Thursday, December 24, 2009

Making Cookies


Well, we've had a delicious cookie making party. Millie loves helping mommy bake and the cookie batter is unanimously the best part!

The next day we rolled out the dough and used our new cookie cutters to make the best looking cookies in town.

We had so much fun rolling, cutting shapes and then for the best part......

...decorating with sprinkles! Chef Millie took over this part and really made sure each and every cookie had a thick layer of blue and red sugar sprinkles.

They didn't last very long either...

Taking a break from baking while talking to Papa on the phone. We talk almost everyday and most of the time get to see him on Skype too. We miss him so much! Love you Mike. I miss my best friend/husband!

Have a very Merry Christmas. One more day and Grandpa and Lola will be here to celebrate with us! We can't wait.

Friday, December 11, 2009

O' Christmas Tree


Sunday we headed off to Keith and Scott's Christmas tree farm in North Bend. We went with some very good friends, all of us in search of the "perfect" tree. The best part was the gorgeous views that we are so lucky to have living in the Northwest and we even got to see a bit of falling snow.

Millie posing with her friend Sofia.

Thumbs up to our future Christmas tree. It is so hard to find a tree at these U-pick farms, too many to choose from! But I love the one Millie and I found.

Sawed off, and now to shake out all the hidden squirrels, leaves and loose pine needles!

Millie decided it would be a good idea to relax with some candy canes in front of the fire after all the hard work of tree cutting at the farm. I settled in for some apple cider and watched the horse and rider from the farm greeting customers.

Inside and time to get serious with decorations while rocking out to Christmas tunes.

...and here she is in all her decorated glory. I wish I knew how to take a better photo to show off the glow, but I think that involves a tripod? Any hints on how to take a great xmas tree photo?

Monday, December 7, 2009

Hello December!


December is here! We started day 1 with our annual tradition of opening a door each day on our advent calendar. Counting down the days until Christmas!

It is such an exciting time of year we can hardly stand it!

Time to hang up decorations.

Enjoying the fire and coziness of being warm inside. We have had really freezing temperatures here the past week. Only getting up to the mid 30s during the day and low 20s at night. Brrr!

Millie is busy getting our Christmas cards ready.

Thursday was the Christmas tree lighting in Snoqualmie. This year Millie announced very firmly that she "wants to sit and meet Santa." So that is what we did. She only got a bit unsure of the whole idea at the last minute, but was persuaded by the candy cane Mrs. Claus handed out.

Here is Millie getting ready to go out for a night on the town in her seasonal headgear. Stay tuned for photos and updates from our Christmas tree hunt!

Friday, December 4, 2009

The grandparents have arrived!


We had a really great Thanksgiving with Mike's parents. Millie is always so happy to have her Lola and Grandpa here to visit and spoil us (and I am too!)

Grandpa is very busy carving the turkey for dinner. Millie and Lola get one last hug and snuggle in before the big meal.

Oops, looks like there's one guest that can't wait for the turkey to be served at the table!

Millie and I get ready to go for a hike the next day with our neighbors. Here is Millie modeling her new winter coat.