Snow Days!

We are still getting snow here in the Pacific Northwest and I am loving it! The roads are not kept very clear, but as long as you are careful (and watch out for the other guy) you are okay. Over the last couple of days, I think we got about 6 inches! I know, many of you in colder places are getting much more snow, but that is a lot for here! Sadly, today it is raining some:( It is so beautiful and definitely makes the season more festive! "Let it snow...Let it snow... Let it snow!"



A winter wonderland in our front yard! We are loving the beauty, but wish that the road crews around here could keep up with the snow! I am still hoping for a White Christmas!


Our house at night....with the snow!!


That is Ally underneath all the snow!


Some of the kids in the neighborhood were building an igloo. Pretty cool! Unfortunately, it collapsed the next morning.

December snow!!!

Well, for those of you who don't live here and get snow in the winter on a regular basis, the thought of snow in the Seattle area is really exciting (for many, anyway). I really miss the snow since leaving Idaho. But the last few days have brought what I miss... Snow!! not a lot (I would enjoy 6 or 8 inches), but enough to play in and close school for the day! I know, I know....2 inches and school closes!? Well, they are very cautious around here. There is not as much snow removal equipment and then things get icy very quickly. But the kids love it! They played for hours. Here are some great shots of this fun white stuff!!! Wouldn't it be great if we had a white Christmas!!

Luke just liked to eat the snow! He did not seem to mind being outside at all.





As you can see, there is not too much, but still makes everything look beautiful.


AJ and Dorian collecting snowballs. I still have 1 or 2 in the freezer.


Time for sledding with some of the neighborhood kids.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!!

It is finally looking like Christmas at the Downey house. We got all our stuff out the weekend after Thanksgiving and spent several days putting stuff up, cleaning and then putting away. It is a lot of work, but love the results. This is my favorite time of year! Merry Christmas, Everyone!




Here is Steve up on the roof....adding his special touch. He spends lots of time clipping every light to the roof line. The result is amazing! Great job, Honey!





Here is the result of days of hard work! Now all we need is SNOW!!!



This is our tree! We put up the artificial kind...I know, no wonderful smells, but we also don't have all those pine needles. This year the tree is in front of our livingroom window for all to enjoy!

What a Thanksgiving Weekend!!!

I am finally updating all of you about our eventful Thanksgiving weekend. We had a very quiet Thanksgiving day...Steve had to work, his mom had to work and his sister's kids were at their dad's house. So, we celebrated our Thanksgiving on Friday. We had a great meal and lots of fun, as you will see from the pictures below. Saturday brought Christmas decorating and an end-of-season soccer party for Ally at the swimming pool. The girls had a great time!
Sunday was more decorating and then...WHAM!!! AJ had his accident. We were getting ready to leave for Costco, when we heard a "thud"! He came running, crying and blood gushing from his forehead (sorry). He was messing around and "fell" off the couch and hit his head on our glass coffee table. I knew right away he would need stitches. So, off to the ER we went...us and many, many sick and strange people. So, 4 hours later AJ had 7 stitches in his head!

I did not get any pictures of the actual wound, but I am sure most of you would appreciate that. I, however, was loving watching the doctor "sew" up the area! Pretty cool. We could even see 2 tiny veins running through the wound! :) His scar may not be too bad....it is not right up to the hairline, but close. If he wore his hair longer, I think you would never see it. The stitches are the dissolving kind, so they are harder to see.



AJ was not so happy to be having his picture taken. But he was a good sport. He had no tears at the ER...he was very brave!


Thanksgiving!

Here we are getting the turkey ready. The women in the kitchen, as usual.



The girls peeling potatoes....there may have been more peel on the floor than actually in the trash can!


The boys doing what they do best....nothing!!!:)


And here is the star! Our beautiful turkey!!!



Oh! and here is the whole family before we ate the bountiful feast! It was yummy!!!




Soccer party.....
This picture is dark, but here is Ally and 2 of her soccer buddies at the pool party.



Instead of trophies this year, the girls all got sweatshirts....Ally is modeling hers!



The gang enjoying cupcakes and pop!