Christmas is all about the kids

This year Christmas was all about the kids.  Well, I suppose it’s always about the kids.  But for me, this year was mostly about my two youngest grandsons LJ and Declan.  We had a full month of festivities and fun.

I started the holiday season going to “Twas the Night” with LJ, my 5 year old grandson.  I found that LJ loved plays when he was only 2 and we’ve been going every since.

Getting ready to watch a Christmas play

“Twas the Night” play presented by Studio East in Kirkland

Having fun on our “date”

Our next stop was to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens to look at the Christmas lights.

Sea serpent

A rainy but fun adventure

So many beautiful displays at the Botanical Gardens

Our last stop was to have dinner at The Melting Pot in Bellevue.  LJ wasn’t too crazy about the cheese fondue but sure loved the chocolate one 🙂

Chocolate fondue at The Melting Pot.  What a fun way to end the day

The next week-end I had a special day with Declan, LJ’s younger brother.  We also did lots of fun things!

First stop – Story time at Barnes and Nobel

Wight’s Home and Garden Center to look at all the decorated Christmas trees

And then off to Country Village in Bothell.  It’s always fun to go here.  There are ducks and chickens, a playground, little cafes and so much more.  And this time of the year there are lots of Christmas activities, carolers, and even reindeer!

Checking out the reindeer at Country Village

Declan loves watching the ducks

And after listening to “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” earlier in the day, look who we ran into!

Declan and the Grinch

Next on our list was to go to the Redmond town center and city hall.  It was a pretty cold night so we didn’t stay long, but we did manage to watch the tree light up and take a quick ride on the carousel.

 

Tree at Redmond City Hall and carousel at Town Center

Declan on the fire truck and riding the carousel

More fun things we did…

Declan’s Christmas play at Wee Care Academy

He was pretty proud of himself after singing his songs

Fun breakfasts for the boys

Christmas crafts

And a trip to the Reptile Zoo in Monroe.  One of the boys favorite things to do!

Declan petting a snake

LJ holding a snake

Grandpa Louie arrived on the 23rd with a truck full of snow from Wenatchee!  He brought some last year and I think it’s going to be a tradition from now on.  Oh what fun the boys had playing in the snow!

Fun in the snow

Nothing better than a snow bunny!

After playing in the snow, we all packed up and drove to Stanwood and The Lights of Christmas festival.  There was music, lights, a 3D exhibit, a story teller by the fireplace, a Christmas train and the most delicious melt in your mouth mini donuts I’ve ever tasted!

Stanwood Lights of Christmas festival. The picture on the bottom is the lights maze. Fun!

Christmas train and Christmas fun!

Boys going through the 3D Christmas Story exhibit

Christmas Eve is a time for making cookies, wrapping gifts and setting out a tray for Santa and his reindeer!

Christmas morning! Santa’s been here and he and his reindeer got their snack! So many gifts, so much fun!

Whew!  It was a busy month but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  My other two grandchildren are all grown up with lives of their own, so I’m so thankful that I’m able to spend these special times with these special boys while they’re still little.  Time goes so fast, it’s here and gone in a flash.

Declan is my pillow boy. This is the one I made for him this year. Hugs to him and his brother and all my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren today and always!

 

Fun times!

I have to share a few fun things I’ve done this last month.

First of all my sister and I had the amazing opportunity to stay at a friends cabin in Winthrop.

If you’ve never been to Winthrop you really need to check it out.  Take a drive over the North Cascades Scenic Highway to the Methow Valley and into the Old West town of Winthrop.  There’s usually lots of things going on in the area, including mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, etc. etc. etc.  In March there’s the Balloon Festival, Labor Day Weekend is the Methow Rodeo, In the winter there’s cross country skiing and snowmobiling.  Or if you just want to hang out in town, there are tons of restaurants, the Rhythm and Blues festival in July, the list goes on and on.

Winthrop

We chose to spend most of our time at the cabin enjoying the deck, the peaceful quietness, and the many deer who came to visit us.

My next fun week-end was having a great time at our Annual Poker Party at one of my friends house on beautiful Lake Chelan.

Beautiful Lake Chelan

We spent the week-end laughing, enjoying the beautiful scenery, acting silly like only the best of friends can, and oh yeah, playing poker!

Last but definitely not least I helped celebrate my grandson’s second birthday.  His favorite thing in the whole wide world (right now) is riding the train.  So my daughter planned his birthday party at Country Village where he could play on the swings,

Swinging with Grandma Connie

play catch with his new ball and mit,

watch the model trains,

LJ watching the model train

take a ride in the caboose with daddy,

and of course open his presents.

It was a wonderfully delightful day for LJ!  And I was so happy I could be a part of it.  LOVE that little boy!

It’s definitely been a fun month!

Mothers Day

Brody & Calla

What a great week I’ve had pet sitting in Snohomish this past week.  I absolutely adore the two pups that I’ve been watching.  Brody is such a gentleman who loves to snuggle and Calla has the biggest personality all wrapped up in a tiny 8 lb. body!  It’s so much fun watching her play with her squeaky toys and when I open the door for her and Brody to go outside, she shoots out like a rocket, barking and chasing away any rabbits, squirrels or birds that dare come into the yard.

Speaking of the yard, what a beautiful time of year it is with all the trees and bushes in bloom!

Just a small sample of all the beautiful flowers blooming in the yard

My daughter Heather lives fairly close by so on Saturday we decided to meet at the Country Village just down the road in Bothell.  What a cool place!  It was such a beautiful, sunny day!  A perfect day for LJ to get to run around and play, and a time for Heather and I to catch up.

He had so much fun playing on all the playground toys including a Pirate’s Ship, swings, merry-go-round, etc.  He also got to watch the ducks and chickens that were walking around.  There’s a cute pond and stream going along the back and there’s even a little train to take a ride on.

Fun at Country Village

After taking a break at The Village Bean, where there was another little activity area for LJ to spend some energy, LJ and Heather took a ride on the train and then poured into the car and went home for a good nap :-).

On Sunday, Heather invited me out to lunch.  She had a bloody mary waiting for me when I arrived!  Oh how she knows her mamma!

We had a really nice visit and some snacks!  I was so glad I got to spend Mothers Day with my daughter.  I haven’t been close enough for several years to do that.  It was especially nice because Heather’s expecting her second child so it was a special day for her too!  My son lives in Wenatchee so I wasn’t able to see him but I did hear from him so it completed my day!

Thanks Heather for creating the collages for me!