Snowpocalypse 2011

Snow finally came!  After our early Thanksgiving snowstorm, the kids have been sorely disappointed in old man winter.  Finally, snow arrived...  5 inches to be exact.  Just enough to do some sledding, build a snowman, and go on a nice winter hike on our neighborhood trail.  I took the day off and played in the snow all day with the kids, Steph, and Smokey.  Once again, Jackson and Kenzie both declared it the funnest day ever.  This is becoming a frequent phrase, so I guess we are doing something right:)

Catching snowflakes

Jackson quote: "What are we going to do about THIS?!?"

Ready for a big day!

Backyard snowscape 

Our snowy house 

Kenzie's best effort at a snowball

The kids with Frosty the Snowman

Steph and I with Snowy the Frostman.  We agreed to disagree on his name with the kids.  Jackson was the photographer here.  Nice work buddy!

The unimpressed expression notwithstanding, Smokey had a great time playing in the snow. 

Lovely snow hike on the neighborhood trail

Snow queen

Daddy - Kenzie ballet date day!

On Saturday I was blessed to be able to take my little girl on a special Dad - daughter date day.  Steph and I love our one on one time with the kids, as it allows us to slow things down and really focus our attention on each of them.  While Kenzie and I were out, Steph and Jackson had a Mom & kid sports day, going to his basketball practice and later to the Huskies basketball game.

For our date day, I took Mackenzie to lunch at the Edgewater Hotel, followed by the Cinderella Ballet in Seattle.  I tried to make everything fancy, and even if certain things weren't fancy, I told her they were.  She loved it!   I dressed her up in her special Disney Cinderella dress, complete with "glass" slippers, tiara, and wand.  I dressed up in a suit and let her help pick out my tie and put on my cuff links.  When I explained that cuff links (which she calls cup leafs) are like jewelry for boys, she was thrilled.

Lunch at the Edgewater was divine.  We valet parked, and got a table right on the water.  Everybody we passed complimented her and commented on what a beautiful princess she was.  I got several nods of approval and one thumbs up! 

After her lunch of "fancy" grilled cheese sandwiches, we moved on to the ballet.  We lucked into front row seats, so Mackenzie had a perfect view of the action!  The ballet was beautiful, and the nice thing about it being Cinderella was that she was able to understand the storyline, as she knows this story by heart.  Mackenzie was enchanted by the dancers, and I spied her in the corner of my eye moving her arms like the ballerinas several times.

She only needed to lie down on my lap for a few minutes during the second act, and she made it all the way to the end, aided by a power snack during the second intermission.  When the final act closed to Cinderella being twirled by Prince Charming as blue sparkles snowed down, Mackenzie clapped enthusiastically, a beautiful end to a day we will hold in our hearts forever!

Lunch with the princess at the Edgewater

So excited for the big day!!

Ready for the ballet!!

Self portrait during the first internission

A power snack of gingerbread cookies and orange soda brings a smile

Princess Mackenzie aglow after the ballet!

Princess Kenzie

Pic's from a recent playdate with Mackenzie's friend Addie, as well as some pics after going to Addie's birthday party, where the girls got special hair-do's!

Perfect prep for next Saturday's Daddy - Kenzie date day: Cinderella Ballet!!

Christmas morning + January

Just catching up here....

We had a fun Christmas and the kids are making very good use of their new Wii.  The whole family has become addicted to DJ Hero!  Sadly, I struggle to beat Steph, which makes no sense to anyone.  Jackson is amazing at it and has a new appreciation for DJ's.  Kenzie is the best mixing and scratching 4 year old I know!

The other hit gift is the espresso machine I got Steph.  Productivity in the Werner household is up significantly with the regular access to caffeine.  Starbucks' stock is taking a hit however.

Writing a letter to go with Santa's cookies and milk!

Jackson discovers that Santa came!

Kenzie's in on the good news too!

New Belle dress!

Anakin Skywalker space ship

Kenzie's new American Girl doll Molly, in her salon chair 

Wii bowling master

Jackson is back into it with skiing lessons again, spending his afternoons on the mountain with his good buddy Keegan.  Keegan's sister Addy hangs with Kenzie in the lodge while the boys ski, although Mackenzie did put on some skis last Wednesday for the first time, enjoying a few slides down the hill!

Jackson and Keegan hit the slopes

Big snowball!!

Finally, Jackson is playing organized basketball for the first time (I'm using the word organized very liberally).  Yesterday he had his first game.  Unlike his soccer season, when Jackson never got to experience the glory of scoring a goal, Jackson scored about 30 seconds into his first game, and scored the first 2 baskets for his team!  He was so excited and proud of himself!

Practicing his jump shot

battling for position!

Happy Holidays Part 2

Mackenzie has been filling our home with the sounds of Christmas, singing every holiday song she knows, and making up new ones (last night at bedtime she sang "this little poodle" to me).  This year's edition of Kenzie's Christmas pageant was especially joyful, as she actually sang!  In years past she has been content to just stand peacefully while the rest of her class mates sang the songs.  But she has steadily been gaining confidence, and this year she sang and gestured all of the songs.  Steph predictably teared up throughout the performance!

Pretty angel ready for her big performance!

Sleep in heavenly peace!

... and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 I took Friday off so that we could take the kids to see the Nutcracker for the first time!  Steph came up with a brilliant idea to take the kids to lunch at the Space Needle before hand.  It was a perfect day for their first trip up to the top (the weatherman had called for all day rain, so of course there wasn't a cloud in the sky).  They had a nice lunch of space noodles, enjoyed the views, and had a very fun time watching the ballet.  Jackson was pleased that there were plenty of sword fights, and of course Kenzie enjoyed the dancing.

On top of the world!

Nutcracker!

With Mom in front of the fountain at Seattle Center

The rest of our Christmas vacation has been devoted to family time and fun holiday activities and crafts.  The kids made cookies with their mom, and decoration Santas with Dad.  Today we are making a rice crispy holiday choo choo train and decorating a little wooden Christmas tree.

Cookie time!

Holiday crafts...

Waiting in line to see the boss.  Jackson wants a Wii and a yellow and gray Anakin Skywalker lego ship.  Kenzie wants a Belle dress.  Both want silly bands.  I want an orange.  The kids and I got into a huge "discussion" as to whether or not Santa could procure an orange.  In the end we decided to agree to disagree.  But the kids were at least kind enough to relay my wish to Santa.

Jackson and Smokey have been having a special holiday break together. Here, Jackson scratches Smokey's belly.