Jonathan & Lindsey's Family Blog

It had been a couple years since we were in Maui, so we were glad to go back this year. It’s much easier traveling there now that the kids are older and we spend a lot more time at the beach or in the ocean than we did when they were little.

We overlapped the first half of our trip with Nana so we could spend time together in Maui.

There was snorkeling everyday! Highlights included lots of turtles, a couple eels, a spotted eagle ray and hearing whales. One evening Silas and Jonathan were surprised to encounter a blacktip reef shark, which they promptly swam away from!

The boys enjoyed cliff jumping at Black Rock

Kieron and Layla went parasailing

Silas and Avery took a surf lesson

 

Jonathan and I did a sunset dinner cruise

Dinner

We took family pictures on the beach one of our last days there. We got this shoot done in under ten minutes! The kids are so much more cooperative than they used to be!











  
             

We walked down to the Hyatt to see the birds

  

Hula Pie!

I remember when Avery was just a little guy playing in this thing. Now Layla barely fits!



    

 

There was a hula show by the pool one evening

This little girl was adorable and could really dance!

We started off November with a number of fun events. First up was the Annual Wine Gala at The Club. We went with our friends, Darcey & Jody.

With Raechel, Darcey & Kat

Look who we ran into!

The very next night we went to the Young Life Banquet, again with Darcey & Jody, and again, Avery was working at the event!

The next week Darcey and I went to see Wicked at the Paramount.

Our construction is coming along

New load-bearing beam is installed!

Layla was in a production of The Nutcracker at the end of the month. She was in the Tarantella routine and she shined on stage!

We traveled over the pass to Pullman again for Thanksgiving and did all the traditional things. It was great to be together with family!

 
 

A little football out front

I remember when all these boys ate at Thanksgiving were rolls & pie. Not anymore! They had heaping plates and went back for seconds and thirds!

Playing a family trivia game between dinner and pie

Day after Thanksgiving – decorating for Christmas! Silas and Layla loved helping put up the Dickens Village.

Afterward, Silas sat down and took in the awesomeness of the village for a good 45 minutes!

Leftover turkey sandwich!

Scott & Manivanh celebrated their 25th anniversary!

I got this pic of Uncle Brian – he, Brad, Julie & Dylan went to the Bay Area for Thanksgiving. Uncle Brian rode both ways across the bridge.

Kieron and Avery stayed with My brother and his family while the rest of us stayed with Grammy and Papa.

It’s hard to believe Avery’s final season of high school cross country has come to an end. Who knew back when the kids were little and we did the Shamrock Dashes and Turkey Trots that it would be the beginning of something so important his life? Avery didn’t do cross country in 6th grade, but when we moved back to Snoqualmie, he started in 7th. He had a lot of success and came in first in his age group in the Fall City 5k. That’s when he realized he had some natural talent and started to develop a passion for running. He was thrilled when he made varsity as a Freshman in High School. Avery loved running with the older boys and looked up to them so much. He had an exciting first couple seasons on the team.

After sophomore season Avery started suffering from debilitating pain in his ankle, which eventually lead to surgery. Sophomore track and junior XC year were plagued by the injury and lots of PT. He had a disappointing junior season of track, as it takes time to recover and get back up to speed. By senior year, Avery was putting in dozens of miles and felt great. He was having a competitive season, but come October, he developed a cold, which turned into pneumonia. Not the end he had hoped for, but despite the disappointment, he maintained a good attitude and supported his teammates. It’s been SO rewarding and fun cheering him on all these years and we are so proud of Avery!

At Senior Night (Avery was fighting pneumonia at the time).

The Seniors

With Logan & Dallen

With Coach Dutch

The end of Avery’s season was derailed by pneumonia. Not what we’d hoped for.

After the season ended we wrapped up with our last XC banquet. It was great to celebrate the team and all of their achievements this season. (The girls won State!) Our favorite part was recognizing the seniors – how did we get here already?! Many sweet stories and words were shared and I found myself verklempt a few times. I’m going to miss this team and their families!

With Sue & Jacey, Si XC moms. I’m going to miss cheering with these ladies!

Avery and his buddy stayed until the very end to help clean up after the banquet.

In mid-November we went to our first Commodore’s ball at Tyee Yacht Club.  The theme was Gay Paris, in honor of our Commodore and his partner. Tyee has a long history of being a welcoming and inclusive club, and is a member of the Grand Fourteen (major Puget Sound yacht clubs).  The place was all done up with decor, we had a fantastic dinner and there was a live band and lots of dancing. Such a fun night!

Kaler with the other female Commodores & wives

With Kaler 

With our Rear Commodore   

Before heading out for the night