Sammamish Summer Part 2.5 - Family Pictures

Everyone's (not) favorite part of family gatherings - the group picture! We found yet another angle to use at the house for a backdrop so we didn't have to travel anywhere for photos. Kudos go to Amy for handling the camera and I also contributed with a few headswaps :) We sure love this family of ours!

Currently up to 10 grandkids - 2 girls and 8 boys, with 2 more on the way

And Happy 15th Anniversary to us!!

Sammamish Christmas, Part 5 (Final Fun and Heading Home)

Our trip this Christmas was all about family. Normally there are so many activities that we try to squeeze in (the gingerbread house display, garden of lights, tickets to the theater, holiday carousel, ward party, etc...), but thanks to covid, none of those were happening this year. Sometimes the togetherness was a bit loud and messy, but most of the time it was wonderful. So many great memories with family were made and we enjoyed it to the fullest!!

Reading books, and more books, and more books with GG Grandma

Charlie and Grandmari ready to cheer on the Seahawks

We did at least six puzzles over the break

One more trip up to the cabin for some skiing, snow cones, and fun

Griffin was in a bad habit of going to bed for just an hour or so, and then waking up once the games started. He thought it was so fun to party with the grown ups after all the other kids were in bed.

We had just one ski day on our trip. The snow was very heavy and I felt like I could barely power through it all, but was still so happy to be back on the slopes. Now that we are exiting the baby years, this will hopefully happen more often!

Building a lincoln log village while mom and dad ski

One more round of snow play before packing up to return to Texas

Dave helped the kids build a tunnel slide in the snow bank

We made a lineup of snowmen in the road for the plow to destroy when it came back down the street

Griffin loved all the extra attention he got during our stay

Goodbye snuggles with GG. She was an unexpected guest for our trip, but we were so, so glad to see her.

Video Clips from our Christmas Trip

Sammamish Christmas, Part 3 (Cousin Come and Cousins Go)

Over the next few days it was a revolving door as cousins came and left. Derek and Faye went down to Portland to see her family right after Christmas, then the Hindman family arrived the next morning, and finally Nat and Brodie took off a couple days later. It is always so crazy when there are that many kids in the house.  At the same times, however, they also keep each other entertained so even though it's wild, it's less work in a way. Unless it's a meal time, then it's all hands on deck to feed the hungry horde!

Recreating a picture of Charlie and Briggen in front of the Christmas tree from two years ago when they were just babies - look how much they have grown!

Enjoying a bath together

This was one of the cutest moments of them together that Nat happened to walk in on. They had both gone down the the playroom and decided to read a book together, only it was a chapter book that didn't even have pictures, but they both laid down to pretend they could do it!

Saying goodbyes

We had a virtual meet up with our Howe cousins a few days after Christmas. Tim had thoughtfully mailed us a "party in a box" that had everything we needed for a good time - mustaches, mad libs, a scavenger hunt - and then had pizza delivered to top it off. Fun times!

Brownie tasting event to determine the best box mix on the market. I can't remember for sure, but I think the winner may have been Walmart!

Getting in some snuggles with GG Grandma

Grandmari had several home depot kits put away for a day of building with cousins. All the little boys got to make battleships. I didn't take any pictures while they were hammering (my focus was on keeping destruction to a minimum), but here is Charlie with his finished boat.

After the kids went to bed, the adults who still had energy would play a few games. This one was called Spyfall, and we had a fun time learning it together. Grandma was actually very good and had us fooled multiple times!

After the Fish Fam left we went up to the cabin for some snow play. The kids had fun sledding in the driveway and climbing around on the snow walls. Charlie surprised us all by lasting longer outside than all his older cousins. 

Baby Griffin on the inside looking out

We came back to the big house after playing in the snow and I got to take all kids, minus Griffin, in the hot tub. It was raining, but with that much splashing it didn't even matter. 

Sophie and Anne had the best time playing together that week. Out of 10 cousins they are still the only girls and always have the best time when they are together!

Sammamish Christmas, Part 2 (Christmas Eve & Day)

Christmas Eve and Christmas are always such exciting days with kids. Luckily we had lots of activities to help pass the time as we counted down the hours until Santa arrived. We also had the Fish fam, Derek's family, and GG grandma arrive, which added to the fun (and noise)! It was so good to be together, even if it meant running the dishwasher three times a day.

On Christmas Day we went down to get the kids from the playroom, and found that they had already snuck upstairs to check out what Santa had brought. Stinkers! I guess that's Santa's fault though, because he gave them headlamps in their stocking which was basically an invitation to go snooping around in the early morning hours. They were thrilled with the gifts and each received a letter from Santa about their main present that was waiting at home because Santa knew it would be too big to fit in our suitcases. Maybe he is a smart guy after all!

Decorating gingerbread houses. Check out Davey in that top photo - he just couldn't help himself!

Making cookies for Santa - It's always a tricky getting the spritz dough gun to work properly, but Uncle Brodie had the magic touch that day!

Playing Christmas bingo before bedtime

The cookies the kids made earlier were very popular. It's good Grandmari remembered to set some aside for Santa or there wouldn't have been any left!

Reading the Night Before Christmas

GG Grandma arrived with Paco just before bed and the kids snuck in a few snuggles before saying goodnight. Davey especially loves her and jumped right in her lap.

After the kids were in bed, the adults played a new game the Fish Fam taught everyone. You put bills down all over the table and then roll a soda can at the targets. If it stops on a bill, you get to keep it. The girls were clearly superior at this game!

Santa came! His bag must have been much lighter after leaving these full stockings and extra surprises for our family.

Four very happy kids on Christmas morning

After Santa gifts we had breakfast, and then opened the family presents under the tree. These kids sure were spoiled this year, and loved every minute of it.

Our code names theme for the year was breakfast cereals. I had a fun time helping to make all the name labels. This year I was Honey Bunches of Oats :)