Puzzle and Pictures

I don't know who bought this puzzle for the Elliott family Christmas gift exchange, but I do want you to know that we, (mainly Ken) were able to put it together. I didn't really like it, it was much to difficult for me plus it had 1000 pieces which is always a draw back in my opinion, (I prefer 500 piece puzzles), but Ken said that it might be his favorite puzzle. He liked it because the odd ball shape and the way it didn't always fit together like a normal puzzle, made it an interesting challenge. I, on the other hand, probably disliked it for the same reason. It was definitely one of the hardest puzzles I've ever worked on!
One of my favorite things to do at the end of each year is to gather all the Christmas cards with pictures of family and friends, cut them down, and arrange them in this magnetic backed holder. Then I put it on my refrigerator for the next year. Family members are put on first, then if I have room I add pictures of friends. I do have a blank spot, as you can see, that I'm reserving for a great-niece that didn't send me a picture this year. (You know who you are and you'd better get a picture to me ASAP!) I love this magnetic holder, it's a great way to display the pictures without having to have magnets attached to each picture, and the puzzle of arranging them in a pleasing way is one that even I can do!

Gymnastics Again

Tuesday was another gymnastics day for MOPS. Saben and Annika couldn't come this time, but Seth and Betsy decided to come with me. The kids got to try out more equipment this time and there were more "helpers" provided by Rising Star than there were last time. This girl helped Seth stand on his head.
Walking down a balance beam with Grandma's help.

I'm not sure what this piece of equipment is called, the kids jumped up on it, then jumped off it onto the matts.

Swinging from a bar, they were supposed to swing back and forth 5 times before going to the next thing. They also walked across a raised balance beam and got to jump down the long trampoline. After gymnastics we had a nice lunch at Christiano's in Marysville. It was nice to have a chance to do a fun activity with Seth!

Christmas Day 2010 - Part 2

A new outfit for Christmas!
Learning to use the new remote control Star Wars vehicle.

A new big wheel for Seth.

Cousins enjoying their dessert.

Making Annika's "Playmobil" royal carriage.

Building some Star Wars items out of leggos.

Playing with the figurines from the carriage.

When the "Hungry, Hungry Hippo" game was first opened, there wasn't much interest shown. After we put it together and showed the kids how to play it, it became a popular game for everyone!

Christmas Day 2010 - Part 1

We let Seth open one of his stocking items while we waited for the Youngs to arrive. He had a lot of fun chasing the rocket balloons while we waited!
More stocking stuffers.

Reading time while waiting for lunch.

Saben actually was excited about his clothing item this year, a pair of Leggos Star Wars pajamas.

After the gifts were all opened, Annika enjoyed piling all the paper in a pile, jumping into it, then rolling around in it.

Is Annika getting a hug or getting tickled?

December 23rd

We have gone to the "Lights of Christmas" at Warm Beach Camp Ground several times over the years. They do a great job, but since we have been there several times we were ready to try something different. Todd and Betsy invited us to go with them to the Bellvue Botanical Garden display with them on the 23rd and these are some of the pictures I took there. One of the first things we saw were these grape vines. I loved how they looked!
There seemed to be a garden theme, which makes sense since it was at the botanical garden. Todd and Seth are admiring the flowers made of lights.

There was a section in a glass case that was made to look like an aquarium. This is the starfish and octopus.

A garden of lights with a butterfly.

A lake with flowers around it and in it, plus a swan and some trees.

This spider caught a fly for dinner!

Catching a ride on Papa's shoulders. The display wasn't as elaborate or as big as the one at Warm Beach, but I thought it was very nice anyway and enjoyed it a lot!

Food Bank Helpers

This is our life group minus 1 wife who couldn't help due to carpal tunnel surgery. We gathered at the Arlington Food Bank at 4pm last Sunday to help get things ready for the Christmas Box distribution that took place on Tuesday.
Most of the women helped by measuring 300 bags each of rice, dried beans and oatmeal.

The rest of the group made up the boxes,...

...carried them to the hallway...

...or stacked them in the hallway. This hallway was totally filled with boxes by the time we were done! We made around 300 boxes. Our life group has done this project for several years both before Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it really helps the Food Bank out a bunch.

Christmas in Wenatchee

Seth and Grandma working on a Christmas sticker page while waiting for everyone to arrive.
Isaac and Uncle Shaun

Seth likes to be taller than Papa!

Seth also likes helping Meera with her iphone.

Melia opened her bead kit first...

...and Kiera was excited to get one also!

Jayden and Mommy enjoy her new toy and a bow for her hair.

Lara gets some press-on nails, I want to see a picture of her nails after she puts them on!

Chef Meera got a surprise gift of lady fingers from her admirers. (She couldn't find any when she made tiramisu for Thanksgiving and had to make her own.)

Time for a nap amid all the festivities, well deserved after working a 12 hour shift the night before!

Story time with Great-aunt Brenda, I had to read the story twice because Melia missed out on the first part of the story.

Playing the game of "Farkle" with the family. Melia beat us all the first time we played!

Horse

Anyone else think this horse looks like the horse we used to have? Other than it's a male and his tail is a little bit longer, I think he looks a lot like Babe.

Gaudiness and a Jinx

I want it to be known that a house in our neighborhood has more plastic Christmas figures that any house I have seen in my life! This is the first year that they have put out all these figures, but it is unbelievably gaudy!
The nativity scene is on the garage roof, with Santa flying on the house roof.
On the ground are numerous Santas in all sizes...

...on one side of the driveway...

...with snowmen and drummer boys on the other side of the driveway. I can't figure out how or where they could store all these figures. Although, since it looks like they park their cars outside, maybe the figures take over the garage after Christmas. Every time I go by the display, I shake my head in disbelief!

I have probably jinxed our chance of getting any more snow this year. For Ken's birthday this year, I got him this power shovel/snowblower. I figured that if I didn't get it, we would get a lot of snow, as has been predicted, and if I did get it, then we probably wouldn't get any more snow this winter. So now, we'll have to wait and see if I've jinxed the snow or not!