January

We have already been enjoying this new year!  Here is some of what we have been up to in January....

We began the new year by letting the kids stay up "late" to ring in 2013 as we watched the celebrations in Times Square.  (They have no idea that we actually did a search for last year's celebration on You Tube and celebrated at 8:00pm.)  They enjoyed the countdown, the sparkling cider and couldn't get enough of saying, "Cheers" and clanking their paper cups together.

We enjoyed some fun parties: a gender reveal party for two different babies (both boys!), Jen hosting book club, and Sarah's baby shower.  Here is Sarah below with her two hostesses and twin boys almost ready to see the world!

One of our friends had his 40th birthday and a group of us went to a place called Suncadia to celebrate in some "cabins" in the snow.  25 kids in one place meant a whole lot of food and fun together.

Gabby went tubing for the first time.  She was reluctant at first, but once she went, she had a great time and wanted to go again!  She wasn't even traumatized by the fact that her hat flew off half way down the hill and that she took down a friend at the bottom.

 The kids weren't the only ones to have a fun time.  This is us after enjoying the (indoor) swimming pool and outdoor hot tub, but before the karaoke madness....  So many laughs and memories!

The girls had a fun playdate with one of Gabby's friends from school.  They decorated cookies and enjoyed playing with a house full of toys other than their own.  I love that Gabby doesn't even have to look at her cookies as she frosts them.  A true pro.

The kids supposedly put on a show for us, but there were a lot more costume changes than scenes.

At the end of the month, B came to visit!  While he was in town, we all went bowling.  The girls had great scores, thanks to their bowling ball slide.

(At least I know by looking at these two pictures what my husband will look like in about 25 years... not much different.)

These girls sure do love their grandpa.

I just thought Claire was cute in her bowling shoes.

On Saturday, we went on the Seattle Great Wheel - the huge ferris wheel on the waterfront.

Gabby was a little nervous to be so high over the water, but she got over it pretty quickly.

We were glad to finally have an excuse to go check out one of the largest ferris wheels in the US and it did not disappoint!