Christmas Eve 2010

We traveled down to Vancouver to spend Christmas with Nana and Grandpa this year. Auntie Ashleigh and her boyfriend, Mark, flew out from New York too. On Christmas Eve we dined on our traditional appetizers and cookies.

Then we played our special white elephant game. It involves rolling dice, and each time a player rolls the “magic number,” they get to pick a present off the center of the table. Once all presents are gone, players can steal gifts from other players when they roll the number. When the timer goes off, players open the gifts they’re stuck with. Avery had an absolute blast playing! He said “I love this game!” over and over. And when it came time to steal, he said “I don’t want to steal! I don’t want to steal!” He put his arms around his presents and tried not to give them up, and only stole presents from Daddy, who at the end of the game had only one present.

Before bed we let the boys each open one present. Avery unwrapped his and exclaimed, “A Pillow Pet!” (He’s been asking for one for months). He explained how useful it was: “You can sit on it!” Kieron was content to chew on his. Then they left treats out for Santa and his reindeer and went to bed.







Ashleigh & Mark

Opening their Pillow Pets

They were a hit!

Kieron enjoyed the ribbon

Playing our traditional Christmas Game


Leaving cookies & milk for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer

Posted in avery, kieron, us | Comments Off on Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Cookies

Avery and I made Christmas cookies together this year. I made the dough the night before, and during Kieron’s a.m. nap we rolled the dough, cut out shapes, and baked the cookies. Then during his p.m. nap, Avery and I decorated them. I have a tendency to be a little OCD, so this process took some letting go on my part. Avery wanted to do much of the rolling and cutting, and if I’d let him, he would have eaten enough dough and frosting to give him a killer stomach ache. He also thought it was acceptable to lick the spatula and then put it back in the frosting. It ended up being quite an endeavor with a 3 1/2 year old, but we had so much fun together and it was worth the trouble.









Posted in avery, food, us | Comments Off on Christmas Cookies

Visiting Santa

We returned to the Cougar Mountain Zoo this year to visit Santa and his reindeer. The boys were both great sports and sat on Santa’s lap. Avery sheepishly told him what a good boy he was this year and that he would like a police station for Christmas (for the past month he’s been asking for a big tow truck, but whatever). Then we fed the reindeer and quickly visited the tigers and emus before we got too cold to walk around anymore.

The boys with Santa

Feeding apple slices to the reindeer





Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Visiting Santa

Maui 2010

We took our annual December trip to Maui, and it didn’t disappoint. We went jet skiing, whale watching, and to the the beach once, but we spent most of our time at the pool, specifically the pirate ship. Avery played each day until he was delirious, and Kieron enjoyed splashing in the shallow water. At seven months old, he needs a nap every few hours, so at times it felt like we were commuting between our room and the pool. Not that we’re complaining. He was even nice enough to take a few naps on the lounge chair for us so we could keep on playing.

Avery now fully expects to go to Hawaii each year. And he doesn’t believe he’s there until he’s at the pirate ship. Then he tells us he doesn’t want to go home, he just wants to stay in Hawaii. What a lucky kid. Here are some pictures from our trip this year:


At SeaTac before our 6 1/2 hour flight

Avery and Grandpa check out a whale skeleton at Whaler’s Village

Chillin’



“Are you talkin’ to me?”



Photo by Avery King

Don’t worry, we didn’t put him down the slide

Kieron at the helm



Nap time by the pool

Finding treasure at the pirate ship





Checking email or playing Angry Birds?






The boys with Nana and Grandpa





Before we headed out for our “Date Night” at Roy’s

More fun at the pirate ship



Avery tried to create his own snorkel by sticking a shovel in his goggles






Whale Watcher


Humpbacks

Posted in avery, kieron, places, us | Comments Off on Maui 2010

Goodbye Commodus

Lindsey and I have some very sad news. This afternoon we put Commodus to sleep. It was by far the most difficult decision we’ve ever made together, and we’ll dearly miss our little pug. About ten months ago he injured his back and despite our attempts to help him heal, his condition deteriorated. Over the past weeks there were many tears as we tried to figure out what was best. In the end we decided there wasn’t much joy left in his daily life, and we didn’t want him to suffer. Today the vet came to our house, and we cuddled with him on his bed by the fire as he drifted off.

Commodus, you were such an incredible little dog these past 8 1/2 years. You joined our family a year before we got married, when you were just two months old. You were our first baby, quadruped though you were. We spoiled you, dressed you up in ridiculous costumes, and bought anything that had a pug on it. That first year, we took you on many adventures, to the beach, to the top of Winchester mountain, and all over Bellingham. You went boating with us and even learned how to swim. On our wedding day you were our ring bearer. Throughout the years you’ve stood by as life happened. When we started a family you cuddled with Mommy throughout both pregnancies, and when our boys came home from the hospital you were there to greet them at the door. The pitter-patter of your paws on the floor, your snoring, and soulful brown eyes that always expressed a look of deep concern will be dearly missed. This marks the end of a chapter in our lives. Although we weren’t ready to move on yet, it’s a time we’ll always have fond memories of. It’s a time we view as our youth, our 20’s, the beginning of us and our life as a family. We’ll miss you puppy.

There are SO MANY pictures. Turns out we took roughly 3,000 of our pooch. This was the least we could get it down to.



With his brothers and sisters

The bowl we picked out was way too big






At Ocean Shores

Cruisin’

Camping at Winchester (he was licking mac ‘n cheese out of the pot)

He had a taste for the Vegemite

Trying to enjoy a margarita

In the Nooksack River

Pug-o-lantern

Our ring bearer




With Cosette




With Nicole



At Lake Padden


Head of the Lake

Camping

On Lummi Island

He’s a Mac Dog

Santa’s helper


At Clayton Beach

Feeling baby kicks


“Get me out of this ridiculous hat!”

“No, not another one!”

“Now antlers?”



“I heart wood stoves”




“I think Mom’s had too many cookies”


Greeting Avery on his first day home

Pug buns

Snoozin’ in the sun

With Old Nana

Teaching Avery to roll over… it worked


On a walk

With Avery



Good times in the back yard


Overseeing the potty training



Greeting Kieron on his first day home

With his brothers

In the end Commodus spent much of his time in bed in front of the fire.



Posted in commodus, Uncategorized, us | Comments Off on Goodbye Commodus