Merry Christmas!

As usual, Christmas came and went so quickly. I love the holiday season and I'm always kind of bummed when its over! This year was no exception. It went by too fast, but I'm so happy I got to spend so much time with my family. Matt and I are blessed to have families who live close by. We spent the 23rd at Matt's parent's house, I spent Christmas Eve singing at 4 church services with my parents (Matt, Jerry, and Linda came to hear us sing), and then we spent Christmas day at both our parent's homes. We had a great couple of days...I can't wait to do it again next year!

Christmas Morning...pre-Starbucks

Matt and Lacey

Never any shortage of gifts at the Dyer house!

Ellie and Emma with Lacey...she always gets a lot of love from the kids

Matt playing with Evan's magnifying camera

Lacey and Molly...fighting over a toy

Lacey and Boomer...fighting over a toy...hmmmmm, there seems to be a pattern here!

Seattle shopping trip

Every year my family takes a trip to Seattle to do a little Christmas shopping. It's more or less just an excuse to go out to eat, sleep in a hotel, and see all the lights. This year, we were lucky enough to be in Seattle during the big storm. The drive was awful, but the city looked beautiful! Shopping was great too because there was no one around! Here are a few pics from our trip.

The Macy's star and the Weslake tree...covered in SNOW!Dinner at the Icon Grill

Snowing like crazy

I-5 looked more like the pass...but we made it!

First snow of the year

Today we woke up to snow...not a lot, but enough! Lacey has never seen snow before, so it was fun to see her reaction. She loved sniffing and eating it. Last night, she was even snapping at the flakes that were falling. Here are a few pictures of her first couple of minutes outside this morning.

Family Pics...take 2!

Here are a couple of the pictures from "Family Picture night with Yeun Fewing!" Simon did a fantastic job and I'm so happy we finally got this done!

Happy Thanksgiving and early Christmas!

Lacey wanted to say hi!

Happy Black Friday!!

Apparently we are crazy, but Andi, Katie, Jenni, Kelly, and I met up at 4:30am on Black Friday to fight the crowds and shop to our hearts content. We hit Toys R Us at 5am and it was a TOTAL madhouse...people were scrambling around like crazy. We loaded up a cart and waited in a really long line, but it was so much fun. We then headed to Southcenter Mall and Ikea...the pics are of the vehicle, which could not have fit one more item! I separated from the girls around noon and headed to downtown Seattle with my mom until about 10pm. I was exhausted and broke, but it was a great day! I can't wait until next year!

The back of the car...holy cow!

Andi taking a rest in the IKEA bedding section

The front

The back

Our cart at Toys R Us

Family Picture Day!

On Wednesday November 26th, our group of friends got together for a family picture day. Jenni's dad, Simon, takes great pictures and agreed to come over and snap a few photos of each family and then one big picture with all 10 adults and all 7 kidlets. The process was quite humorous...lot's of kids who didn't want their pictures taken and a bunch of adults who did just about anything to elicit smiles from them! Candy bribes, silly dances, a lot of loud noises...we stopped at nothing! We haven't gotten the CD's from Simon yet, but here are some pics from the rest of the evening.

Jakey and Blake

Colby couldn't get enough of Blake's nakedness...pretty funny

Cammi playin with Uncle Matt

Andi getting Colby all ready for her picture

Jason and Cade

Brian and Emme...she was totally out for the count

NKOTB!

Jenni and I love going to concerts, so of course we had to include New Kids on the Block in our concert line up. The concert was great. We had so much fun singing along to all the songs and laughing at how surreal the whole experience was! I couldn't stop smiling...I'm so glad we went! Did I mention that I'm still in love with Donnie Wahlberg? Hmmmm....I thought that went away when I was 10.

All the boys (well, men now...since they're roughly 40)

A great end to an endlessly long day!

Dirty Dancing...great song

Oh Donnie

These outfits were priceless...I have never seen so many side ponnies in one room!

Andi rocked the Tee...wish I still had mine!

Matt's 32nd Birthday!

On November 14th, our friends and family got together to celebrate Matt's 32nd birthday. We started out at our house for pizza and then headed to the Chalet bowling alley for rock n bowl! We had so much fun...it's been a long time since the whole group has gotten out of the house together. It reminded me how blessed we are to have such great friends! I didn't do very well taking pictures this time, but here are a few.

Matt and his bowling pin

signing the pin

Tucking in your shirt to your pants is "in"

Katie, Jen, and Mandy

Our first dance competition of the year!

Jenni and I just got back from our very first competition of the year. It was a long day, but the girls did a good job and we all had a pretty good day. I thought I would share a couple of pics because they are just too dang cute!

Halloween

Matt and I decided to have a laid back Halloween this year...we carved a pumpkin...scratch that, I carved a pumpkin. Matt sat on the couch and took the occasional picture. But I have to say, my pumpkin carving skills are stellar and I'm glad he can't claim any part of my carving spectacular! Okay, moving on...on the night of Halloween, our neighborhood was so BUSY! We spent about 3 hours constantly answering the door. Most of the kids were cute, only one little girl pushed past me into my house and demanded she pick her own peice of candy. Meanwhile, her brother was telling me he didn't like what I gave him...what is the world coming to?! Other than that, the night was fun and we can't wait until we can actually take our own kids trick or treating!

Lacey and our pumpkin

the skull...yes, it's real...my dad has had it since he was 20

diggin in!


totally posed picture

my beautiful pumpkin

ohhhhhh scaaary

our porch, all lit up!

Lacey graduates...about dang time!

Lacey finally finished her last week of puppy class...she got to wear the graduation cap and everything! In the words of a fellow classmate..."thanks to No Child Left Behind, we all get to pass!"