Christmas Break: Part 2

The Nutcracker

Isabel is old enough now that she can sit through movies and concerts.  So of course I had to ask my Mom if we could take her to the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker.  So glad we did because it was just priceless seeing the look of awe and wonder on her face as the ballet progressed.  There is something wonderful about sharing something that you love with your children, and seeing how much they enjoy it as well.

Thank you Mom for this unforgettable moment that I was able to share with my daughter.

Isabel sat next to her cousin Emma during the production.  They are inseparable when they get together.  Like two little peas in a pod.  So glad they have each other.  During the whole ballet they would whisper to each other about this or that, and giggle whenever the male dancers would come out in their tight tights.

Isaac, Sadie, Isabel, and Emma right before the show.

Sarah Steveson, my sister with her daughter Emma.

In between Acts my Mom was able to reserve a table so we could grab a bite to eat.  Emma and Isabel were being so cute by telling each other that while they eat they had to stick out their pinkie like a proper lady.

I told Isabel that she could pick out one thing from the store to help remind her of this moment, and she picked these butterfly wings.  I also got her a ballet dancer ornament, and a children's book of the Nutcracker.

My wonderful mother and her grandchildren.

Thank you, Mom!

Christmas Break: Part 1

We spent a month up in Washington for Christmas visiting all our family.  It was absolutely wonderful to see everyone again.  Miss you all so much the minute I got back on the plane.

I took a lot of pictures and figured I'd break it up into 5 parts.  Here is the first one about our trip to Shaun's brother Eric's office at Bungie.  For those who don't know, Bungie is the video game company that made (gasp) Halo!  I know, I know.  I can't believe either that I have a brother-in-law who was actually part of the process in making Halo, the awesomest game ever (according to Shaun).

Big huge poster on the outside of the office.

Shaun wasn't the only one who was in heaven at all the Halo paraphernalia.  Ian was ecstatic!  He already was clinching a Halo Man doll that Eric let him borrow before we even came.  Look at that grin!

This was from the Halo short movie clip that they made about the game.

Totally in love.

Shaun and the one and only....Eric!

Always loved a man in uniform.

Such a cutie.

Our Halloween

Isabel dressed up for her school Friday the 29th

I just thought it was so cute with her backpack on and everything.  This was her idea to go as catgirl by the way.

Halloween isn't a very big deal here. They didn't have a costume parade or any Halloween activity at her school.  They just let the kids show up in their costumes if they wanted.  So I asked her teacher if I could take pictures and this was all there was to take a picture of.

This was a Pumpkin Carving Event that the PTG put on for Izzy's school.  Parents and kids would set up their pumpkins, carve them while listening to Halloween music, and displayed them on the stage.  The kids had a blast running around with all their friends while the parents did the carving.

This is a very nice family from our ward who's son is in Isabel's class.  Laurie, Josh, Asialynn Horita

I carved Izzy's pumpkin, tracing her hands and doing a rendition of "Scream" from Van Gogh.

Shaun did Ian's with a deviled earred skull.

The kids all counted to three and the lights turned off to reveal the lit up pumpkins.  It was great.



Saturday the 29th our ward (combined with another ward) put on a Potluck/Trunk-o-Treat/Game activity.  Isabel dressed up in her catgirl costume and Ian was Superman.  I originally had this fantastic dragon costume for him from Old Navy but he changed his mind.



Luckily it didn't rain that night considering it rained all the week before and the week after.  Thats the church behind the kids.

Shaun's been teasing Ian about Asia being Ian's girlfriend because he likes to play with her in Nursery.  She is simply adorable, my little boy's got good taste.

This is Hailey Wallace with Isabel.  They are very close friends.  They family moved into our ward from Korea(father is in the airforce) just a few months ago and Izzy hit it off right away with her.






This awesome boy is the son of a really good friend, Aikea, from our ward.  Recently divorced with three adorable boys.  They love playing with Ian.  My friend named her boys, Mathias, Elias, & Zacharias. Pretty catchy I thought.



Heading to the Trunk-o-Treat part to get some free candy.

I love their costumes!  They are Polynesian Firedancers!

This is at the exit of the Maze the youth put together.  I have to say it was one of the best maze I've done.  They taped together a lot of refrigerator size cardboard boxes on their sides so you have to crawl through on your hands and knees.  Secret panels, spider webs, dangling moss, rubber rats and bugs.  Even had a fog machine going and it was pitch dark in most of the maze.  You even had to push through a secret door and crawl out onto a wet moss feeling thing, that grossed me out.  Once you figured your way out you slide down a cardboard slide out to the exit.  I was scared, and scaring the kids, and Shaun of course was laughing.

I know it was Sunday but treak-or-treaters were still going to come to the door so I let the kids pass out the candy which they absolutely loved doing.
It was a very lovely Halloween.