Sledding on Christmas

Everyone at the top of the hill.

 On his way doooown!  He had so much fun.

 Lost his hat he was going so fast. 

 Aunt Caitlin, Uncle Nick, Grandma, Alisha, Calder and Linc.  Poor Mady and Kadene were sick as dogs and couldn't come sledding with us.  

 Lincoln went down backwards almost every time.  It was hilarious. We would push him starting forward and he would slowly turn the other way. 

Calder and Lincoln love Uncle Nick 

 

Christmas (it was, also, a long time ago)

We had a super fun Christmas this year!  We did the usual Westby family Christmas Eve and Grandma and Grandpa Westby's place and then on Christmas morning we got up before dawn (4am) and headed out to Spokane to have Christmas with the Simchuks!  I was excited because we have only spent one other Christmas in Spokane in the last 11 years...and that one doesn't count for numerous reasons.  We were only there for a quick 24 hours so if we didn't see you or you didn't know we were there it was so fast and we only decided to go a couple of days before Christmas. 

Tayler wanted to make Christmas cookies with the boys.  She managed the whole activity!  Baking, cutting, decorating!  Both boys had so much fun....and so did I because I didn't do anything!

 Can you see Lincoln's head peeking through in this one?  He had to be involved in every step of the action!

 

We visited Santa!

Lincoln couldn't handle it so Tayler had to hold him.  Calder was all over it.  He asked santa for a blue thing that goes phhooot and stuff comes out and then it does circles.  We have no idea what he was talking about.  Santa seemed to know exactly what he meant though. Phew.

 

Christmas (eve) Morning...Santa came early so that he wouldn't miss Tayler.  He is sneaky like that.

 Tayler started piano lessons this year and loves it. 

Thanksgiving (it was a long time ago)

I just want to remember this so I am writing it down...
This last year for Thanksgiving we had Grandma, Uncle Nick and Auntie Caitlin, The Bruns family over.  It was really fun.  I didn't really get any pictures but after cooking all. day. long. Everyone had just sat down at the table.  Lincoln and Lyla were in high chairs at the big table.  Sienna and Calder were at a little kid table I had set up.  We had just loaded up our plates and said cheers and the second we clinked glasses Calder popped out of his seat, "I'm done!"  Talk about shaking my head. 

Point No Point

Or, as Calder calls it.  Old Point No Point.
We decided to go to our favorite beach on a cold Friday afternoon.  It was frigid.  Shane was not dressed warmly enough.  But, the boys love this beach and we had fun even on our short visit. This has quickly become one of my very favorite places that is close to home.  Just a 15ish minute drive...a little longer if you stop for hot chocolate/coffee or lemonade on the way (depending on the season).

Going on a Tree Hunt

We are kind of serious about our Christmas Tree hunting...  This is the first year we have taken Calder and Lincoln.  Calder has just been too sickly and the snow has been too high, blah, blah, blah.  We went for it this year and it was a success!

 

 

  Also, I am not a big fan of dressing kids alike.  I think it is suuuper dorky.  But, these coats were on sale at Costco.  And I could not pass up the hats because they are awesome.  These poor boys will hate these pictures in a few years.

 It is difficult to see but Lincoln and Shane were about to cross a little stream.  Lincoln was completely focused on crossing. 

 I told you we were serious.  The big kids climbed this steep hill to look for more tree options.

 

 Lincoln and I stayed off the big hill and played with some sticks.  He was fascinated by all the young trees we could weave in and out of.

Success!

One of my favorite photos.  We are all looking at the camera!  T is holding the tree!  and Look at how cute Lincoln and Calder are holding hands...Calder was helping him...it was a Christmas miracle. 

Tayler's Birthday

15 Years!
Whew.  That is old.
This year will be full of many firsts.  First, high school football game, first high school dance (gag me), drivers ed, to name a few. 

T had a few friends over and a costume party.  She has a great, small group of friends and it was so fun.

This picture is a little wonky but LOOK shane dressed up.  He is Clark Kent.  Tayler is Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter.  She has always been a good character from Harry Potter but this year she was evil. I don't even know what to say about that.

 

All the friends/siblings at the party

Swimming Lessons

 

 

Calder was, by far, the littlest little guy in his swim lessons.  It was for 3-5 year olds and he was just three (and really should not have been three yet).  He loved it.  But he was so cold!  We had to go buy him this special suit after the first few days because he was shivering so badly.  He is a little tippy and the first day went under for a minute.  Shane nearly jumped into get him but the teacher grabbed him first.  If you ask him anything about swim lessons he can tell you exactly what he did and exactly which days he had a substitute teacher and what his name was.  I can't wait to sign him up for winter lessons.  Right now he tells us a few times a week that "we should go to family swim sometime!"  One of his favorite things is on Friday night when they open the pool for family swim and the hot tub is also open (and cooled down) so the whole family can go in.  His favorite part about family swim is the big, dark, tunnel slide.