Christmas Shenanigans

Every Christmas we get together with our small group and wrap presents for some of the guys in the program at the lighthouse mission. Our good friend Han's is one of the Chaplins at the mission... anyway, this year was no different... wrapping, eating, white elephant exchanges and shenanigans ensue!

Willa sharing a treat with Sarah

Getting ready for some crazy gift exchange!

Bret gets a bra

It may be difficult to read so let me explain... the title of this book is "Position of the Day" Note Hans' enthusiasm!

Willa doesn't really get what is so funny...

Pretty...

The book and bra are still funny...

Lovely group picture...

Totally inappropriate group picture... love it!!!

December Happenings!

Christmas Visits!

This Christmas we were joined by Grandma McGaughy and GGpa along with GranJan and Jesse. It was a fun family crowd!! Here are some pictures from our week around Christmas...

Willa was having a great time with Santa until the camera came out... then she just wanted mommy! So sad...

Rocket donuts! It wasn't Christmas yet but, what a way to start the celebration!!

Willa and Grandma enjoy some hot chocolate at the Woods Coffee after some serious play at the park!


Christmas Eve Family Photo


Bigger Family Photo!


Willa checking out a package or two...


Grandma and GGpa chatting by the fire

Willa waiting on Santa

Daddy reading "Night Before Christmas"

The first present...

Jesse gets a few spirits from Santa...

A Christmas smile ... and mohawk

The fellas

Daddy gives Willa a hand

GranJan and Willa check out her new stuff

Christmas Day Family photo

Grandma gets started...

Big Bird from Aunt Jana and Uncle Jim!!! It is a special NYC Cab drive Big Bird!

Books!!!

An Elmo book... thanks Aunt Cori!!!

Monkey Sock ... slippers?

Thanks GGpa

Thomas the Train!!

Bret putting Willa's new kitchen together

It really does take an engineering degree... good thing Bret has one!

Willa cooking while daddy cooks Christmas dinner

Bret and his assistant prepare a delicous dinner

Mmmm... crown roast!

Lyle looking dapper

Willa tries out her new bike!!

Jesse and his girlfriend, Lindsey

Lindsey brought Willa a billingual doll and a doll bed!

Daddy puts the bed together!!!

Willa loves it... she mostly sits in the doll bed and reads her books but she still loves it!

Christmas dinner!

Grandma gives Willa a smooch before she heads back to California

Jesse Gets a squeeze, too!

Nose kiss!!!

Einar's Birthday!

The Sunday before Christmas we headed down to Seattle to celebrate Bret's good friend Einar's 30th birthday. It was a good time spent celebrating and catching up with old friends!

Einar's surprise (it would have been clearer if Leah had remembered the flash... oh well... you can still see the surprise!)

Still surprised

Dinner... Mmmmm!

Bret with an old friend and college roommate Jim and his wife Becky

When they say blow out your candles they really mean it... note the candleabra!

Einar & Stephanie

The whole gang

Other Christmas Happenings

Willa reads her friend Sawyer (also Jesse's girlfriend Lindsey's son) a story

Willa will sit for an hour looking through her favorite books...

Willa goes for a ride on Huck

Big hug!!

Mommy and Willa

We have a little cubby under our staircase. We fixed it up for Willa with a big bean bag chair, some fun decorations and shelves for her toys and books. Here she is hanging outwith daddy.

Willa, Sawyer, Lindsey and Jesse have some lunch... yum!

Mom's night out!!!

Willa and Leah went to visit our old neighbors John and Lil... fun!

We hlove to hike on the trails near our new house. It was quite cold this December so Willa has her snow gear on...

I went on a shopping trip to Seatte with her friends Ann Marie and Julie. We were driven down toSeattle, treated to breakfast on the way there, shopped til we dropped (we even had concierge service to come and get our shopping bags so we didn't have to carry them around and then were treated to wine and other treats on our way home. Now that is my kind of shopping trip!!

Daddy and Willa working on the advent calendar... mostly Willa stealing all the stickers from our advent calendar!