Christmas/Autumn turns 5/New Years eve

Evan, the kids, and I flew to Seattle for Christmas.  Luckily we had a friend drop us off at the airport so we didn't have to put all our stuff on the shuttle from long term parking.  Also lucky for us a Southwest employee helped get all our bags from the curb inside, since curb side check-in was of course closed.  We had three carry-on bags, 7 checked bags, and 4 car seats.

Violet didn't sleep a wink even though our flight was at 11 pm.

We didn't bring the stroller and two-year olds walk too slow

We got to my parents last after Hannah, Noah, and Dustin.  My mom always has fun thing for us to do.  Autumn decorated some cookies with her cousin Korey.

One of my favorite things was going to the botanical gardens that were decorated with lights.

Violet loves Jess

She also loved this ancient thing she found in my parent's basement (and it even works)

Autumns REAL birthday!!! She turned FIVE and got a new outfit to celebrate.

Maverick and Violet loved my mom's Fisher Price nativity set and carried the pieces around with them all week.

Autumn loves her gymnastics and ice skating lessons, loves pink, and all things girly.  Her favorite food is Mini-Wheats.  She changes her clothes half a dozen times a day.  Loves the movie Trolls and the accompanying soundtrack.

Twinners

burning off some energy at the church

Lark meeting Dustin

The boys got our the N-64 and played Super Smash brothers

Traditional Christmas Eve Bingo with my cousin Pete and his family

Traditional birthday mint sugar cookie

Nativity after we had Chinese food.  Autumn was Mary dressed as an angel and Maverick was a wise man.  Evan played Joseph.

Grandpa loves reading bedtime stories...or 3 or 4.  He loves to keep the kids up past bedtime.

Listening to Silent Night and getting ready for Santa to come.

It is tough on sleep schedules and arrangements when you go on vacation.  These two didn't want to climb off the top bunk by themselves so they actually slept pretty well!

Christmas morning waiting for everyone else to wake up.

Looking for stockings

closest family picture I took

traditional "waiting for dad" picture.  Although I'm pretty sure we were waiting for Dustin.

Autumn loves her "American Girl" Doll from Target that you got from Grandma and Grandpa.

Church after presents

Autumn refused to wear her outfit that marched the other girls.

Autumn holding her doll...holding her doll

Jess and I took the girls to see a movie, but all the kid movies were sold out so we went painting instead.  They were bored after about 7 minutes.

Family playing games.

Jess gave the twinners these "lap-tops" which they love.

My mom got me these "fun" shoes, that I actually wore to church that day.

Family picture minus Lark who was taking her morning nap.

My mom got everyone matching Jammies, but you can't really tell in this picture.

We went ice skating.  The rink had these awesome "learn-to-skate" seals you can push around the ice or sit on and be pushed.

Painting Christmas figurines.

I put my kids to bed and finished mine (the penguin) which I'm very proud of.

After the rest of the family left Evan parked himself on the couch and watch American Ninja Warrior marathon for about 3 days.

On New Year's Eve we turned on some Christmas lights inside and had a dance party.  After those three songs were over and the kids were in bed the adults played 13 Dead-end Drive.  One of my favorite's from my childhood.

Autumn reading the safety information on our flight home, strapped in next to Matilda Grace.