Christmas Craziness -Final

and here are just a bunch of fun random pictures that happened during our Christmas visit.-

one word...Jordan


daddy on vacation :)


It got quiet...and Trent found her in grandma's room raiding Dustin's stocking.


matching sweatshirts from mom and dad


three generations singing Christmas songs

Dustin had just given Kellianne a homemade sock ornament



the one Christmas day picture I am in. (as a friend puts it..prof I was there.- to bad it's a picture of Jordan screaming that she wants daddy not mommy :) )

Christmas Craziness part 3

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve growing up always meant heading over to Grandma and Grandpa Seals with all of my 20 some-odd cousins, eating yummy food, singing Christmas songs, the nativity put on by all the grand kids, a visit from Santa (which amazingly enough my grandpa was always in the bathroom during that time), and the fun/odd talents that were shared (my favorite was always the wrapping paper/paper towel cardboard songs the Himmers came up with.)
Well as the families are all getting bigger, Grandma's house just can't hold all 10 aunts/uncles, 26+cousins and spouses and all 26+ great-grandchildren. So each of the families does there own Christmas Eve.
This year was the start of the Parks gathering with the 3 kids and spouses, and 6 (almost 7) grand kids.
Crazy how big we are getting.
This year with the added 3 grand kids we were able to put on our version of the nativity, and we were lucky enough to have Grandma Seal with us as well as Lisa's parents.

Joseph and Kayla were Mary and Joseph...


Ali was the angel and Carson, Audrey and Jordan were the Wisemen...next year we will have a shepard :)


and Jordan took her role as Wisemen very seriously, it was very sweet.

Christmas Craziness part 2

Date Night

My mom was nice enough to let Trent and I go out on two dates while we were home. so for one of them we went out to Dustin's work and visited him (picked up a few movies for the kids), went out to redeem a work gift at Olive Garden (yum!) and then go to the driving range (neither of us had done that before.)

Here's the prof:

before going in...



I was a natural....NOT!!! It's a good thing I wasn't on video


Trent on the otherhand can now add the driving range to his list of many talents.


All done.

Christmas Craziness part 1

One of the things that I love about going home for anything is "game time". You see, Trent isn't so much into games...at all. In fact most of our (my) games are still in boxes from three moves ago. he will play the occasional Sorry!, Uno or maybe if I'm lucky Phase 10.
So going home for me equals lots of late night game time.
..and lucky for me my mom and I are working on having the kids on my side...

my mom taught my kids to play "Simon Says" Jared and I use to spend hours playing this game together.

Mom and the cousins playing "old-maid"


And even grandma came by Christmas night knowing the Parks house would be playing something :)

our new family favorite... "Bananagrams" even dad and Trent played this one, without being asked too MIRACLE! guess what I'll be picking up soon to add to my very few 'Trent-approved-game-list' ( my mom's camera has the picture of Trent and my dad playing...I'll have to get that from her for Prof.)

Pj's and Santa

We let the kids open up their Christmas pj's early this year. Typically we want till Christmas Eve, but this year Audrey needed Christmas pj's for her recital. so much to the kids major disappointment they all got to open up a present early...darn.
and before that the kids all got to "talk" with Santa through the computer. (thank you PNP) highly suggest doing it for your kids. or even your spouse. :)

Carson talking with Santa


I'm not joking when I say, Jordan REALLY doesn't like to wear clothes....






*one of these days I hope to successfully get a picture of the three of them actually smiling at the same time *

dance

On Wednesday night Audrey had her first dance recital with her new dance class. The class does tap, ballet and tumbling. She had a great time and did a fantastic job!
Great job Audrey!!


Audrey, being Audrey


Getting ready to show off her cartwheel.

definition please

today Trent is going here. I'm going here .

Fair.

I think not.

Happy Feet

A few years ago Trent decided he wanted to start a new tradition. so he started doing the 12 days of Christmas for me, so everyday for the twelve days before Christmas I would open a gift.It would be anything from a sweater to a book, to a favorite candy treat. This year I decided to play along and do it for him as well, so now we put the kids to bed and then sit by the tree and exchange. We have such a good time and for us it takes the pressure off of "Christmas morning" we each open one thing on Christmas and then it's all about the kids. We'll on Tuesday I was suprised with some fancy-shmancy, major silky soft socks. I would live in them if I could.
Thanks Trent!!
*Tonight Trent is getting a Christmas Tree ornament*

Gingerbread houses

Yesterday we took the kids to the "Davenport Hotel". (Shana, next time Jarom does a business trip in Spokane, come with him and stay there...it's just the type of place you would really enjoy.)

The Davenport sponsered a 'gingerbread house' making contest so we went to see the finished results.


Audrey in front of "Pixie Hollow"


"Pooh's corner"





Tarzan's tree house


Cinderella's castle (with all disney charecters on it)


Thank you mr. Hotel worker for volunteering to take our picture...so accomidating


and saving the best for last...this one was SWEET!! it's a full scence from Pirates of the Carribean...the detail was amazing!


and kind of random..they had all around the Hotel, cases with things from celebrities who have stayed in the hotel. Bing Crosby stayed many times and so they have his pipe, his straw hat, a bunch of pictures, his bathrobe and a few other things. Trent is a huge fan so I couldn't not take a picture :) and random facts about "Bing"...his name is really Harry, but he liked the comic section of "the Bingville Bugel, they started calling him Bing...and he was born in Tacoma of all places..just like me

Ten guilty pleasures....

I saw this on this guys blog and I thought it looked kinda fun (can you tell I'm searching for new ideas...if you have any please share)

here are my guilty pleasures (well at least ten of them)

1. (the first four go hand in hand.--best gifts ever include all four) Reading (I can go live a different life for a few days)
2. Baths..I'm a bath reader to the point I'm shivering in the water cause I am to into my book to drain the tub a little and add more hot water.
3. chocolate, milk not dark (yes I eat it in the bathtub) :)
4. candles
5. girls nights out. (yes I love my family but I love them even more when I am gone with some good friends for a few hours)
6. Kinza teryiaki (sorry Liberty Lake-ers Ding How is good but just doesn't compare)
7. exercising- I am REALLY missing my old 'Boot Camp' class right about now
8. a sappy romantic comedy
9. my slippers
10. sweaters


*I've looked into getting one of these on many occasions

Sunday, final day

Well it's the last day of "picture of the day" and I have to say this has actually been a lot of fun. I have caught the kids at fun times that I normally wouldn't have taken the camera out for.
(Highly encourage this for anyone else that blogs- I don't know about doing it for a full month, but a week is great).

So here is my attempt to take pictures of the kids before church...



I did say attempt right?

Saturday

Here is todays picture, this time Trent captured it. :)

Friday (take 2)

Apparently something was wrong with my device driver....all better now. :)

Here is just a quick peak at our everyday dinner entertainment. (actually pre-dinner entertainment..Trent and I were at a fabulous Relief Society Christmas dinner tonight..seriously the best Christmas dinner/entertainment/service project I've attended. so a big SHOUT out to Ashley for putting it all together. well done- now go get a massage or something.)



Yes, that's another tooth gone..this kid has been losing teeth like I loose my license.