Cedarcrest Train Ride

After a busy cookie day, we took the boys to ride the Cedarcrest Train. Mao, Pop, Sarah, Jack and Lucy came too! Since we'd had a big wind storm the night before the train was closed. It was extra busy for us on Saturday. We got there a half hour before it opened and got in line. We waited in line nearly an hour and a half. Lucy and Jack entertained Wesley and Declan. Wesley loved running around the line and fire pit. Finally we go to ride the train and see the Christmas lights. Sarah, Mao and Pop rode in the over 40 train car, then our family, and last Jack and Lucy. We all loved the ride and the weather was perfect. Afterwards we roasted marshmallows and had hot chocolate.

Cookie day

Yesterday we had our annual cookie day at Mao and Pop's house.
Declan and Wesley both wore their Santa's cookie tester shirts. 

Declan rolled out all the gingerbread dough, cut all the dough with the cookie cutters and then decorated the cookies!

Brad taught Declan to draw underwear on the gingerbread men.





The boys took a break to wrestle on the floor.



Pop, Paula, Mao and Scott wrapping the carmels.





Lucy, Jack and Declan decorated the sugar cookies.








All the kids made ice cream cone Christmas trees.












Paula and I made and rolled all the krumkake. It was delicious.

It was another successful and busy cookie day.

Lion King

On Thursday we took Declan to see The Lion King at the Paramount. We didn't tell him what we were doing, just that he had to look handsome! He chose to wear his suit. Paula came to our house to ride with us to Seattle. Marcy picked up Wesley and took him out for the day!

When we got to Seattle we went upstairs at Pacific Place and grabbed some fish and chips. Then we headed to the theater. Declan still didn't know what we were doing. He was so excited when we walked up to the theater and he saw a poster of Rafiki, his favorite character in the show. The line was all the way up to the next block. We found Mao and Pop and got in line with them.

We finally made it inside and the show started. It was such a joy to watch Declan's face light up during the first song when all the animals came on the stage. He was amazed by the elephant, cheetah, birds and antelope. The show was amazing and we all enjoyed it.

Duffy

Declan's elf Snowflake surprised Duffy bear with a new Christmas shirt one morning. Declan and Duffy were both surprised and excited! 

Cookie Decorating and Play Structure

Wesley and Declan stayed the night at Mao and Pop's Saturday because we were hosting a Christmas party at our house. On Sunday we went over to pick up the boys. Our friends the Elsemores gifted us a playset, so while Brad and Pop picked it up, the boys and I played at Mao's house. Then Nana Hope came over to decorate cookies with us. 

When we got home that evening the boys loved playing on their new play structure. For now it's in our garage!