Christmas Celebrations 2015

Our Christmas decorations are already packed and stored in the scary sub-basement until next year. At least I assume the are under the house for now, but I refuse to go into the black abyss as it terrifies me to my very core. Really all that matters is that the boxes of decorations are stowed away somewhere until next year. I am ready to call it a day on 2015 and the Christmas festivities, but there is one last step. Blog about it! You know if it isn't recorded on the blog it might as well have not happened at all. Kidding. I have a lot of Christmas celebration photos to share, so buckle in and brace yourself for a last blast of 2015 Christmas.

Leading up to Christmas there was a Sunday School thing in church (I call it a thing because I have seriously got zero idea what else to call it--not a play---a production?) Anyway, this was Elise's first time in the Sunday School thing and Cordelia's first time with some real lines in a solo capacity. Cordelia nailed her lines with pride, but she had a shared second line...not one to be lost in the fold she took the opportunity to grab the mic and thank the crowd. You will see in the end that both girls faded by the end...


Spotted someone she knows.


Nailed it and know it.


We lost Elise at this point. She also took out one pigtail and let a boy from her class play with it for a bit.


I would like to note that Cordelia is dressing herself. When I asked her to wear legging with no holes she said, "Looks should not be important mom." Touche my child, touche. 

Christmas Eve is basically my favorite day of the year. I love the family, the tradition, the excitement. All of it is awesome! We have a family tradition of Chinese food before the evening service.

The girls at dinner.

My mom.

My dad and Cordelia.

Then we went to the night service and didn't make it home until nine. Our girls have a strict early bedtime, so they were beat!

Our family


My mother and the girls. Please note the stuffed cat with whom Cordelia coordinated outfits.


It wouldn't be Christmas if Sam were not dressed in a hoodie.



 
Too much!!!!

Christmas morning was presents at our house before heading to my parents for more presents and breakfast...and lunch.

Opening presents.

Elise

Drums

Breakfast was soooo good!

My parents and Bode.

My dad and Betty.

The day was mellow and lovely! 

Beauty Shop

Recently Eric and the girls were alone together and the girls decided to have a beauty shop. Eric was an amazingly obliging father...

Seattle Part 4

Our final day was a doozy! We awoke in Poulsbo and hung out at our hotel until catching the 10:25 ferry back to Seattle. The ferry cruise was lovely as we stayed up top and enjoyed the fresh air and the sunny day.

When we arrived in Seattle we piled back into our rental car and browsed around the area before heading down to Pike's. We grabbed a quick lunch at a vegan restaurant called Veggie Grill. The food was great! The girls had macaroni and cheese. I had a vegan cheeseburger with coleslaw. Eric had some sort of cutlet with fresh beans. We were struck by how busy the place was as well as the variety of people who were eating there, all walks of life! I love seeing people who are either vegan or just receptive to vegan food. Living in Wyoming we can feel pretty isolated, but being in the city it sure was nice to see people who were considering what they ate on a deeper level.

After lunch we hit up the market for a bit and then became overwhelmed by the masses. We are definitely used to the wide open spaces and limited population of Wyoming. We retreated to the Japanese Gardens for a little peace. The gardens were absolutely beautiful! The whole family enjoyed meandering along the pathways in the dappled sun. A beautiful conclusion to our time in Seattle.

 

 












We returned our rental car, caught the shuttle, and checked in at the airport. A lovely security guard ushered us through the VIP line at security because we had young kids. When we settled in at the airport we grabbed dinner (dinner consisted of fries a granola bar and a fruit cup---not a vegan friendly terminal). Our flight left at 8:30, way past bedtime for the girls. Elise stayed awake just long enough for take-off before she fully passed out for the duration of the flight. Cordelia followed soon after. 

The flight was nice and easy until a very hard landing in Denver. It was late, the girls were tired. I carried a very limp and sleeping Elise. Cordelia was able to walk. We gathered our luggage and then Eric grabbed the car. We made it to our hotel by 1:30 in the morning, exhausted.

The next morning we awoke late and then grabbed brunch at Watercourse. Then we left the city and headed North and home to Wyoming. Nothing beats the feeling of returning to Wyoming after a crowded city trip, open spaces, fresh air, no traffic. Ahhh!

Seattle Part 3

Sunday was wedding day. The girls and I awoke and took a walk in the morning mists that are so very lovely in the Pacific NW. We wandered around the grounds of the resort and eventually made our way down to the rocky beach at low tide (Eric was watching Wimbledon finals). Cordelia and Elise were absolutely enchanted by all things beach. There were so many tiny crabs that we pretty much had to carefully wander as we watched them scuttle and hide. A while later we met up with Eric and grabbed breakfast before heading into Bainbridge.

 
Cordelia 

Hotel

 
Elise at the beach

We stopped in at the Bainbridge Art Museum which was free! The museum was really great and had a lot of activities that kept the girls interested and engaged. After the museum we wandered around Bainbridge before heading back to the hotel. 

Eric and the girls at the museum.

I made lunch in the hotel room and then it was time to get wedding ready.

 
Getting ready for the wedding.


Sisters 

Elise killing time between photos

With Charlotte.

 
We do love the water.

The girls were in a few pre-wedding photos and then it was time to head to Farm Kitchen. The location was near Poulsbo and it was just beautiful. I mean seriously the day could not have been more beautiful. The location was set at a small farm with gardens. Just breathtakingly beautiful. We wandered around after the girls were given their direction (they had missed rehearsal) and we just had to wait for guests to arrive.

 
Eric and the girls hanging out before the wedding.

 
Cordelia

 
Flowergirls.

 
Me


My mister.

Finally it was time to begin. We left the girls in line under and arbor. We spotted Charlotte who was absolutely stunning. Then we took our seats. The wedding party made their way in and finally it was time for the flower girls. They had a pretty long walk, but they made it up the aisle and to their seats with us. As they were walking I heard someone whisper,"I am not sure they are going to make it, but they sure are trying." They looked so darling and did a great job.

Jake and Charlotte got married. It was absolutely sweet and loving, just what you want in a wedding. I couldn't be happier for them both.


Charlotte and Jake


The happy couple.

Dessert

After the wedding we spent the rest of the evening enjoying Farm Kitchen. We ate, there were lawn games, dancing, vegan desserts. Finally it was time to head back to the hotel with two very happy kids.