Grandma put together a real treasure trove for some rogue pirates this Christmas.
GRRRRRRrrrr!
The Pirate and His Pirate Queen With a Horde of Chests.
Gabe and Lydia Recovered Christmas Treasure at Grandma and Grandpa's
Grandma put together a real treasure trove for some rogue pirates this Christmas.GRRRRRRrrrr!The Pirate and His Pirate Queen With a Horde of Chests.
Christmas Morning
First Presents
From Janelle - Christmas Elf or what?
Silas!
Sierra with her Virgil and Hazi
Christmas Eve
Opening Pajamas
Pajama Play
"Stockings hung by the chimney with care"
The Night Before Christmas with Grandpa
Grammy's Birthday!
Present opening.... Where's Grammy?!! She is in there! Mom had a full house birthday, one of the best, surrounded by ten "plus" (one not yet made her appearance) grandchildren and even a grand-nephew!
Uncle Davey in the huddle of all his nieces and nephews for the gift unwrapping.
Grandpa and Grammy
Havilah began the instrumental concert at the piano in Mom's honor.
Jed played from the 3rd Suzuki book from memory.Sierra carried us away with the entire Yanni piece as her fingers flew over the keys.
Jesse and Caleb concluded with "O Holy Night" before we all moved to the kitchen and family room for "Happy Birthday."
Faces - Sister and Brothers
Love my sis and her smile!
Three of the brothers - now rugged, talented men. Love them too!
Beautiful Mommy and Baby
Gorgeous Sierra - natural beauty, natural mommy, glowing with contentment.
Virgil - So perfect, sweet, peaceful, content too.
Snowbound
We've come to Grandpa and Grammy's for Christmas. It has been snowing the entire week. White Christmas guaranteed. Lydia was walking in from the snow field on our first morning in the dense whiteness.
Home Hearth
We completed our last major move on Thanksgiving weekend. We've arranged the furniture, and allowed ourselves to settle in by the fire. The kids have unpacked their toys with renewed interest, and play and play. We've also read dozens and dozens of library books in last weeks.
Forts - Bear Den and Tepee Hut
Creative play in the side yard with a pile of dried pruned branches and newly cut evergreen boughs from the roadside trees.
The den above and below, just big enough for two bears.
The tepee-like construction with newly added evergreen for shelter.
Gabe loving it!
Family Outing
Deception Pass Bridge in the background. Gabe and Lydia sporting their birthday camel packs from Uncle Eric, Aunt Diane, and cousins.
Self-timer portrait in front of the Olympics.
Marshal packed us a PB&J picnic and took us out on a spur of the moment, Sunday afternoon family hike just up the road at Deception Pass. The kids said it was their best day ever! Morning church, a beautiful hike, local fish and chips....
Thanksgiving Husband
Marshal has been working hard every spare moment to make this home for us these last three months. He has done a tremendous job. 
Just had to include the photo of the thawing pumpkins that Marshal picked up with the kids earlier this fall.
There he is teaching his cousins a new game, Sequence.
Marshal hung light fixtures, cleaned out the rooms, brought in furniture, and arranged it for me on Thanksgiving day, so we could feast in the growing beauty and ambiance of our home.