Oh It Was Jolly

Christmas Eve At Grandma & Grandpa with the cousins. Priceless. Thanks to Grandma D all 5 of them were in matching holiday outfits, that they thought was cool.

 Carly and Grace = double trouble.

 I think Jackson's face pretty much sums it up.

 Twas the night before x mas...

 Christmas Morning at Home

 Yeah, Emmit Santa really did buy you a drum kit.

 Grace is very excited about her new gift from Santa.

 I am one lucky mom. Look what I got for x mas from the kids.

 Thank you GREAT GRANDMA GRACE for the guitars.

 Christmas dinner with the Sleepers.

 Which means there was a lot of this going on.

Hope you all had a wonderful x mas. I think most of us would agree that the best part was being with my family and friends over this long holiday weekend.

Santa Is Good

Thank you Santa for my new ski jacket.
I am excited to hit the slopes this Friday with Santa in my new jacket.
Love you Dad.
Love you Mom.

And yes I am a spoiled little girl:)

Splashtacular

Grace and Emmit had a joint birthday party at the Fidalgo Pool this weekend and it was Splashtacular.

I think it was a good time and this year Josh and I had to only have one party for the kids.

What were we thinking having TWO December babies???

The cakes below was made by the one and only talented Grandma Laurie.

 Pool party time.

 Pool Party Room action.

 Grandma D making sure party hats are on.

 Make a wish Emmit!

 Grace you are one lucky little girl!

 Bring on the loot...

 Time to hug it out with your friends.

 God I love kids.
Look at these beautiful young moms.

 Boys showing off their tattoos.

 The after party...

 It got pretty wild.

 Kids with new toys = FREE TIME for moms and dads!

 Arrggg ...

Thank you friends and family for spoiling our kids and helping them celebrate their birthdays!

The Guild

So I belong to something pretty darn special.

The Dr. Samuel G. Brooks Guild.

We are a group of ladies who raise funds for families here in Skagit County who have children that need to be seen at Seattle Children's Hospital.

We meet once a month.

The best meeting of all is the holiday meeting.

We are encouraged to dress in out best.

We bring gifts for children at Children's Hospital and a fun $10 or under gift for our own exchange.

This year I was the lucky gal who walked away with a snow man pillow! I know pretty spectacular.

It's a special group of women who all have amazing connections to Children's or who are just very caring.

I am the youngest member by 30 years or at least the only one that attends the meetings.

I find the meetings therapeutic and entertaining.

Each meeting I attend I think of  Emmit and our time we spent at Children's Hospital.

We are so lucky to have that magical place in our back yard.

I appreciate every door greeter, nurse, doctor and provider there and Children's and thank you VERY much for the most amazing smile you gave my Emmit.

If your feeling inspired and would like to get involved with the Guild, just give me a jingle jingle:)

Penguin Cup Cakes

These adorable cupcakes were brought to Grace's class today for her holiday class party and for a early birthday treat to share with her friends.

Miss Louise: "WOW Grace your mom went ALL out on these cupcakes!"

Grace: "Oh no my mom didn't make these my DAD did. My mom doesn't cook".

Laughter all around at this point by all the moms.

Miss Louise: "You have a very talented dad".

Grace: " Yeah I know he's the best".

 Grace was SO proud of her dad's cupcakes today.
They even read a Penguin book today and everyone sang Grace Happy Birthday even though her day is 13 days away!

 That's my girl sitting on Miss Louise's lap with her legs spread and hole in her tights!

 Grace's friends Jack and Connor. The three of them like to play house together at school.

Pre school is just the best!

Splenderfious

Here I go again tooting my own horn..

It's been busy here at the Anacortes Parks and Rec Dept.

Last night was the 2nd Annual Fancy Nancy Splendifous Christmas Party. Hosted of course by yours truly.

We enjoyed sparkling apple cider , fancy finger foods and of course used a ton of glitter and feathers to decorate everything we could.

Thank you Grace Anne for inspiring me.

I love that you showed up just in time after your swim class in your holiday dress and soaking wet hair!

OK I am still tooting my own horn here.
Last weekend the Parks Dept. hosted the first Wonderland Walk at Washington Park.
Folks, it was a smashing success.
People came.
They really liked it, they really did.
There was lights, music, smores and the Grinch.
Thank you to the community of Anacortes for showing us at the Parks Department the love. For sure this is a new holiday tradition that I am glad to be apart of.

OK, I'm done tooting.
It's time to pinch myself.
I am lucky in life:)

The Nutcracker

Took Grace to the ballet yesterday.
It was not the Pacific Northwest Ballet, it was the Fidalgo Dance Works productions.
It was magical.
It was surprisingly REALLY good.
Grace asked me if the Nutcracker who came to life was REAL.

After the ballet we came and we danced and we walked through the house with our chins up and our backs straight.

Thank you Grace for going to the ballet with me.

Birthday Boy

Remembering the day you were born brings a smile to my soul.

After checking into the hospital then getting checked right back out ( small town and not enough beds) you were eventually born in the late morning on December 10, 2008.

Finding out that you were a healthy and strong little boy was the best gift of all.

On the day you were born you were surrounded by your family and embraced by all.

I speak for many in wishing you a very Happy Birthday today sweet Emmit.

At three years old...

You go on the potty.
You eat any type of food in front of you and are willing to try something new.
You LOVE to watch football with your dad.
You love music and playing the drums with and on about anything.
You love your sister,but you also know what buttons to push with her.
You sleep in your bed all through the night.
You make people smile.
Your eyes & smile make me melt.
You like a good hot shower in the morning.
You love your dog.

This list could go on and on.

Happy Birthday Son.

We love you to the moon and back.