Just Me!!

We have been having a blast enjoying time off together! On the 24th we thought we would start another tradition, going to see a family movie and then driving through Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park. The only problem was, everyone else had the same idea. The movie was great, minus a couple of bad words and oh of course, missing the last five minutes because a certain three year old needed to use the bathroom. We love going to see movies out at Lakewood Town Center because of their awesome movies theater seats. Wish I had those at the house..heaven. We are a member of their Stubs club so we get $10.00 for every $100.00 we spend. Mark and I love seeing movies together...that is how our romance started. We saw Sniper with Tom Berenger as our first movie/date together in1992. After that, Monday night movies at Western became OUR thing (Monday movies were only $1.00)! In fact we held hands for the first time while watching The Temp, and Mark first told me he loved me during the movie Fallin...

December is full of parties! We always kick off the month with my sister's annual karaoke Christmas bash! Mike and Shannon know had to show everyone a good time.mThankfully I was the designated driver, so my party spirit was much more low key than last years horrid experience! Mark, Jeremy, and Shannon entertained everyone the whole night! My husband loves to dance and sing, but only when he has "thrown caution to the wind." Freakin hilarious and very sexy! Jeremy came with Kat and even sang (mainly shouted) a song with her! First time I've heard my brother sing, or have been around him when he's tipsy! Second party was the kids end of the semester party at Mrs. Katherine's preschool. She decorated her first gingerbread man as a homework assignment, and then took it in on the last day to show all the kids! Funny thing is.....we turned it in late so it only hung up on the board for two hours and then came right back home to us. Ours was made out of candy, and...

December 11-12,2011. It is the third annual Christmas Gingerbread Village tour! Since we moved home we look forward to this activity every year! The last two years we have gone further than just visiting Seattle, we have stayed the night at the Sheraton where they host this event! A tip to enjoying this event is staying the night at the S. and that way you can go see the houses without waiting in line, and at your own pace. We are a family who loathes crowds! Every year I have my own fantasies of creating a masterpiece better than the ones we see...but time gets in the way of creating! He he! We had a great time in the BIG city, we enjoyed dinner at Westlake, picked up snacks at a corner grocery, and swam in the pool on the top floor of the S. overlooking the city. The whole family enjoyed playing "Marco Polo" in the pool. We dropped Mark off at the Westin the next day, and made one more stop at the International district for dinner. Valerie bought and ate a half a duck..yuc...

Our yearly gingerbread excursion...more to follow. Sorry leaving you hanging because I have to go grocery shop!

My mom, I, Valerie and Ethan went to the mall for some therapeutic shopping on Sunday. We had a great time shopping at Wet Seal for Valerie. I think Charlie was more amused by pretending to be mannequin than anything else. I guess she plans to be one when she grows up, or that is what she told us! A cute, coffee drinking, adult dummy were her exact words...the things THEY say⛄!

Last Sunday I took the kids out for the day! Mark had loads of work to do, so I chose to take the kids to Tacoma's newest skating rink. It is an open air, covered rink sponsored by the Museum of Art! We all skated together, and Charlie even found herself a little friend. The little girl was helping my daughter learn to skate, even though she had just learned how herself, the night before. I love talking to small children, they are so honest. She told us that she has two mommies and two daddies, and that her real mom can't stop taking drugs. Charlie piped up and said proudly, "well I only have one mommy and dadda." Precious;) For lunch we walked to The Old Spaghetti Factory, and ate in the train. After eating we wondered to down to UWT library and took a peek at the Dale Chihuly glass chandelier. My goal this next year is to get the kids down to the Museum of Glass!

Didn't expect my dream to come in the version of an actual dream, but it did! I'm not sharing though. I'm holding this one close...hoping it will bring me new found passion, excitement and zest for life! Will share when the timing is right. In my dream, I was revealing all my passion, excitement, and joy to a select group of people, Until then.....