Good bye Alvin

Our sweet little hamster Alvin died today. He was such a sweet little thing. He was really gentle and the kids loved to hold him and watch him run around in his ball. We will miss him. I'm glad my friend Kelly took these photos of him just for fun last year, because they turned out so cute & it is great to have them to remember him by.

Happy New Year it's 2010!

The moment we've been waiting for, Happy New Year! Zoe was afraid to pull too hard on the popper string... she was so funny, her face reminded me of Buddy the Elf testing Jack in the Boxes!

Bentley (the Sutherland's dog) was so tired. He just kept looking for someone to sit still so he could have a place to lay down. Matt was kneeling behind the couch for just a few minutes and Bentley saw that as an opportunity to get comfortable!

New Year's Eve games

We hung out with the Sutherland's on New Year's Eve and had lots of fun in their game room. The kids played ping pong, foosball, pool, and air hockey almost until midnight! Hayden and Dylan were especially festive with their New Year tiaras and leis! The adults played darts and pool. It was a lot of fun! Carson tried pool and thought it was cool!

Zoe and Ashley ping ponged back and forth...

Madeline got tired toward the end of the night and chilled out under the pool table.

Dinner in Seattle

The kids and I went to Seattle for something fun to do over break. We went to the Science Center and did a few things there like the Michael Jackson laser show and then went to dinner at Buca di Beppos.

Hayden said he was surprised they would sit children at this table, then we looked up and saw what he meant. Ahh, those crazy Italians and their art! Zoe held her hand up when I tried to take a picture of the picture! I would label it 'Abstract Distracting'.

Christmas Morning

Ahh, Christmas morning... is there anything more fun? We read the Christmas story in the Bible and made some hot chocolate before we opened presents. The kids were really happy with their presents and it was a fun morning.

I had to take a picture of this wrapping job by Zoe. Her creative use of tape always makes me laugh!

Santa brought Carson roller blades! He put on all the gear and rolled around the house most of the day. He was in heaven! Even the blister he got later didn't dampen his excitement over his new roller blades.

New stockings pictures

After we got home from Grandma & Grandpa's house on Christmas Eve, we read the story of Santa Mouse and hung the stockings. Then the kids commented that the pictures in their stocking hangers were 5 years old so we decided to take new ones. So we took these pictures and updated the stocking hangers. And then it was off to bed so that visions of sugar plums could dance in our heads...

Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa's

Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa's house with cousins Lindsey and Keaton. Every year we have Christmas Eve dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's house and open presents. With growing kids the living room seems to get a little smaller each year. It's also hard to believe that my niece Lindsey is just a few days away from turning 18! The kids dinner table...

The adults dinner table... I made Baked Potato soup and Tomato Bisque, yum!

Carson wearing his special Boeing hat that Grandpa gave him