New Sports!

Jackson is busy adding additional sports to his portfolio. His latest discoveries are skiing and bowling.

Now I should preface that we have had very muted expectations regarding the skiing. We've long felt that the deck might be stacked against Jackson, given the combination of his cautious nature and two parents that seldom get accused of being Winter Olympic caliber athletes. As such, we thought we should get him into lessons on the early side, before he sees either of our skiing skills and loses hope.

He absolutely loved his first day skiing. He had a blast with the snow, trying on his new ski helmet and mask, and wearing skis for the first time. While parents don't join the kids on the mountain during the lessons, all indications are that he left his caution at home, and was a diligent student. He fearlessly learned to make "pizza slices" with his skis (to slow down) and "french fries" to go faster.

He has detailed the memory to anyone who will listen for the past 6 days, has counted down the days to his next lesson each day, and draws pictures of skiing for his sister. Good times!

On Saturday, Jackson got to attend his friend Jack Kostomay's birthday party at the bowling alley. With the aid of the bumpers, Jackson bowled an 81 and was the overall winner. He even got 2 spares! Kenzie enjoyed watching and eating popcorn and getting popcorn in her hair, which Dad had just washed hours earlier.

Focused approach...

Sweet form on his first spare of the day!

Jack gives Kenzie some bunny ears

Weekend fun

Sunday we took the kids to the Huskies basketball game, which had a rare nap/bedtime conflict free start time of 12pm. Back in the day I would have hated a 12pm Sunday game (what kind of party is that??), but now I love it! This was Mackenzie's first game of the year, the first that she'll likely remember, and the first in which she was able to sit in her seat for the whole game.

We got to the game early, so as to take in all the pre-game festivities, have free time for watching warmups and to allow Mackenzie to watch the cheerleaders practice. She was excited to put her new cheerleader outfit and pom poms to good use! She also demonstrated a natural born ability to power-flirt, making googly eyes and ear to ear grins at the 10 year old kid seated behind her. This is a most unwelcomed development.

Jackson and Kenzie, taking in warmups

Getting a closer view of the action

The aforementioned power flirting. This went on for like 5 straight minutes until we put a stop to it.

Daddy's girl!!!

Jackson and Kenzie stop for a quick ride on the Dawg statue

Sunday night, Jackson invited his friend Keegan over for a sleep over. This was Jackson's second sleep over at our house and Keegan's first. They both had a great time, and spent the entire evening watching, playing, and re-enacting Star Wars. Jackson was Darth Vader and Keegan was Obi Wan Kenobi. Mackenzie was "the Star Wars coach". Finally, in the morning Steph made Mickey Mouse pancakes for the kids. What a good mom!

Acting out one of the star ship battles

Reading about sharks and whales before bed-time

Christmas... the recap

Christmas weekend was a time for the whole family to get together and share good company, good food and drink, and of course, good presents!

We were blessed to have my parents and Steph's parents stay with us overnight Christmas Eve, making it a very fulfilling holiday for the whole family. The kids just loved having both sets of grandparents for an extended stay, and the grandparents enjoyed seeing the kids in their happy zone.

There were many highlights the last couple of days. including an epically delicious Christmas Eve dinner by Steph, followed by a fabulous encore Christmas brunch. We also enjoyed a Christmas Eve drive looking at the lights in our neighborhood, many Christmas carols from Mackenzie, and the traditional Dad / kids reading of the Night before Christmas. One extra special memory that Steph and I shared was bringing Jackson with us to Christmas Eve church service, and seeing him sing along to O Holy Night while holding his candle. In the end it was a joyous holiday, a good time for pausing to reflect and just enjoy our time together. Merry Christmas!!

Steph's gorgeous candle lit Christmas Eve dinner table

The happy diners

The letter is written, the milk and cookies are out, and the kids are upstairs dreaming of sugar plums

He came!!!!!

Jackson opens up his gifts with precision and savvy

Mackenzie, checking out her new Husky cheerleader outfit from her big brother

Love me my sweet new ski jacket. Thanks Steph!!

Steph shows off her fancy new purse hanger / holder thingyMackenzie jams away on her new "hormonica" from SantaChristmas brunch...

Egg bake, pumpkin bread, and Oh's cereal for the picky kiddos.

With full bellies and all the presents open, it's time to play with the new toys! Kenzie's haul included a new pink big girl bike, a pink Leapster, a red light saber, all kinds of ballet and princess things, and much much more!

