SAM

As a surprise Christmas/good report card celebration, we took the boys to Seattle for two exciting exhibits: Picasso and Harry Potter. Neither allowed cameras, which was just as well, since I forgot mine in the hotel room the first night. But I did manage to snap this just outside the Picasso gallery at the SAM. The jacket is made entirely of military dog tags. Haunting, yet beautiful. The boys were well-behaved and complete gentlemen despite their being quite tired by the end of the exhibit.

And Harry Potter. Well, words can't describe their excitement at seeing the real wands, Buckbeak, Fawkes, Dobby, and all the wardrobes from the movies. We actually spent just as much time in the gift shop afterwards as we did in the actual exhibit. Brian and I simply walked around with our jaws dropping to the floor... $45.99 for a scarf. Really? $75 for the Maruader's Map. As if the tickets were free. But the joy in their eyes and voices as they literally ran from room to room was ... priceless.

my music men(yeah, we got trouble, right here in anacortes)

Logan's big recital went swimmingly. Twenty five students, a couple of hours, and some good cookies later, we finally arrived home for a late dinner with Oma and Opa. Not to be upstaged by his performing brother, Michael added flare to the evening by gracing us with his harmonica, dancing, and directing skills. The video is more elaborative, but these still will have to suffice.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...
Opa, under the direction of Maestro Michael

Western Kegels Thanksgiving/Christmas

Since Gramma and Papa are going to NJ this year, not only will we not be with them for Christmas, but neither will their nieces and nephews(sniff sniff). So we just had to have Christmas early(and Elizabeth's birthday). Really, it was all about Ava.... and pretty drinks in pretty glasses.

This was an impromptu picture. Had I been more on the ball, I would have had a few more people actually sitting on the couch. Sigh.

MMmmmmm. Tasty.
Michael is a patient and loving teacher. If she doesn't know Ode to Joy after sitting with him, we're all in trouble; he plays it 4 million times a day.

Thanksgiving morning

Well, we didn't have water, but we had heat and electricity, Gramma and Papa, and SNOW. The greatest thing about snow on Thanksgiving morning...? Brian took the boys up to their school to snowboard(it's the closest hill), and Gramma and I got to do laundry next door at the preschool(remember, no water) and start on the dinner.
We enjoyed the white all afternoon until regular Anacortes weather took over, and alas, we were left with our typical gray backdrop. No worries, we feasted on a scrumptious turkey we had fried the night before at our dear friends' party. And we had a wonderful day with Gramma and Papa. As per our tradition, we got our Christmas tree the following day and had Chinese take-out while we decorated that night. I'm not sure where my camera was hiding because I mysteriously have no pictures of the family fun.