Belated Christmas post

Colorful Advent chains.

                                   

 

At Grandpa Garrett's first-ever choir concert.

It's a tradition: play the instrument ornaments on GG's tree.

 GG enjoys it too!

 Gingerbread houses at Grandpa Gorham's.

Gorham-Hayden music night.

It's snowing!  But who needs coats?

Visiting Santa at Bass Pro Shop after lunch at Round Table Pizza.

Christmas Eve.

 Lately, after the kids get their teeth brushed, they go play on our bed with their dad.  Nathan blows up balloons, makes funny noises with them, and sends them flying all over the room.

Stockings on Christmas morning.

Opening gifts with the Gorhams.

Opening gifts with the Garretts on the afternoon of the 26th.

Turkey dinner at our place on the 27th.  Andrew is an accordion pro.

Tuesday surprise at the Northwest Model Railway exhibit.  We'll have to make this an annual tradition.

 Gotta love riding the light rail.

Play time at Odyssey 1.

The Cloves played First Night at the Pantages.

 Another ride on the light rail.

Tuesday Surprise - January

Week 1: Fun Center at the BNI with Dena, Rickey, and Audrey

Week 2: Seattle Monorail

Week 3: Surprise stomach flu = no trip

Week 4: Lunch at Ikea

 



Fun bus is right!

 Riding on the carousel

For our latest Seattle trip, we rode the monorail from Seattle Center to Westlake, ate lunch at the mall, rode the escalator and glass elevator, took the monorail back to the Center, had Starbuck hot chocolate, viewed the fountain, and played on the new playground.  Although the umbrellas weren't really necessary, they were awfully cute.

 They LOVED riding the monorail!

 

 

When we went to Ikea, I had intended for the boys to play in the child care area.  Much to our dismay, we found that the ball pit was closed and there was a 25 minutes wait time for accepting new kids in the play area.  With that and the fact that the boys didn't really want to go in there, they ended up shopping with Mother and me.  After we checked out, we treated ourselves to lunch at the bistro (sitting on a bench near the restroom).  It was still fun.

Micah's three-year check-up

Before I forget, Micah's yearly doctor's appointment was this afternoon.  Micah was a champ, even with the vaccinations.  His height is 39 inches (83rd percentile), and his weight is 33.5 pounds (68th percentile).  I was thinking he was getting to be on the taller side for his age, but this is proof.

Tuesday Surprise - December

Week 1: Seibenthaler Park in Sumner
Week 2: Reindeer and scavenger hunt at Watson's
Week 3: Verlo Park, Tacoma
Week 4: Santa photos at Bass Pro Shop and lunch at Round Table Pizza
Week 5: Northwest Model Railway Festival, Washington State History Museum

It was cold at Seibenthaler Park, but we got some much-needed exercise.

Donder and Blitzen

 Scavenger hunt cards

Super cold day, but the boys had the best time dragging big sticks around Verlo Park.

Cutie pies!

We loved the train festival!

 And we loved riding the light rail to and from Tacoma Dome Station.

Tuesday Surprise - November

Week 1: Breakfast at Shari's
Week 2: Museum of Flight
Week 3: Wanna Cupcake
Week 4: Epic Donuts

The Museum of Flight is amazing!  So much to see!

We brought home these treats from Epic Donuts.

Tuesday Surprise - October

Week 1: Chambers Bay beach
Week 2: Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Week 3: Schilter Farm Pumpkin Patch, Nisqually
Week 4: Scholtz Pumpkin Palace, Orting

Throwing driftwood in the water at Chambers Bay.

 Sitting on Grandpa's bridge.  We really wanted to see a train drive under the bridge, and we were excited to see one come around the corner.  But then it slowed down and stopped!  We had to leave before it started moving again.  After this the boys came with me to Helen Hovis's funeral.

 Peek-a-boo with the walrus at Point Defiance!

Schilter Farm.

 Both boys LOVED the hay maze!

 Sand table

 Rubber duck races

 Tractor trikes

 Happy hay ride

 King of the hay castle

Scholtz Farm