December 2017

Our Christmas tradition of going to California didn't happen AGAIN for its second year.  Sad tears!  Gma Kim got foot surgery and it was just a bad time.  So we decided to mask our woes and instead enjoy what Washington had to offer.

We hit 3 ward Christmas parties: WS, Burien, and the Spanish branch.  YES, the Spanish Branch!  Late November, Dan was released from his calling, and in that meeting, we were asked to consider serving in the Spanish Branch for a while.  We soon said yes, and it has been so fun.  I'm digressing, so I'll say here that I loved seeing a Mexican Santa shouting HO HO HO at the Christmas fiesta.

Christmas Eve, we made Christmas ornaments (an origami star).  Well, I made them, and then I had Dan and kids deliver them to our neighbors.  It was our way to get into the Christmas spirit and visit a little bit with the neighbors.  Snow began to dust the streets of Seattle that day, and we woke up to a very white Christmas!  Very magical.  The kids opened presents with grandparents watching via the telephone, then we bundled up and went sledding at our adjacent park.

Out of all the presents the kids asked for and got from us, grandparents, and Santa of course, I don't want to forget that Elena desired a locket with a picture of her parents.  Why?  She didn't want to forget our faces in case we died.  It was bizarre, sweet and serious request all at the same time.

Other fun activities in all of December included:

-The Santa Parade in Sumner, WA. (I don't want to forget the decorated tractors that went down Mainstreet, and the HoneyBucket float.)  We supported Melanie and John, he was in the parade promoting his therapeutic equestrian business.  Afterward, we enjoyed a meal at their home.

-Ice Skating at City Center.  I went twice with the kids.  Once with Meghan and Kaitlin Stott, and the other time with Alyce, Hattle, and Elsa.  Elena zipped along, Michael sometimes used that pusher thingy, but he could survive without it, and Cora had fun.

-Tubing at Snoqualmie Pass.  That was one of our splurges--two full ours of high speed tubing.  All the kids did it, even Charlie!  (He didn't squeal with delight, or cry.  Just silence.  Maybe he was in shock--pretty funny)  We went with the Eltons.

-"Mr Poppins Penguins" at the Seattle Children's Theater.  We've lived here for almost a decade and haven't taken the kids to a play.  It was only an hour long and we got "rush tickets", so a great price for the perfect amount of time our kids can all sit still.

-I went out downtown with Geno and Lindsay to celebrate the end of an era with them.  I will not forget that bizarre movie, AND that bizarre dessert at a funky Seattle restaurant.  Lindsay's family later moved to Cordoba, Argentina for a couple of years, purely for the cultural adventure of it.  Genoveva and family later moved back to Texas.  I spent a good week helping her pack and it was nice to have that time as we parted as long friends, my old college roommate.

-The Waylands had a housewarming party, since they moved from Burien to Federal Way.  Great family.

-Meandered through Lincoln Park

-Swam with kids at the YMCA with our free trial passes.  (I don't think we are going to join for now...)

-And lastly, we celebrated New Years at the Stott's house for a couple of hours.  (We played a funny game that made us read a card with our mouths expanded) We then returned home, put the kids to bed, and watched the fireworks at the Space Needle from our street.  The fireworks looked small from here, but it was pretty cool to see it!

I'll have Dan put a video together of 2017 and we'll post it (hopefully) soon. :)