February is a short month anyway, but it went by fast. Jonathan and the kids did a lot of skiing! Layla and her friend, Millie are both fearless and do Black Diamonds together!

Mount Si High School Class of 2025! (Avery is in the middle, sort of in the upper left quadrant.)

Layla is playing rec basketball and loves it! She gets pretty aggressive on the court too!

Layla and I went to see Sleeping Beauty at Pacific Northwest Ballet

 

At the Boat Show

High school swim team was well underway and Kieron enjoyed his first season. This was senior night, where they recognized Hayden & Colin.

We had some late start days due to snow

Silas had a great season of middle school basketball

I went to Pullman to celebrate Papa’s birthday

We went out to Rico’s for birthday dinner

I volunteered to help at the school during a Pacific Science Center event. It was pretty cool!

Valentine’s Day   

Avery and I went to Bellingham for a college visit day 

My old apartment is still there! (It’s the one in the middle.)

We visited our friends, the Stryjak’s, at their new home in Arizona for mid-winter break. Silas and Layla came with us while Avery stayed home and watched over the pets. Kieron went to the Big Easy with Nana.

Niki and I walked most mornings
   

There was lots of pool fun! They just finished their pool a couple weeks before our visit.

Lunch at The Olive Mill while the boys work

San Tan Flat had a very cool, southwestern vibe

We spent an afternoon Revel Surf Park, a water park in Queen Creek. They had a man-made beach and surf lessons, but the big hit with our kids was jumping off a set of high jumps.

Jonathan had people cheering for him!

Go karts!

A little more fun at the pool before heading back to rainy Washington
  

Kieron and Nana went to New Orleans for his double digit trip. Here they are before they left.

The Muddy Mississippi

Trolley

Memorial for victims of New Year’s car attack

They went to a WWII museum – P51 Mustang

Artillery Shell

Enigma Machine
 

M4 Sherman

Battle of New Orleans

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde
 

Steamboat Ride

They did a cooking lesson together. Kieron’s favorite was the artichoke and shrimp bisque

This is an online pic of an abandoned hospital they saw that is said to be haunted.

Jonathan and the kids were excited to  get on the  mountain in January. I can’t even count how many times they’ve all been up. Jonathan teaches on Wednesday evenings, Avery goes up at least a couple days a week with friends, and Jonathan tries to get the rest of them up a couple times as well. It’s fun hearing about all their progress how confident they are becoming.

Silas, Ethan, Layla & Clare met up one day.

I snagged these pics Scott posted from Andrew’s seventeenth birthday.

Avery, officially accepting WWU’s offer

We got together with our high school and college friends, Heather & Taber (and Heather’s hubby, Tim).

Avery took his brothers up one evening to go night skiing. They’re so sweet!

Kieron has had quite a few swim meets. His favorite events are freestyle and backstroke.

Layla is quite the little basketball player and has no problem getting aggressive on the court!

Silas and his buddy, Ethan M, on the chairlift

Layla went up with her friend Shelby the other day

Look who became an American!

Putting together the Lego Nana gave her for Christmas,

Layla and Shelby snuck into my closet to try on high heels

Our friends who frequently watch Phoebe when we are out of town adopted this cute, Dottie!

Another swim meet

We waited until the last minute to make New Year’s plans but ended up with a full day. We went to Bellevue with the Hoitings and the Archibecks and most of our kids. Silas and Kieron wanted to be dropped off at the mall while we visited.

Later that night the Toomeys came over to ring in the New Year
 

Avery had about 20 friends over for a party in the basement. We were glad to have him at home and not on the road. Here are a few of them. He’s got such nice friends!

December is always a busy month, and this year was no exception. Here’s what we were up to (outside of Christmas and Hawaii).

Santa visit at Cougar Mountain Zoo

We went to the downtown Tree Lighting

Phoebe isn’t a fan of all the construction noise in our house these days

We volunteered to take a family out on Lake Union to see the lighted boats and Santa. It was a very rewarding experience. The family had five children, all about our kids ages & genders + an adorable five-year-old boy.

Avery’s school picture frame is complete!   

Layla had an advent calendar full of spa/pampering things

Silas had a band concert

Kieron is enjoying high school swim team

Sleepovers with Shelby & Savannah

Layla had a “celebrations around the world” day at school

A few more pics from our Santa visit at the zoo. These kids really fill up the sleigh now!

The kids and I played a lot of Life in December

December Bunco

Kieron had his wisdom teeth removed on the 27th

A pic Scott shared from NYE