Rain, rain go away

We are tired of the rain and the wet.  Here's a little reminder of the beautiful weather this past Sunday.  Looking forward to more days like these:

Iron Chef Challenge

This week we got to do some cooking--Iron Chef style.  It was a fun evening at Sur La Table with great food and great company.  We got to cook some amazing things--Tuscan seared steak with cannellini beans and salsa verde, Myer lemon tart with pine nut crust. Sadly, we did not take home the grand prize but had a strong showing in second place.  Perhaps next time...

More Skating

Today was another opportunity for the kiddos to be on skates. 

An extended family outing to the ice this time. 

Gandparents, auties, uncles and cousins.

 

 

The best part for Carmen was having 'girl time' with her cousins after the skating.

The girls whisked her away for some girl-only-cousin fun.

 

 

 Max was disappointed he did not get to join. 

However, his spirits were lifted when he got to play hockey inside.

He watched the hockey players at the rink and wanted to re-create the game at home.

Bike helmet...check.

Hockey stick (in the form of an umbrella)...check

Goal (in the form of a couch cushion)...check

Hockey puck (in the form of  a plastic golf ball)...check

Luckily it doesn't take too much to make this boy happy!
 

Seahawk Sunday

Snow

We headed to the mountains with some neighborhood friends for some inner tubing fun.  4 kids, 4 adults and lots and lots of snow.  It was the first time we've snow in a long, long, long time.  Needless to say, the kids were super excited to see and play in the fluffy white stuff.  There was lots of trying to catch snow with tongues and making and throwing snowballs. We took turns riding down the hill in tubs, hiking back up (while pulling the kids) over and over again.  A good workout for mom and dad. Carmen even went by herself a few times and happily exclaimed 'best day ever!' Snoqualmie tubing was a success!

 

 

Swimming

The kids haven't been in the pool since summer so we decided it was time for a round of swim lessons to get them acclimated again.  It's taken a lesson or so to get back into routine but so far so good.  Except, the water is a bit chilly.  There is lots of shivering and Max saying "my teeth are chattering like a drum!"  Here's to keeping our little fish swimming.

 

 

Saturday Night Silliness

The boys

 

The girls

 

 

The gang

Soccer indoors

We finally signed the kids up for indoor soccer.  Not official games just activities, running around and getting exercise.  The best part, it's with good friends.  The kids have class and the parents sit and watch, socialize and get a breather too.  The perfect combination--fun for the kids, fun for the parents!

Happiness is...

...doing a load of laundry and having all socks present and accounted for.
...vacuuming the TV room and not sucking up any Lego pieces.

Sometimes it's the little things...

Happy 2016

Here's to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016 filled with new adventures and memory making moments.  We rang in the new year with our annual tradition of washing in money. 

We were blessed to have a wonderful Christmas filled with family, friends, good meals, good conversations and lots of new goodies.  Santa did not disappoint.  We enjoyed the company of Grandma and Papa 'Son' amidst the Christmas craziness and were happy to have spent such good times together.