New Year

Here are a few pictures from the new year. Auntie Lu, Mommy, Liam and Perrin.

My sisters.

Glen, Liam and Auntie Lu.

Family and Food

Here are a few more pictures from our days in Winthrop. We had a great fondue dinner....

Liam and cousin Finn played on the frozen ice pond for hours.

Liam and Ashton.

Fondue and Family.

Skiing in the Methow Valley

After Christmas, we headed East of the mountains to Winthrop, WA. with Gabe's family. Gabe's brother Chris and family met us from Montana and we had a wonderful five days together. Liam did a great job on his cross-country skis.

Daddy fixed Liam's zipper.

Getting ready to start.

Cousin Ashton, Poppi, Finn and Liam walk in Winthrop.

The cousins eating breakfast.

Sunny walk on the dike

The day after Christmas, Liam and I came down to Mount Vernon to spend some time with Auntie Lu before she had to head back to California. We went for a walk on the dike and enjoyed the sunshine.

Liam and Auntie Lu.

Perrin, Lu, Liam and me

Liam and Lu.

Noni, Grandpa, Liam, Lu and Perrin

Christmas Day

After opening presents at our house, we headed to Mount Vernon to see our families. First we stopped at the Schutz' to open our family presents and have brunch. Above, Liam gets an easel (the same easel we had growing up.....very sturdy!).

That "Scurvy Reuben" tries on the new pirate hat.

Pirate/knight.

Opening gifts.

Reuben and Uncle Reuben.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning, was very sweet and quiet. Gabe and I woke and we all sat down (after a quick breakfast and coffee for the adults) to open presents.

Ski goggles!

A skill saw!

Armor!

Dazed and happy.

More Christmas Eve

Our tree.

Gabe's sisters, Lenie and Anne.

Food and family. From left: Dad, Mom, Glen (Lusana's boyfriend) and Sangram (Anne's fiance).

Christmas Eve...Later

Gabe, Liam and I hosted Christmas Eve this year at our new house. My family came up first and Gabe's joined later in the evening. Here are a few shots from the night. Above, Liam gets a good night story from his aunties and Noni.

Sisters.

Uncle Reuben reads to Liam.

The Schutz women.

Perrin and Reuben prepare "hot wings"...mmmmmmm......

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve donned cold and clear and we went down to the water to walk to Boulevard Park. Above: Gabe, Lucia, Lusana, Perrin and Mom.

Uncle Reuben and Liam brave the cold wind.

Liam and Mommy.

Liam and Daddy.

Merry Christmas!

The backyard...redone

Here is the backyard after the excavation. Gabe put down straw so the rains would not wash away our soil. We have a lot of work to do, but it feels as though we are getting closer.

We can hardly wait until spring to plant our garden.....

Art projects with Spiderman

Liam came to join me the when I was doing some carving for a Christmas present. His favorite outfit, (and persona), of late is Spiderman.

Helping Mommy....carefully, carefully.

Cutting the Christmas Tree

Our new tradition is to travel up towards Mt. Baker and visit Red Mountain Tree Farm to cut our Christmas tree. This year was cold, but no rain...which is always a plus. Gabe was the cutter and Liam supervised.

"That's right, Dad. Good cutting."

Liam enjoyed collecting the extra "trimmings".

Heading through the forest of trees.

Pondering.