Christmas Prep

Our awesome neighbor, Mary, gives each kid a huge advent box each year.  Starting with December 1st, each child has 25 individually wrapped gifts.  They open one each morning in December when they wake up.  Seriously, so thoughtful, generous and fun!  For the first few mornings Josie and Benjamin wake up EXTRA early to open their advent gift and look for Elf on the Shelf... 

Here they are with one of their many advent gifts - the window decals

 Another morning it was crazy straws

 We got our tree around the second week of December which also was the beginning of what would be about three months of illness for me... more on that later.

 Santa and Mrs. Claus made by my mom about 35 years ago!

 We got free tickets to the preview of the new movie "Annie"  The kids and I hopped on the bus and had fun watching the movie and then experiencing downtown Seattle all decorated for Christmas.

Fun on the winter carousel. 

 Our yearly cookie decorating tradition continues.

 Marty joined in this year

 And I must say our decorating skills are improving.

 Later in the month another fun advent gift from Mary... drinking glasses

Snow in Seattle

The only snow we received in Seattle came just days after we returned from the warm, sandy beaches of Cancun. 

 I'm sure this will be Benjamin's last year wearing Josie's old, pink snow pants.  They'd probably still fit him next year but as he was putting them on he said, "I would totally wear something different than these PINK pants if I had something"  But then once he was outside he seemed to forget he was dressed in pink.  It's just so hard to invest in snow gear when they outgrow it after a season and as this season proved you may only get one (if any) chances to use it.

Mexico-Friends, Food and Fun

There was never a shortage of activities for the kids... games, shows, and camp outs.

 This meant that we even had a chance to go out to dinner kid-free a couple of times.

 Many meals, drinks and naps

 And lots and lots of ice cream

 And drinks

 Mexican Night

 Ali, Liz and I had a nice spa day for free.  We were happy... can you tell by our smiles

 We also took our first family hobie cat experience

 Requisite family photos

 Ali and Chris

 Liz, Chad, Lilly and Henry

 Fun Friends

 More ice cream

 Exploring the environs

 Our favorite restaurant was the Asian restaurant.

All in all a very fun, relaxing, filling and memorable vacation.  Never in my life did I EVER think I would find joy in an All Inclusive type vacation.  But since having kids and having kids at the age our kids are at now seem to work.. for now.  This being our second one it may well be our final one.  But they have certainly been fun and relaxing.  I think we may be ready for a bit more adventure and exploration in our next vacations.