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A picture with Santa...

...and this is what we get. For reals. Classic Toddler and Santa picture, can't ask for anything more!

I will post more about "snow day" later. Frankly, I am still recovering. It was of course successful, a couple of thousand people. I did make Kena's 'pillowcase' christmas dress. It turned out adorable if you ask me!! I will post more pictures later!

Christmas Playlist

For your enjoyment (and you all know how much I LOVE music) I put together a little Christmas Playlist located at the bottom of my page. These are my FAVORITE Christmas music (except I didn't put any Nutcracker music, which to me, is a Christmas staple).

Here are the songs and why I picked them...
Dave Matthews Band-Christmas Song...Probably one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. Yes I know, he is not a Christian singer, but his words to this, the life of Jesus brings me to tears. Jesus' life from start to end.

Josh Groban-Noel...because his voice is beautiful and it he drives Adam crazy.

Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan-God Rest ye, Merry Gentleman...The best of two worlds- the goofness that Barenaked Ladies are and the perfection of a voice from Sarah. LOVE IT.

Jars of Clay-Little Drummer Boy...I think they did this song nicely. Simple. And I love Jars of Clay.

Ok...now I WANT to know. What music is Christmas to you? I am so so curious because I am such a music lover. I love to know what others are piping through out their house.

Marathon Day!

Today was the Seattle Marathon. We are so proud of Adam! He finished the race...INJURED! Yes, he hurt himself around mile 7, however he is so amazing he finished the race. Adam's girls were so proud of him today. He is going to see the doc about his hip this week, then he can get on board for training for another one.

I made Kena a shirt that said "RUN DAD RUN" and boy did she wear it proudly! She was so amazed by her dada!

Also, thank you Auntie Melissa for taking the wonderful pictures after the race!!!

It was VERY foggy in Seattle this morning!

American Cancer Society Charity Runners

Adam getting ready for the run

Kena loved walking around.

She also loved sitting in front of the porta pottys

Waiting for Adam- Donna (dale's Wife), Wyatt and JW (Dale's grandsons), Alice and Kena

We spot HIM!

Lots of waiting goes by.....

Go Adam! We are SO proud of you!

Dada, I am so proud of you!

Wait? Did Kena run the Marathon????

Apparently she thinks so.

Downtown Seattle.

Ok, we were totally stupid. We went DOWNTOWN Seattle the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, stupid. But we HAD to, seriously. Adam's marathon expo was in the Westin, downtown Seattle which we had to go to. We thought we would go late afternoon, after Kena's nap, right before the second wave of shoppers. Then maybe, we could stay for the famous tree lighting/ Macy's star/ Fireworks at 5pm. So...right? Sounds like a plan. Um...not so much. TOO many people were downtown (recession? really? not downtown seattle!). We went to the expo (which was totally fun and would inspire anyone to be a runner) then off to do a little downtown exploring. We went to our favorite Seattle shopping mall- Pacific Place*(there will be a story later on). It was freak'n packed! Yeah right! We tired to go through Restoration Hardware and couldn't get through the freak'n doors. We decided it was too warm inside so lets do some more 'exploring' outside. Well, that was PACKED too! Too many people. And by the way...they weren't very nice. So we hung around the 'tree' for awhile, then decided...forget it, lets go home. We made it home just in time to see it on tv.

Here are some pictures of our day in Seattle.

Adam signing the American Cancer Society Charity Runner's Banner!

Adam raised $2,100 for Cancer Research in Dale Annis' honor.

Kena listening to the amazing street dummer.

Gotta have the sweet protesters.

These protesters drive Adam crazy (well me too)...

Believing in God is about loving others...not blaming them or punishing them

And then the "buy more stuff" people. I didn't buy anything...so lay off.

Little Miss Independent.

The Westlake Tree

The Nutcracker Truck. How cool is that??

*Ok, here is my side story. We were at Pacific Place walking around with my camera in hand. As we were walking I looked up to see a tall, red haired, pale skin man...oh crap...that is the lead singer of "Queen of the Stone Age", Josh Homme. Seriously. I leaned into Adam whispered my foundings and of course Adam could careless. I stupidly put my camera back in my bag...yes! That was stupid. (fyi, that is a picture of him if no one knows what he looks like. I would have had my own picture but...well...you know.) I swore up and down that that was really him. I texted my bro, with no return message. Crap...no one is going to believe me. So for the rest of the night, I kept on saying "I SWEAR that was him! The lead singer of Queen of the Stone Age." Once we came home, we looked him up on the internet (Adam didn't know what he looked like) and Adam then...well disagreed with me. I called my father/brother. Bro confirmed that Josh does live in the Seattle area...SWEET! Score one for me. Now only if I saw Joel McHale that night......

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent with at our house this year with my family. My parents, my grandparents (kena's great grandparents!), my Uncle and Aunt, my Cousin-her Husband and their new baby boy Deane! We had a fablous time. Adam made an amazing turkey (he does such a great job) and I worked my behind off with decorations. We also celebrated my grandparent's 66th, YES 66TH, wedding anniversary!

Our Dinner table-with Turkey Hands (by Kena)

A tradition in my family...olive fingers (this one is for you Aunt Pattie)

My Grandparent's original cake topper from the wedding.
Also was used in my wedding and maybe someday in Kena's!
Its the most beautiful 1940's cake topper. Sorry the Picture was not better.



Cousins! Mama Sara with Kena and Mama Beth with Deane

Music is always played with my family! Uncle Tyler playing "Weezer's-Say it Aint So"

Yes, she might look high in this picture but she LOVED playing Uncle Tyler's Gituar.

A dressed up piggy from Great Grandma! She loved it since she first saw it!
All she wanted to do is play with Great Grandpa
And read to them too!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

I had to share this with everyone.

As I was 'collecting' my Christmas music from Rhapsody, I came across this little gem. I thought it was hilarious! Sara Groves (and yes she does spell with her with NO H!) is a wonderful Christian singer and I have fallen in love with her songs. I heard that she had a Christmas cd coming out this month so I had to make sure it was on my list to download. Here is Sara's song...Toy Packaging.
Ohhhh the things we have to look forward to this Christmas....Let the Season Begin!

Toy Packaging
By Sara Groves and Ben Shive
Nothing makes me loose my cool liketoy packaging
ask the kids to leave the room fortoy packaging
I have no choice the money’s spent
I’ve worked for hours to make a dent
I guess it’s anger management
Toy packaging
Nothing makes me lose my cool like toy packaging
Ask the kids please leave the room, it's time for toy packaging
Every adhesive known to man is holding down this Robot man
my self-esteem is in the can
toy packaging
In the old days you could hold a box and shake it
and hear the pieces rattling around
My eyes tear up at these grommets, tape and twisty ties
Remembering that beautiful sound
Nothing makes me lose my cool like toy packaging
Kids you need to leave the room, mom's opening toy packaging
I'm sorry you have to see this sight
You must be brave, no please don't cry
I promise it will be alrightI hope to have it by tonight
nevermind this dynamite
toy packaging

I LOVE her in hats!

I think she is just the most adorable girl in a hat. She can really 'wear it'. After Church one Sunday she really wanted to go outside and play...so she did. Dress and all!! It just makes it more cute.

COUSINS!

Kena LOVES playing with her cousins. She always has a blast and learns so much from them!

Noah showing his "silly side"

I love this one because their hands are touching through the window.

And Olivia is always easy to take pictures of.

Noah and Kena hugging to say goodbye!