided to make it instead. I think we only spent about $13.00 and that was for the red and green felt that came on a 72" bolt, so I ended up with about 3 times as much as I needed.

Other than that, all I've been up to is cleaning house, doing laundry, running kids around... Oh, I did wash Brad's truck yesterday because it was filthy after our mountain outing, that was an accomplishment!