Michael Family Movie Nights

It is funny the ways in which being a parent change your life. Big things change, like not getting as much sleep, shifts in activities you participate in and even the people you spend time with. There are so many little changes, like how you refer to a food (instead of pho, pad thai, linguine, etc. it is all referred to as "noodles" in order to get her to eat it) or learning to set every beverage you drink out of a little one's reach (which becomes a whole new challenge when they get good at climbing). And then there are those magical changes in how you see the world - gaining an entirely new perspective on a simple part of life from enjoying it with your child. It is all these moments that we dreamed about from the first time we talked about starting a family, and now that they are happening, are even better than we had imagined. We had previously questioned all of the things we might be missing out on in starting a family and now realize the best part is what we were missing before we did!

One example is our new tradition of family movie nights. Clara is limited to a maximum 1 hour of media exposure a day and therefore if fascinated by TV. It is kind of scary, really! Together we have been enjoying some of Mommy & Daddy's childhood favorites like Muppets Take Manhattan and Snow White. Of course we never make it through a whole movie, but she really does well watching and following the story. The favorite part of our new movie-watching ritual is POPCORN!!!

Clara is so delighted to help make the popcorn and watches the popped kernels shoot out with the greatest anticipation. The adorable comments she makes and expressions she creates keep us laughing. Even after she is tucked in bed, we get a kick out of repeating her comments and go to bed with the warmest hearts! Parenthood is just SO much fun!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Clara & Mommy had a birthday surprise waiting when Daddy got home from work on his birthday. After a little birthday fun, Clara got to go to her buddy Davis' house while Mommy & Daddy enjoyed a night out together.

Clara has caught on to the cake thing. We even let her have a finger taste of the frosting and she was hooked! The kid has a sweet tooth like her Mama!

Funny Papers with Papa Bob

Our last trip to Chehalis was over a week ago. We headed down for a baby shower for Auntie Danielle and Clara's soon-to-arrive baby boy cousin. Mommy hates that she forgot her camera for the shower, but Danielle received lots of nice gifts from family and friends who are also anxiously awaiting the little guys arrival. I will be sure to post pictures then!

Grandma & Grandpa Stevens are still living with Grandma & Grandpa Swanson while there house is getting remodeled so we got to spend extra time with my grandparents, too. I have been so lucky to have a strong and enduring friendship with my grandparents. Together we have made so many memories and traditions. Now it is completely indescribable getting to watch as Clara gets to share those same experiences, like "special" lunches with Grandma Wanda and reading the funny papers with Papa Bob.

It really doesn't feel like that long ago that I got to nestle in close on his lap and have him describe the pictures in the comics to me. Knowing Grandpa, he'd be delighted to share this with me again if I asked, but I guess now it's Clara's turn and I just get to enjoy the beautiful view!

Hayden's Harry Potter Party

Our wonderful friend Hayden Fisher recently turned 6 and we helped his family celebrate with magical Harry Potter birthday party. My dear friend Christy did an amazing job with all of the details from potions and wands to strange sounding (yet delicious) snacks so the kiddos were having a wonderful time. Clara, who is clueless about Harry Potter got a big kick out of the sorcerer's hat and wand.

Miss Scout feeds off the excitement of all of the other older kids. Notice her in the photo below standing in amazement of all the other children working on their craft. Eventually she dove right in and made her hat, too!

Remembering Joy & Celebrating in Quincy

This year our plans to celebrate the holiday in Quincy with Kevin's side of the family were altered a little because we lost our sweet Grandma Joy shortly before Christmas. Joy was Kevin's grandfather's second wife and an extremely loving indiviual. We headed to Wenatchee the Tuesday after Christmas to celebrate her special life and then celebrated our holiday as a family the next day. The kids had a lot of fun and we enjoyed our last Christmas festivity in the house that Kevin was raised in.

Christmas Day

After being up later than their normal bedtimes on Christmas Eve, both Clara and Taylor slept in well on Christmas morning. It will probably be our last year of this luxury! We had to remind the girls that Santa had come and they ran out to the tree. Santa left a doll bed for Clara and a big girl bike for Taylor. They both seemed pretty sleepy for a while, but once they found a little CANDY in their stockings, they were soon bouncing off the walls. Clara was more interested in Taylor's bike and the matching "hat" (helmet) than her own gift.

Above, Clara is digging into the her stocking. She found the lollipop right away and really wasn't as impressed with anything else, well besides the gummy candies!

All holiday season when we asked Clara what she wanted Santa to bring her she said she wanted "Toys & Candy." When we queried further, she said "blue toys" and "bunk beds." We assumed that the "blue toys" actually referred to Blue's Clues, but we were unsuccessful in finding any in of the stores. Luckily Santa was crafty and made Clara a one of a kind Handy Dandy notebook with the Blue's Clues logo. Clara played with a bunk bed toy in a doll house when we were doing some Christmas shopping with my friend Kate. That single experience had quite an impression, so Clara got her own doll house furniture including the bunk beds.

