Happy New Year!

I just had to take a shot of this beautiful sunrise!

Happy New Year! We spent New Year's Eve at our friends', the Wangdizabals, for their almost-annual party when we ring in the new year a little early for the little ones. We came home a little later than planned, and both of the kids were completely worn out. A great way to end the year! The next morning we cracked into our gingerbread house per tradition. We each take a swing at it with the tenderizing hammer to see what treat is hidden inside. This year 2 sleeping puppies (which look very real) hiding in stockings were waiting patiently to be broken out.

A snuggle for the puppy

Turner's favorite place - behind the tree

As we still had a few more days of Christmas Break fun, we all (Mom, Dad, and the 4 of us) piled into Minnie (LOVE the minivan!) and took in Zoolights at The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. This used to be an annual outing for us before kids, but this is the first time we've been with the monkeys. It's beautiful! To quote Kealan, "This is truly a Winter Wonderland!"

This is G's and My Tree. We took a picture under it every year, though they have now gated it off. Pictures simply do not do it justice!

Flashback - circa 1996 or 1997 at the Shark Exhibit and under "our tree".

My Boys

My Little Snails (in the play area)

What a pretty anemone she makes!

T Funnies:

-While playing with his Disneyland Buddies, I decided to drop a little knowledge on Tiernan. "Did you know that Goofy is a dog?" "Noooooooooooo!" cried T. "Well, what is he then?" I asked. "I don't know. Whatever!" Way not to peg-hole people, T!

-T was playing in K's room before bedtime, and declared to G that K's Wishbear was his. "My Wishbear!" "No, that's Kea's Wishbear." responded G. With a hand on his hip and the other firmly grasping the bear, T stated, "Sorry, Daddy." and then in a crazy, deep, alien voice yelled, "I'M TAKING WISHBEAR!"

-Upon finding Tiernan sitting on the top of the toy box with Kealan trapped inside, T only said, "Mother, Mother. My sister is stuck!"

K Funnies:

-After seeing a light bulb burning out upon flipping the switch and the resulting Mazda Effect, K exclaimed, "It winked at me!"

-While looking at old photos with me, she spied a Halloween shot from 1992 of G and his buds. She pointed at her "Uncle Chuck" (Chad and father of her buds, Brent and Blake or "The B Boys") who was dressed as a Chippendale's Dancer (in tux pants, cuffs, and bow tie) and queried, "Why is Uncle Chuck naked?"

-She was watching an episode of Blues Clues with T when she asked one of those questions for which we simply don't have an answer. "Why can't the dogs talk like people? The shovel and mailbox do!"