Super Weekend!

This weekend, the kids were at Steph's parents for Friday and Saturday so that we could get some much needed de-cluttering done at home. So of course, we took advantage of our freedom, going to see South Pacific at the 5th Ave theater. It was good... lots of singing and prancing about.

Dinner before the show at Wasabi Bistro

In the morning, we walked to Starbucks with Smokey, to fuel up for our exciting day of housework, taking the scenic route by the duck pond. By the way, this indian winter we've been having in Seattle has been awesome. While the rest of the country seems to be buried under 2 feet of snow every time we turn on the tv, we've been enjoying 55 degrees and "mist".

me and Smokes at the duck pond

Sunday morning we picked up the kids... and let's just say Mackenzie's cold regressed. The below face is an accurate representation of how she felt.

We don't really know just what was wrong with her... she had a mystery fever that hung around for 2 days, and seems to have disappeared. At any rate, she still had her happy moments yesterday, in spite of herself, and seems to be on the mend again.

For the Super Bowl, we picked up art supplies to make a model football field. This gave the kids something fun to do while we watched 3 hours of pre-game, and gave Jackson a working model to track where the football was during the game. The inspiration for this idea came around the 85th time that Jackson asked me if the Saints were about to score during the NFC championship game the week before.

making goalposts with Grandad

painting the end zones...

Final product!

We all rooted for the Saints, along with the rest of the country excluding Indiana... so it was a great game!

Jackson, stressed out!

Saints Win!!!

Dad day

It's been a while! We've stayed busy, doing our usual stuff. The whole team is currently in various stages of a pretty nasty cold. The kids are most of the way through the woods, Steph is at about 80% performance, and I am at about 55%. But my 55% is good for 60% of a normal person, so that's not too bad, all things considered.

Jackson's days, outside of school & skiing, are pretty equally divided between 4 major food groups: family room basketball, practicing reading & writing, star war battles, and playing his leapster.

Kenzie has juggled responsibilities as: part time socialite, hosting near-daily tea parties; family practitioner, "doctoring" the family and her stuffed animals with her medical kit; and, of course, cultural liaison, with her dancing.

Wednesdays are skiing and ballet day for the kids, so I took a "dad day" off from work this week, and braved the elements in spite of my cold, to watch the kids doing what they love to do.

Ballet is fun as always. The contrast between little girls and boys is most stark to me when I watch a room full of 3 year old girls attentively listing to their ballet instructor, diligently perfecting their arabesques, plies, curtsies, and "wiggle-your-hips". I particularly enjoyed "butterflies and bats", where the butterflies flutter about when the teacher turns the lights on, waving their scarves about while the bats "sleep". When the lights are switched off, the butterflies sleep while the bats swoop about. Kenzie was a very spunky bat.

Kenzie's latest decor addition for her room: a signed pair of ballet slippers from a dancer from the Boston Ballet company (that's her on the cover of Dance magazine). Thanks Cheryl! You are such an awesome aunt!!!

After ballet and a quick bite, it was off to the mountains with my little Olympian. This was my first time seeing him in action and I was most impressed. He is great at turning and stopping, and continues to show no fear. And the big milestone was that he got to ride on the chairlift for the first time! Luckily, mom wasn't there, and went about her afternoon in ignorant bliss to the fact that her baby was whisked along 30 feet above the ground all the way up the mountain with an instructor that we just met a month ago! Fortunately, Jackson loved it, and was wearing a big smile at the end of the session.

Coming off the "magic carpet" with his instructor

Jackson, grasping the middle bar with both hands.

Steph's little baby, up in the sky! I assured her that the snow below was deep and soft.

Skiing down the mountain

Happy camper after another day on the slopes!

Bonus pic of Mackenzie, who found it hilarious that she was able to put her pajamas on backwards

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!!