We had a beautiful clear, crisp day, so we headed to the beach with the kiddos. I think Avery was in California with Nana on this particular day.

The kids were loving having their pictures taken, so we went with it

 

Our family was featured in the January edition of Lake Views, our local publication! Here is our cover:

A walk at Boulevard Park

At Boundary

Nana came for a visit when she brought Avery home from their big trip to California where they visited Aunt Ashleigh & Uncle Mark, Alcatraz, and other fun sights.

At Bloedel-Donovan Park

Jonathan was traveling for work, so it was up to Avery, Nana, and me to finish the Pinewood Derby cars in time for the big race

I marched in the Women’s March with friends on the 20th. It was very uplifting to be surrounded by so many others who are as concerned about the current political climate and threats to our institutions as I am. It also felt right to carry on my grandmother’s tradition of marching for women’s rights. “M”, as she often referred to herself, was very active in the feminist movement and other progressive causes.

With my friend, Jamie, also the Lake Views publisher (and yes, I borrowed Layla’s hat)!

Our group

I headed straight from the March to Avery’s Pinewood Derby to watch him and his brothers race. Avery made it all the way to the finals, and almost placed!

This one was Silas’ car

Morning breakfast order (kids only)

Avery & Kieron on a walk

More bathing suit modeling

Mellowing the kids out before bed

Kieron is a doting big brother

Best toy ever. Thank you Amazon.

At the comic book shop downtown

Playing dress-up in the coat closet

Silas graduated to a bigger bed. He was thrilled!

Here he is hugging his new bed

Popcorn!

More popcorn!

Another day, more popcorn!

Kieron sprouted his apple seeds

I took a picture at the bus stop on this morning because it was the first time it was actually a little light outside since fall.

This is how we roll when it’s time for haircuts!

Silas and Ellie in kindergarten

Making burritos out of eachother

Science!

Chess is extra challenging when there is a two-year-old lurking around trying to steal pieces

She’s now allowed in the Lego area supervised

I mustache you a question…

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.