Jackson scored a new razor scooter, tons of star wars stuff, a basketball, remote control car, nerf dart tag, and a pile of other loot!

I got my new jacket, as well as a sweet print of the 95 Mariners game 5 vs the Yankees for my office, among other toys.

And most importantly, Steph got her iPhone finally. I knew the war was lost when the middle schooler up the street bought himself an iPhone with the money he earns walking our dog!

Battle of good vs evil

Morning game of hungry hungry hippo

Jackson, "already really really good at my razor scooter"

Kenzie takes the new wheels for a spin

And last but not least, Smokey took in a record haul this year with 2 toys and 2 small dog biscuits.

Priceless pic of the little tyke all tuckered out, asleep with his new toy

Merry Christmas from our favorite two little elves!!

Merry times

"Dad?"

"yeah, Kenzie?"

"um... why are you a man who's nice?"

That's the kind of week it's been so far. Everything is exciting to the kids, they are very purposefully embracing the Christmas spirit, and they keep things happy and light around here.

We've been enjoying the usual holiday fare, with food, games, and movies being the dominant activities. We've done a couple of outings, and we are enjoying the rare sunny weather, getting the kids out for some much needed exercise on their winter break.

Our house is filled with more cookies than an army of elves could eat. Cookie day was a big hit, with Marsha and Steph baking 6 kinds of cookies, with a total tally in the ballpark of 15 dozen. Magical, zero calorie cookies. A Christmas Miracle!!

Busy bakers!

Kenzie samples a pizzelle, the Best in Show winner this year!

Jackson has been very busy making lists, his newest hobby since he discovered writing

Last Friday, the kids made ginger bread houses with their good friends Abby and Elliott McNear, an annual tradition. They have been eating away at them ever since... one piece after dinner each night!

Checking the consistency of the icing...

Kenzie, all focus and concentration

Ready for consumption!

Monday night we ventured out to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens to check out the lights display. They have done a masterful job of bringing the gardens to life with very creative lighting displays. The kids had fun spotting all of the animals and flowers made out of lights. The adults had fun dressing them in their animal snow hats from Grandma Amy and animal scarves from Grandma Marsha.

Checking out a cool parrot

The kids have been endlessly asking us if it's going to snow. Whenever I tell them I don't think so, I get something in response like "yes it might!", or "you don't know that, the weatherman might be wrong!" So we figured we should take them up to the mountains for some snow fun.

The day started ominously, as the tubing park at Snoqualmie was sold out. I didn't know that mountains sold out! Well, fortunately, I thought ahead and packed the sleds "just in case", because things just go wrong sometimes, and trekking a 3yr old and 5yr old an hour into the mountains and finding out they are closed is major disaster / state of emergency stuff.

We were able to find a good sledding area nearby, and the kids never knew the difference. We had a great time, with the bonus of a nice workout towing the kids up the hill over and over, which will serves us well as we continue to eat the cookie mountain.

The sledding itself was ideal, and both kids loved the rush of bouncing and slipping their way down the hill. Jackson surprisingly did not express any safety concerns.

Steph and Kenzie, slip slidin' away

Winter bliss!

Just me and my Kenzo, rollin' on our sled-o!

Star sledders!

Finally, here's some footage of the kids doing a run together... check back tomorrow for a very special Christmas video from the kids!

Week of Play

We are officially into the long anticipated holiday family week of play. We have been faithfully working to get everything done in advance, and I am happy to say that all the shopping is done, the cards are in the mail, the house is clean, the presents are wrapped, and we have no responsibilities other than fun for the next 7 days.

As I type, the kids are watching The Care Bears Nutcracker in the family room, and Steph is hosting the annual KD Christmas brunch in our living room. I am drinking the leftover champagne from their mimosas. All is good.

On the docket for the week: Steph/Marsha Christmas cookie bake-off; kiddie train and one horse open sleigh ride at Redmond Town Center; Bellevue Botanical Gardens (weather pending); sledding at Snoqualmie; UW Huskies vs Texas A&M basketball game; lots of walks with Smokey; Christmas Eve church and driving around looking at lights; and of course, loads of Christmas movies, books, games and treats.

With that, I'll let the anticipation marinate with a look back at Werners' Christmases past:

2003 (Steph, Smokey, and bun in the oven!)

2004 - Little buddy's first Christmas

2005 -

First Christmas in our new home in Sammamish

2006 - First Christmas as a family of 4

2007 - 2 walkers walking!

2008 - Snowiest Christmas ever!!!