starting to upload pictures

okay - I promised pictures so here they are.

We started our vacation at Darren's mom and step-dad's house. We had lots of fun at the Seattle Aquarium and looking around downtown, going to see the lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, and just visiting.


this gal was seriously posing for all the cameras!


Lincoln Logs are a family affair


look! Darren and I did go along for the trip!



Our next stop was at my dad and step mom's - and all of my siblings and their families were there - that made 12 of us under one roof! and it was SO nice. we all got along, got to know more about each other, and had a lot of fun. Christmas Eve was spent with the traditions I remember and love - Great Grandma and Uncle Arne and Jill came, too. Then of course Christmas morning was a blast! I don't know if my kids had more fun passing out presents or opening them! The next day we went bowling at a little, seriously little, hole in the wall bowling alley in Snoqualmie - it was fun - our group pretty much took over! then we went to the falls! I hadn't been there since Hailee was a baby! Too bad it was so cold....

and let's not forget all the fussing, and loving, and cuddling that little baby Addie received! I think Braden was in awe of her cuteness!






does it get ANY cuter than this? Aunt Briana & Uncle Parker bought all the kids matching pj's and I think they looked like little elves!!!

Tyler, the baby of the siblings, Neil and his beautiful, PREGNANT wife Jen (they just found out they are having a BOY!!!)


my chef. He was a bit spoiled. Grandma and Grandpa let him "play" with the oven! So with apron on he "cooked" dinner.

I love the look on Briana's face here - pure excitement! (Tyler next to her, Parker on the right)


She was quite the little helper - she prepared the relish tray for Christmas Eve.

I'm in love. Really. How can you not be? LOOK AT THIS BABY!!!!! My niece, Sigrid...aka Addie.
and here we all our at the end of Christmas Eve. What a great family we have.


okay - I think that's good for now. I'll edit the pictures from the other 2 houses we visited and get those posted here soon. Right now I have a 3 year old boy demanding some attention!