We survived - Snowmagedon 2012!

As everyone heard there was a big snow/ice storm last week up here in Washington.

We were lucky and had power the whole time but were stuck at home for over a week!

We got cabin fever pretty bad but only ventured out a few times to

build snomen and hike to the park, here are some pictures/videos of how we kept busy. 

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Before the ice storm came we had almost 2 days of fun with some awesome snow.

Our neighborhood does a snowman building competition

and Lauren was the brains behind our design (as you can see)

We built a prince and princess and a bunch of fairies

and she won first place for the best snowman family!

*Thank you to everyone who helped!

Lauren with her favorite Fairy and her Prince & Princess

  

After the Ice storm we (I) couldnt stand being inside anymore or watching Rapunzel - ONE MORE TIME! so we treked to the park down the street and the kids had a blast! There was at least an inch of ice covering everything and they got soaking wet but they had fun!

Lauren with the ice off one of the steps 

Trying to get a picture of both of them = impossible!!!! 

Cant wait for the sun to come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moving on into 2012

We had a rough beginning to 2012,

but I think we are finally starting the new year - even though were a week late. 

Here are some pictures from this past week of 2012. 

Connor got to ride a horse at his friend Jacks bday party,

yes he loved it and yes It took all my strength to get him off of it.

He also fell in love with a cat that he now wants for his birthday.    

 The kids cooking - yes connor is wearing a princess apron, but its better than nothing. Right?......

 And last but not least Lauren started ballet last night.

 It was actually a good way to end the day since that morning we had the rangers memorial service.

There was a lot of pink and it was really really cute and it was a nice cheerfull way to end a very sad day. 

How can you not be happy watching a bunch of three year olds

pretend to be monkeys and elephants, and dont worry there will be many videos to come!!!!

New Years Day Tragedy on Mt Rainier

A lot has happened since my last post, for those who havent heard we were up at Mt Rainier sledding on New Years Day when an armed gunman came up the mountain and a ranger who setup a roadblock to stop him from reaching us was shot and killed. The gunman evaded the police for about a day and for 15 hours of that we were held at the Visitors Center up at paradise to keep us safe. Ranger Margaret Anderson is a hero to us all and saved a lot of lives that day (mostly young children) and I can not even imagine what would have happened had she not saved us, our lives would be a lot different.  She leaves behind her husband and two little girls (3&1), please pray for them and if you happen to visit Mt Rainier - stop at her memorial, we owe her our lives and she will never be forgotten. 

There are a lot of stories in the news and online, but this one is one of my favorites that is really well written and puts it into perspective: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017179033_guest08barcott.html

Thank You for all the thoughts and prayers - I truly feel someone was watching over all of us that day.

christmas morning! SANTA CAME!

Heres a look at our christmas morning!

Connor wasnt as excited as we thought he'd be on christmas, he loved everything, but I think it was just kind of overwhelming for him. He really just opened one present and didnt want to do anything for the next hour, and thats kind of how his whole day went.  He loves his Jeep and sat in it all morning and if we allowed it to still be in the house he'd probably still be sitting in it. Lauren loved every little thing she got from the car to chapstick and hair things she loved it and showed everyone and said thank you about a hundred times, but her favorite was the dollhouse that grandma & grandpa West got her,

she even wanted me to put it in bed with her last night. 

It was a really fun and exciting day and it was so great to see everyone -

we are still recovering from it all, but the kids had a blast and it was all well worth it!

*Poor Joe always gets stuck being on camera since I always have the camera.

to see the video go to: http://www.westandwatson.blogspot.com/

December 2011

Ive been trying to get some video on here from the christmas parties, our santa visit and laurens preschool play but the video uploader and I arent getting along very well so here are some pictures from the last month.

Lauren got to play Mary in her school play

She said she was playing an Angel and Mary

she also thinks Jesus lives in the North Pole. 

 Lauren posing with a manequin at Old Navy, dont ask me why she likes to do this. 

 Connor at the christmas party - being himself

 Lauren with Santa (Joey)

 Laurens chritsmas program - singing rudolph with their red noses. 

Christmas Tree Hunt 2011

Christmas Tree Hunt 2011 was a success!!!

Not a happy trip for everyone but we did it and have a tree so it was successful!!!

It was cold and both kids weren’t to happy with the trip, they both kept tripping on stumps so we had a few falls and dirty knees, it was really muddy!  Lauren helped pick out a tree, while Connor fussed pretty much the whole time because he wanted to carry the saw or push the cart, which kept getting stuck. As you can see in the pictures we finally let him hold the saw for a while, he sure is a stubborn little guy. 

 We plan to decorate the tree tonight – more pictures coming soon!

 

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 was a huge success!!!!!!!!!

Lauren was a Zebra and Connor was a logger and they got tons of candy!!!

Lauren ran up to every house with her cousins and Connor tried to keep up.  Connor was rediculously cute! He insisted on walking the whole time and threw a fit if anyone tried to pick him up or touch his candy bucket.  So he pretty much made every other house since he couldnt keep up with the big kids, but he scored big while he was there.  He would get up to the door and say knock knock and then stick his basket out for a very long time, so long that they would just keep giving him candy until he left.  At most houses they gave him candy about three times before he would look at them and then his bucket and then turn around and walk away.  His basket was so heavy he was dragging it behind him and kicking it along, but he wouldnt let anyone touch what he calls his Chocky (Chocolate). 

The only good picture with Lauren - she wouldnt wear the zebra head most of the night.

Connor With his costume on and preparing for the streets by eating some chocky (kit kats are his favorite!)

 The one other picture of Lauren  on Halloween 2011