Celebrating 9 years

 Grandma and Grandpa were finally able to stay over night in the little house once it was done.

 Picnic time in Olympia

  Alia wanted to celebrate her 9th birthday at Great Wolf Lodge this year.  We were so happy Grandpa and Grandma were able to come with.

Wolf ears on, ready to go

 

 Avery loved dumping water on unsuspecting people passing by.

 There were many giggles trying to get on and stay on the floating animals in the pool.

 Black light mini golf!  We ended up getting 3 holes in 1 between the six of us.  

 

 We took advantage of the sunshine and headed out for a walk

 The flowers are already blooming this year

 Grandpa keeping Avery in line

 For Alia's birthday Grandpa made a bird feeder for her.  It's made out of cedar and designed to look just like the tiny house.  She spent the morning reading the instructions and putting it together with Grandpa.

 Alia and Avery's pictures are in the windows.

Happy 9th Birthday Alia

 

 Disco party!  Alia got an Amazon echo for Christmas and she is always throwing dance parties for us playing Kids Bop.  We got her a disco ball for her birthday to add to her parties.  

 

 She asked for a lemon cheesecake with raspberry sauce and homemade oreo ice cream for her birthday. 

Alia and Banana 9 years

9 year Questions....
1.  Favorite color:  turquoise
2.  Favorite game:  kings and queens
3.  Favorite food:  carrots
4.  Favorite animal:  sloths
5.  Favorite books:  Puppy Pirates and Magic Animal Friends
6.  I want to be a zoologist when I grow up because I like animals.
7.  My favorite subject is recess and my least favorite is math.
8.  If I could buy anything I would buy a motorized car.
9.  I like that I am funny.
10.  My favorite thing to do is go to the pool.
11.  I like to collect beach treasures like beach glass.
12.  I like to play ball with Mom and wrestle with Dad.
13.  My favorite family tradition is Friday night pizza and movie night.
14.  My favorite memory this year was camping at Heifer Hut.

New Years Eve Beach Walk

On New Years Eve this year we were able to go to a night beach hike because it was a full moon and low tide.  There were so many neat things to see.

 There were really cool bioluminescent plankton that you could touch and they would glow.

Squid eggs

Christmas Vacation

 We hosted another gingerbread house making day with friends.  This year we moved the table into the living room and it worked out great!

 

 All done, with the maximum amount of sugar it can hold.

 Avery's creation

 She can wear my clothes now!

 We have enjoyed taking night walks at Christmas to see the lights.

Ready to make loft house sugar cookies.

 Fluffy sugar cookies with natural dyes!  Avery made the snowman.

 Alia made a tooth cookie cutter at school using a 3-d printer.  It's the perfect Christmas cookie...
"All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth."

 

 This year we enjoyed a luminary walk at Fisher Pond on Winter Solstice.  The solstice elves put out 1,000 luminaries.

 Merry Christmas from the Elves!  The only wish Alia had this year was that we all had matching pajamas.

 For Christmas dinner we made a Buche de Noel, complete with meringue mushrooms.  

 Ready for Christmas morning, the calm before the explosion.

 Surprise, a hatchimal!

 What Christmas morning looks like a few hours later.

 We had a white Christmas this year and just enough to make a snowman!

 Avery asked for something all black that he could wear to hide and look creepy in.  I think this accomplishes that!

 Scott no longer needed a sweater and Maia needed something to stay warm in the snow.  She fit perfectly in his sleeve so Scott cut holes for her legs and sewed her a sweater.

We took the kids to Plain WA to learn how to cross country ski.  It was a beautiful snow and the perfect flat, easy track to learn on.

 Ready to go....

maybe not.

 After skiing we headed to Leavenworth to enjoy the Christmas lights and sled.

 I've never seen quite so many lights in one place!  It really was a very magical place.

 All tired out from a long day.

 On the way home, we stopped in Snoqualmie Pass to find the best sledding hill.  We ended up finding the perfect place just off the road after the pass.  There was so much snow!

I love the tall trees in the snow!