Mini Vacation for Jeromy and I....

So Jeromy and I had been planning for a couple of months to get away for a few days to the ocean cause we weren't able to during our anniversary time in October. Work was too busy, and I needed to be with my mom- love you mom!

But we knew during the Christmas closure we'd have some time. Dec. 26-28 to be exact- and a nice hotel on the water is pretty cheap the day after Christmas- score!

Driving into Ocean Shores we had to get a picture of this store- don't remember seeing this the last time I was at the ocean but it's been several years. But I thought of my cousin's son Max who loves sharks!

 Our hotel, decent size- alot larger then the Seattle hotels. The ocean is right outside, ok it's a bit of a walk but there's nothing between us and the ocean... so pretty....

 Our room had a little kitchenette which was nice cause we were able to buy alot of food and eat in our room to save money... and our waistlines!

 Our first night this was the sun setting thru the clouds... beautiful...

 A close up..... so awesome....

 Yup- I worked out in the hotel gym. That's how I roll....

 It rained most of the time we were there, but that's ok- we just wanted to get away. But the second day it was actually sunny for the first half of the day. And I wanted a cool piece of drift wood, they say wood is for the 5th anniversary. I wanted a piece of ocean drift wood. There's Jeromy on the right there...

There was some pretty large pieces of drift wood I wanted but Jeromy said noway..

 Where did this come from? Where was it planted originally? So curious!

 The sand spiraled around this piece.....

  The ocean is so magestic. It reminded Jeromy of this verse:

Proverbs 8:29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth

It's so amazing... God commanded the oceans how far they would come and they obey, how can we as man ignore God's call...

 So pretty, these pictures don't do it justice..

 My man....

Me, it was cold but not too windy!

 The cheesy-love-factory....

 Have I ever told you I LOVE room service. Just read off the menu, make a phone call, they bring it right to you! Awesome! Notice the salads... trying to eat good- at least of the meals a day lol!

 After leaving the ocean Jeromy and I headed to Tacoma to pick up Aurora. Then I dropped them both off at home then I headed to my parents to pick up Kent. He stayed with them for one of the days we were gone. My mom and Kent made snickerdoodle cookies for me! Even grandpa was helping get them out of the oven while Kent flipped them off the tray!

 My son... I love him so much, and am so proud of him. He even caught his grandma today when she stumbled over some shoes... add hero to his list of talents/abilities. He is such a great son... can't say enough wonderful things about him- oh and he looks like me a little! As long as his dad isn't in the picture lol!  Please ignore the 5 pound bags under my eyes- youch!

 My cousin Kimmy and auntie Sharon stopped by my mom's while I was there. Always nice to see you Kimmy- you always make me laugh- even if you take the biggest- right out of the oven snickerdoodle I was trying to hide on the plate!

Can 2012 really almost be over??? Not before I try to convince my husband we need to go to the Japenese Steak House for dinner one more time! I need to recruit the kids in this effort.... Katie- over and out!!

Merry Christmas Everyone.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family. We even had a white Christmas- it was beautiful!

Kent opening up his stuff. He got alot of clothes. Ignore creepy santa on the TV in the background! We all know that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus anyway.

 He also got drawing supplies and a scarf/ gloves/ hat set. So cute!

 Jeromy and I also got a present from my parents! Yay- it's a new kitchen knife set and it is awesome! We were just talking how we were needing a new one!

 Misty and Dennis got a new set also!

 Look at those cute Quinn kids! Denny, Kelsey and Mason...

 Kelsey loves her LaLa Loopsie doll!

 Misty and dad!

Well, I didn't take as many pictures as I did with my mom's camera- looks like you'll have to blog mom so I can see more pictures!

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!

December things.

 We got about 5-6 inches of snow the other day. Pretty cool.

The back yard.

A panoramic- a little distorted but still cool looking.

Jeromy and Aurora made chocolate chip cookies. We were going over to my parents to make and have dinner! These 2 made the dessert!

Aurora also got to open her presents from my parents since we won't have her at Christmas time.

Grandma wanted Kent to open one of his presents also. He got an awesome robe! He loves wearing robes. The one he has was already a hand-me-down that was starting to get a little thin. So now he has his own new one. Looks great Kent!

Aurora got a new connect four game. So who's winning so far??? Aurora won the first game that's all that matters... right dad?

Here's my mom and me "face timing" with JADE!!! Isn't that cool? She was on her lunch break from work so we were able to see her and talk to her. So awesome. She also showed us a little of her work area. Let me tell you- I haven't seen anybody that cute in safety glasses and steel toe boots in a long time.... unless you count Jeromy!!!!!

Good night!

A Tragedy

Truly a tragedy. I have not really been able to figure out how to comment on what happened with those 28 souls. 20 children, 6 adults at the school, the shooter's mother and the shooter....

The focus seems to be on gun control- either for or against. I personally don't like guns, that's just me. But people should have the right to defend themselves. We don't need new laws. We already have a perfectly good one we should follow:

THOU SHALT NOT MURDER.

Some serious pictures...

So Jade came home for a short 3 day visit! And since we had Aurora this weekend we thought we'd have our Christmas early while we had all 3 kids together! And just before we started opening presents- it started snowing! You can't tell really in this picture but it was snowing!!!

 So happy together- all 5 of us! Love these pictures....

 Ok- everyone open your stocking stuffers...

 Time for presents under the tree....

 Love these kids...

 OH- and Jeromy got us all cinnabon cinnamon rolls!

 Got a cute picture of us girls with our American Girls dolls with their Christmas dresses on!

Me and my baby girl JADE LORRAINE.... sure do miss her being all the way in California...

 The 3 of us girls...

 Da boys...

 Today, Jade conveniently had her last braces appt- TO GET HER BRACES OFF AFTER 2 WHOLE YEARS! Here she is just before her appointment!

 And with her beautiful straight teeth! I think she looks older now...

 After her ortho appt we headed over to grandma and grandpa's finally! They had been waiting to see Jade!

 Grandma Cindy, Jade, Grandpa Lee and Kenton...

Jade got to open all her presents from grandma and pa also- she got everything she wanted!

Grandma wanted to make a cookie while Jade was here today. She picked out a brownie mint cookie from pioneer woman I think. My mom got all the ingredients...

 Jade getting ready to work her magic--- isn't she so darn cute???

 Grandma also helped by unwrapping the mint chocolates- great therapy! She's using both her hands!

A quick video of the cooking...

 Kent got the beater...

 Jade scooping out the dough into a mini muffin tin while Kent licks the beater looking out the window contemplating life...

Here's Jade with her completed mint brownie bites... again with how cute she is sheeesh! Love that beautiful brown eyed face...

 YUM...

 Also today, my mom had back to back appointments. One with her OT person, then one with her PT person! And today he said she was ready for the treadmil! And my mom did 10 minutes straight! He said she had to stop after 10 minutes! He said she could do 10 minutes 3 times a day. She said it felt so good! I can't believe she did it for 10 minutes all by her self!!!!

 AMAZING!

 We were going to have dinner and Misty and Kelsey were able to come. Grandma with her 2 Washington granddaughters: Kelsey and Jade...

 Yum- I made Jade's Mexican surprise dinner- always a hit!

 Kelsey really liked Jade's brownie mints!

 Misty and Jade!

Hope you enjoyed all the pictures!!!