Cousin Taylor got a new table and tea set for Christmas and both the girls had a blast playing tea party with Grandma and Grandpa.

The other hit of the day was Clara's gift of a PINK cozy coupe from Grandma & Grandpa. Despite our dislike of this toy (see Project Cozy Coupe Fascination Extinction post) my parents knew that she would love it and they were correct. She lit up immediately when she was unwrapping it and waited patiently as Papa Bob & Grandpa assembled it!

This year Christmas took on a whole new meaning for our family. Clara made the season so much fun and got excited about the little things making it magical for us as well. There was so much build up that she had a little trouble realizing once it was over. In fact, she still frequently sings "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Christmas Eve

Clara, Taylor & Papa Mark

This year for Christmas Eve, we had our big feast at Matt & Danielle's because Mom & Dad's house is in the middle of a big remodel so they have been living with Grandma & Grandpa Swanson. While the venue may have changed, the menu was our traditional good stuff. We are just re-incorporating a few more traditions for the kids.

Taylor & Clara had so much fun. They love being together, but getting to spend the night at Taylor's house AND have Santa come was almost too much! It was hard to get photos of either one of them because they were always on the go!

Clara opening her first gift of the night

Everyone feasting on prime rib!

Clara even enjoyed her own Christmas dinner.

Riding Tay's Rocking Horse... TOGETHER!

Sharing loves with Uncle Ryan who got them each Seahawks fuzzy coats. Clara is still really funny about Ryan. She chatters on about him all of the time then gets really shy or really silly when she is around him. She did the same thing with Uncle Todd before Thanksgiving, too!

THE box! One of the traditions we have revived for Clara and Taylor. Every year growing up, I (Erin) had a tradition of getting my picture taken in a decorated box in front of the tree at my grandparent's house. It started as a way to get me to sit independently for a Christmas photo and became funny in my teenage years. This summer my grandmother came across that box and brought it to me. We also got Clara's photo in that same box (photos to come).

Last year, I thought I would give Taylor & Clara the same tradition and made this box for them. Last year they fit in it perfectly together, but not quite so well this year.

Clara was getting pretty tired!

We got the girls in their matching bunny P.J.'s and Papa Bob read the family Twas the Night before Christmas from the same book we grew up reading.

Then we left cookies and milk for Santa Claus and the girls said goodnight.

Daddy, Clara & Mama

Uncle Matt, Taylor and Auntie Danielle

Celebrating with Special Friends

Clara & her best pal, Davis exchanged holiday gifts this year. They were so sweet tearing into their packages. Timid at first but they fed off the energy of one another. Clara got an adorable pink Nordstom tu-tu from Davis and gave him a barnyard talking puzzle. We met Davis & his mommy, Cindy around this time last year and what at treat it has been getting to know them!


Before we headed out of town we stopped by the Brown's home to visit with Auntie Michele. Last year we ended up at the Brown's on Christmas Eve when our family was unable to make it up because of the snow. Clara was enchanted with all of the Christmas decorations, especially the singing Santa!

As usual, Auntie Michele spoiled Clara this Christmas!

Issaquah Mom's Group Christmas Party

Clara started warming up to Santa at the Issaquah Mom's Group Christmas Party. While there was NO WAY she was sitting on his lap, she was willing to share a bump with him to get the treats he was passing out.

Yet another silly Michael Family photo with Santa

Decorating her gingerbread cooking. We really should have taken an "after" shot of the same cookie once she ate all the decorations and licked the frosting clean!

Christmas Party with SANTA!!!

Clara lucked out and was invited to a fun children's Christmas party with the neighbor kiddos, Kellen, Taylor and their older sister Jenna. The party had a gingerbread theme and the kids got to make their own gingerbread houses and enjoy lots of tasty treats like this adorable cake.

Clara was delighted!

Santa arrived at the party and called the kids one by one to go and sit on his lap. He gave each one a gift and Clara figured out quickly that there were "Toys & Candy" inside. After watching several of the others have their turn, she bravely went up and accepted her gift from Santa, still unwilling to sit on his lap, but willing to get close enough to take this photo, a big step in the right direction after meeting Santa on 4 occasions!

The children also listened to Santa read them the Twas the Night Before Christmas and sang a few Christmas carols with him. Clara was so happy singing her heart out to Jingle Bells with all of the "big" kids.

At the party we attempted to make a gingerbread house, but Clara's main interest in the activity was seeing how quickly she could stuff the sweet decorative treats in her mouth. She was quicker at picking them off and eating them then I was at getting them on. Eventually she resorted to this...

Yes, she really is her mother's daughter. Maybe by next year we'll be able to try this fun activity again!