Monthly Archives: December 2017

End of 2017

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Lindsey

We celebrated Andrew & Nicole’s January birthdays together before they headed back over the mountains. Andrew turned ten, and Nicole is Fourteen now!

We remembered to get a picture!

Layla loves Uncle Scott (that Santa guy, not so much)!

This was the Alexa Christmas. I think just about every adult got one this year! Here is Silas using ours. He asked for a dog song and got a Snoop Dogg song! And one with a very explicit intro, at that. Jonathan and I panicked, snapped this quick pic and put on a more appropriate dog song!

Kieron, putting together his Lego set

Avery, working on his Rubik’s cube

Layla, playing a little ditty on Avery’s keyboard

Watching TV one evening

Here is Layla modeling bathing suits

And here she is modeling underwear — Silas’ dirty underwear!

Avery got a Piper computer for Christmas. He was SO excited to build and use it!

First computer built at age 10!

On New Year’s Eve we went to our neighbor’s house to celebrate Los Anos Viejos. (She started celebrating when she lived in Equador.) We brought effigies to burn in a bonfire, the kids hit a piñata, and we celebrated the old and new year with good food and company.

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December

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Lindsey

December is always a busy month. Here’s what we were up to when we weren’t doing the typical holiday things:

AFV (America’s Funniest Home Videos) is a favorite at our house. Everyone likes it!

Jonathan got himself an early Christmas present – a new Subaru Outback! Okay, technically, it was a long-overdue purchase for BOTH of us. The station wagon is our “cool” car. It really freaks me out thinking this will likely be the first car Avery learns to drive!

A cool panorama of the lake and our beach.

Silas loves apples

Our cute boys being silly in the kitchen

Bathtime

Layla watching Cinderella.

Caught her red handed!

Daddy borrowing Layla’s accessories

Silas at school

With his 4th grade reading buddy, Hunter

Putting up Christmas lights is a snap at this house!

The living room all decorated

Snuggling with the babies

Decorating our gingerbread house. Thank you, Costco, for selling these pre-assembled so we can get straight to the fun part!

Loving on her biggest bro

Nothing like a little Christmas Star Wars puzzle to get the season going.

Silas discovered YouTube drawing tutorials. Give this kid some markers, a stack of paper, and a laptop, and you won’t hear from him all day. I literally had to make him step away just to eat a little lunch. There is something so rewarding about seeing your child in a flow, doing something they love so much they can’t pull themselves away. The intensity of this five-year-old is pretty impressive, and makes me so proud!

Pulling Buzzy-Bee down the hall

“Let’s get Daddy!”

Kieron & Silas checking out my old place of employment, Hollister.

Making cinnamon tortillas with Grammy

Chex mix for the neighbors

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Christmas Day 2017

Posted on December 26, 2017 by Lindsey

All the grandkids in their Christmas jammies

Avery really wanted a Piper computer for Christmas. He must have been a good boy this year, because he got it!

Kieron opening his cheeseballs

To keep the flies away (and have a little fun, too)

Playing Wii

A visitor

On the North Lake Whatcom Trail

Playing with Avery’s robot, which he named Michael

Time for Christmas dinner!

The ping pong tournament continues!

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Christmas Eve 2017

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Lindsey

It all started out with a little baking… (I think this was actually the day before).

“It’s The Avery’s of Pullman are here! Yessss!”

Now time to frost the cookies

Opening one present early

Christmas Eve is also the anniversary of the day this guy asked me to marry him! Fifteen years ago today. So glad I said “yes”!

The granddaughters

Andrew and Avery in the bar

Oh boy, look at them all!

Time for “The Dice Game”!

Layla got the hang of it pretty quick

A little kerfuffle erupted toward the end…

In the end, Jonathan got the big prize

Now onto some ping pong!

Time for the mama’s to rest and let the kids play

Look who showed up!

Layla was not so sure she wanted anything to do with Santa

Our best shot at a photo of all the kids with Santa

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

And then…

Nana & Grammy outdid themselves!

Do you think we overdid it?

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Santa 2017

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Lindsey

I was kind of sad that we couldn’t see Santa at the Cougar Mountain Zoo again. But I guess it is time to start a new tradition — mall Santa! Fortunately, our mall Santa is pretty darn awesome, and actually, with four kids, it’s kind of nice making it less of a production! And I really can’t say enough about the staff, they really have a well-oiled machine at Bellis Fair Mall! To top it off, there was a gourmet chocolate store nearby handing out samples, so I was able to entertain the boys while we waited to see Santa. They were troopers, and Santa wasn’t phased by a bawling Layla!