December 2009

We've survived yet another holiday season. We struggled again keeping up with the crazy schedule, but it's definitely getting easier.

Before things got into full swing, Kyla started going to basketball practice. Kyla suggested the name that her new team choose, the fearsome-sounding Butterflies. They're going to have a few more practices in January and then they should start playing games.

Blake has started to become envious that Kyla gets to go to school. I'm not sure he knows what goes on there, but perhaps that's part of the allure. Becky drove him past the Montessori and explained that he could go to that school as soon as he learned to use the potty. He seemed interested on Kyla's old pink potty chair for about a day, but has moved on. We'll see how long it takes for this motivation to return.

Our holiday marathon began with Hanukkah on the 22nd with the Hovenkotters (it was a little late, but we wanted to wait for Kyle). Then it was off to the Chambers' on Christmas Eve.

In preparation for Santa Kyla put out some cookies that she baked three weeks earlier (yummy!) and Blake insisted on leaving a cup of soy milk by the front door. The whole chimney thing doesn't make sense when you have a gas fireplace. Santa brought Blake a Cars-themed Geo Trax set and was kind enough to fulfill Kyla's request for Tattoo Barbie, even though when she originally asked for it Santa gave her a funny look and said, "maybe it's time for Santa to retire."

We had our family Christmas in the morning and then the Manis/Saulsberry family came over for brunch. This year Laura, Bryanna, Erin, and Nathan were all in town for the holidays. Then we headed to Grandma Dot's for Christmas with Becky's Dad's family.

On the 26th we headed to Ellensburg for our final Christmas celebration. Our original plan was for Becky and I to go skiing with Cassie and Brian the following day, but the kids were a little over-cooked by this point, so Becky stayed behind. Kyla was very disappointed that there wasn't any snow for Christmas this year (there was a heavy snowfall in Seattle last year), but fortunately the clouds delivered for us in Ellensburg just before we left.

Becky requested that we keep things low-key for her birthday this year, so she went to the gym for a couple of hours and then took a nap to recover from the holidays. Each of the kids picked out some flowers for her and we all gave her a picture of the three of them that we framed.

On yet another New Year's Eve I am left wondering where the past year has gone. I would say that overall 2009 was pretty good for us, and I expect 2010 will continue the trend.