Winter

Wow, I don't think I've ever been this behind.  We'll just document Winter all at once.  It's pretty much been snow, and then more snow, and then yet again, MORE SNOW.  

Andrew started basketball, and LOVED it.  Tia and Martin were incredibly sweet to come out for his first game.

Andrew and Caden also started piano lessons!  We loooove Ms. Diana.

Our first big snow.

 This was a fun one to play in!

We built our first snow fort.

The Michigan born Rudy's were our resident experts.

We even got to steal them for lunch.  Such a treat to have fun people close by on snowy days, especially when they play with your kids ;).

Dinner and games by the fire.

The highlight of Winter, for sure.

Valentines Day.  Grandma K always send fun goodies.

V-day cookies.

After being cooped up all weekend, we NEEDED to get out on Monday (Presidents Day).

Pinstripe bocce, bistro, and bowl in Georgetown was the perfect outing!  $5 per kid, and parents bowl free from 10am-12pm.  

Super fun time with super fun friends.

Very serious Andrew next to the frozen canal.

Such a cute, fun place.

 Andrew sang the next Sunday in church (far right) - tried to capture daddy and son up there together.

Early March - what we thought was our last snow.

Love both of these pictures.

What you don't see is the snow Andrew kept showering in his brothers faces. 

Again, games and rainbow loom by the fire.  It's been a cozy winter!

2014, We Welcome You

2014, we can't believe you're here, but it sure was fun to celebrate your arrival.

New Year's eve was Grandpa Jack's 70th birthday - a special day for an incredibly special man.  We SO wished we could have been in Seattle for the celebration.  If only airplane tickets were free...  

The fun part?  NYE sleepover with the Choi's, with a little Christmas sprinkled in too.

A Wii!!!!  Wow, thanks Choi's.

Discovering Mario Cart.

The littles give it a try.

Very happy boys.

Our midnight countdown at 9pm, complete with Sydney's firework display ;).

These were loud.

Breakfast!

Pop it time.

And one last dance party.

And now into January.  Not our month of health with a string of ear infections, bronchitis, sinus infections, strep.  There hasn't been a week when I haven't had at least one kid home from school. - coupled with holidays, snow days - this mama is craving some alooone time! :)

Sprinkled in however, are many sweet moments and highlights.  Here are a few:

The rainbow loom collection continues to grow.

This moment caught me off guard - seeing my middle read to my youngest.

Snow days by the fire (dad working on his class).

Taking it in.

Nice to have time to work on lego sets.  And we had to build the Space Needle in honor of the super bowl bound Seahawks!!

Polor Vortex round 2  meant incredibly low temps and no school for another day.  We BUNDLED up on this 10 degree day to get some sledding time in.

Ready to go.

This one thought the playground looked more fun.

The Westbrook sledding hill, Andrew wiping out in the middle ;).

A very happy Caden.

The smiles say it all.  

Christmas

Christmas 2013!!

 We started with the Christmas Eve Children's Service, followed by Shepherd's Pie/game night at our house.  

Cuddle bugs.

Didn't manage to get pictures of the shepherds pie, but here are the treats - shortbread, chocolate fondue, striped finger jello (my childhood favorite!), and some butter pecan ice cream.

Miss Kaleigh getting so big.

Mr. Olander's plate of goodies.

Grandpa and Tia!

The big boys.

The dice game - round 1 is tame.

Christmas Eve pj's.

A wonderful night.

Christmas morning!  These boys didn't wake us up until 8:30am!!  Best Christmas present ever.

 We started with stockings.

Football cards!!

Choo choo.  (Thanks Garret)

Yummy breakfast and final advent reading before presents.

Will received a "hug me Elmo".  He was a riot.

Caden with his new camera (thanks Grandma K and Grandpa J!).

Enjoying the fire.

After a lazy afternoon, we headed to the OC house for round 2.  Dave's aunt Shawn (of Beehive events in Charlottesville - she's amazing, been featured several times in Martha Stewart), made this beautiful garland.

OC Cousins!  And Elmo. 

Balls from Tia!

Not many pictures, but a wonderful, relaxing evening with family and all the usual suspects.  We've reached those golden years when the kids keep each other occupied and play well together.

Dee Dee, Martin, and Tia.

What happens when you meet your friends in wine tasting groups.

Truly so many gifts in this insanely wonderful Christmas season - may we hold most tightly to our savior, our great rescuer, who left glory and entered his creation in the most humble way possible.

"Glory to God in the Highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

-Luke 2:14