Pacific Science Center

Bryan took Friday off from work to enjoy a long holiday weekend, this is a nice tradition for us over the holidays. We have been really wanting to head up to the Pacific Science Center but to do it on the weekends was just not an option for us... crowds are not our thing. So, we went Friday and it was so nice and so empty!

We enjoyed a bit of Winterfest at the Centerhouse as well - we listened to various school choirs, enjoyed the train exhibit, had lunch and even went over to watch the ice skating rink... Holly loved this! It was her first time seeing ice skating in real life - she wants to wait a few years... good choice kiddo! The skating rink in itself was worth it as all the little kids were funny and the big kids were hilarious - a nice treat over mochas and sweet cakes.

At the science center we enjoyed the butterfly house, the planetarium, kids area and dinosaur exhibit the most. But, we played the whole day away! A great family day together!Holly & Bryan comparing butterflies.

I had a butterfly land on me....

Zoo Lights

Thursday night we headed on down to Zoo Lights at the local zoo - it was sooo nice! There was *nobody* there, honestly it was empty. Most likely not good for the zoo at all, but it was really nice for us as there were no crowds for anything at all, Woo Hoo!

We started out the night with a 'hot picnic' out or our car - which was fun! We arrived early after Bryan got off of work. I made a pasta dinner in our crock pot, some other goodies and packed our camping chairs. We parked on an end spot and set up shop - holiday music, christmas lights for enjoying, hot food on a chilly night - in the dark! It was fun and I think it will make for a neat tradition each year - a fun, unique way to go out.

Point Defiance Zoo does a wonderful job with designing the various light displays and the flow through their zoo. They eve have some animal displays still open for enjoyment, including the aquarium areas... one of Holly's favorites! Overall, we had a very nice night!

Christmas Art

Last night I stripped down our 'art wall' and cleaned it up, keeping the most recent art projects or some that I just love and am not ready to pass on yet. Holly was really worried at first, but then proceeded to help me choose which projects would stay and which would go. We now have a clean slate and are ready to start the onslaught of Christmas & Winter art... should be fun!

After cleaning our wall up Holly immediately was ready to start creating new pieces - so, we got out our supplies and set up camp at moms craft area. She made Rudolph the red nose reindeer, who we learned from our friend Maggie last year. Holly remembered this art project like it was yesterday... amazing! Anyhow, here is the first installment of Christmas Art from Holly this season!

Christmas Tree

Now that we are into December and I may not receive as much teasing, here are some photos of our Christmas Tree! I love our tree, it is colorful yet peaceful. Nothing like turning the lights down and snuggling into the living room to take in the lights, music, hot cocoa and create some new memories! Happy Holidays!

Santa Letter

Tonight Holly worked on her letter to Santa over hot cocoa, she did a great job! She got all of her words down on paper and listed her items she is asking for from Santa. It was a lot of hard work for her to get it all down, but she did. Here are a couple of photos, including her hot cocoa mustache.

Her letter to Santa reads:

Dear Santa,

I have been really good. Here is my list:

Ponyville

Race Cars

Cars

Thank You,

Holly

Puzzle Mania

Our home has been a filled with puzzles, puzzles and even more puzzles! Holly has always enjoyed putting puzzles together and she still does, just harder ones now! We put puzzles together daily now - and not just your small 24 pieces but she is up to 100 piece puzzles now. And, she *loves* it! We have a few puzzle books as well as your basic boxed puzzles and it is not uncommon to have a completed one on the coffee table as she is working on another puzzle in the kitchen. It's fun and something we all enjoy doing together! A fun family activity... that is *if* she lets you help, this morning I was booted from the puzzle. Waaah!

Nice Long Weekend...

This weekend was a nice one! Having Bryan home is always fun. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner, Friday morning we ventured out to finish up some holiday shopping for Holly... and can you believe that when Bryan & I were doling out the stores we'd hit -- he took Walmart!!! Seriously, he took Walmart! Wow -Father of the year here, LOL! I headed to Toys R Us and Target which had enormously long lines but it was worth it and I personally enjoyed it.

Friday afternoon Annette and Sue came over and we spent the whole afternoon and evening scrapping and paper crafting. I finished some unfinished projects, which was really nice. It was nice to relax and play with good company. Holly and Bryan enjoyed a leisurely day of playing, the park and a walk.

Saturday we had a nice family day that started with a long (kind of hard) walk in University Place. There is a new golf course out there that overlooks the water and is cut into an old gravel/sand pit. It is a long walk around it, but mainly a all the way "down" and an all the way "up" walk. We really enjoyed it though, the weather was very nice, we played along the way and burned some serious energy and calories. So much for the calorie burn though... as we headed to Olive Garden for lunch afterwards. My Mom & Dad had given us a gift card for our birthdays and we have been waiting to use it when we have a free day to enjoy - that was Saturday. It was nice! Saturday night we headed down to the Old Cannery for a view of the holiday lights and more.

And, Sunday we hung out around the house to play and I did a few errands. Then we went to dinner with Don & Sue at Stanley and Seaforts. That was really nice! I can rarely think of time when just the four of us can get out with no children to care for. Having dinner with them was a great treat and Holly had fun with "Ristina" aka Kristina. (Holly has the hardest time with Kristina's name, not sure why. Especially considering her closest friend is Kristin which she has no problems saying - very close names, yest Kristina is hard for her).

Overall a GREAT weekend!!!