SNOW Day!

Now as a parent, I definitely don't have the same opinion about "snow days" as I did as a child. And though I really missed my "free time" while Alyssa is at school, it is still very fun seeing your daughter play and have fun in the snow. I just look forward to when Ashton is old enough and I can enjoy playing with both of them in the snow - or better yet, they can play together and I can watch warmly from inside the house!

Soccer Girls

Alyssa and Paige finished their first soccer session on their team conveniently named Cougars. They both had a great time - though I'm not real sure soccer is either of their sports...or maybe they just need a few "sessions" to warm up to it? But hey, they sure do look cute "and that is SOOO important." (quote from the movie Grease, for everyone (but Nikki) who doesn't know that).

Big Pre-K School Girl!

This is proof they grow up SO fast! I know she's only in preschool, but this photo makes her look so much older than that (at least to her momma it does). The other day she was discussing "symmetry" with Grammy after she broke her peanut butter & jelly sandwich in half and was trying to make the two halves "symmetry." (not asymmetrical...only symmetry). I'm pretty sure I had no clue what symmetry was at 4 years old. Let's just chalk it up to the fact that she's inherited her mother's genius gene. (how come you're laughing?) Alright, Jay is the one with the Math smarts - I'll take credit when she becomes an Oscar winning actress and/or a Grammy winning singer! (you're laughing again, aren't you???)

Baby's 1st Christmas

Auntie Nikki passed along the traditional "Baby's 1st Christmas" Santa hat to Miss Ashton, so we had to take some photos of her with it on. Big sis Alyssa had to get in on the photo action too (I'm not sure where she gets her love for being in front of the camera???)

Ashton eats "food!"

We know, we know...she's only 3 months old ~ but we're desperate for a decent night's sleep. Sooo...we started Ashton on some rice cereal and she absolutely loves it! We checked it out with her Dr. and got the green light, so she enjoys her cereal for breakfast and dinner (mixed with some prune juice for "easier digestion"). She's still not regularly sleeping through the night, but definitely seems happier overall ~ so we're happier.

Santa loves Nordstrom too!

I know I haven't posted anything new lately, but we are just finally getting settled back in our home. But we of course found time to have our girls visit Santa...and at Nordstrom of all places ~ Santa obviously has just as great taste as we do! Alyssa once again froze up when Santa asked her what she wanted. Last year she ended up asking him for a "spinning top"...this year she couldn't even answer him and just agreed with him when he suggested "baby dolls." (of which she has at least 4 of). After I reminded her that she wanted the "Fur Real puppy & kitty," she repeated it back to Santa ~ we'll see... Ashton was just happy with the candy cane.

"Leaving on a Jet Plane - don't know when we'll be back again"

Well, technically it's a Boeing 767 - but if I could afford a jet to make the 5 1/2 hour flight shorter, I SO would. The point is, we are at the end of our 2 year "georgia contract" and are on our way back home to the good 'ol Northwest in approximately 48 hours!

We are SO excited to be going home, but also are finding it a bittersweet move. We've made friends and a home/life down here and it actually feels a bit strange to be permanently leaving it all behind. We will miss our great friends we've made, Alyssa will definitely miss her school and we'll miss the overly warm weather that we've become accustomed to. I will so NOT miss smooshing ants with my fingers, getting enough toilet paper to kill the large spiders (& all the other friendly critters), whacking roaches with any large object in order to ensure that they are deceased and always having to subtract 3 hours off the clock to see if it's an okay time to call someone back home! Life in the South was definitely a culture shock and adjustment for us, but one that we now feel very fortunate for being "forced" into.

With that being said...bring on the Mountains, the saltwater, fresh seafood and the rain...and of course Starbucks and Nordstrom! "Sweet Home Washington"