Playing Catch-up

So, it's been eons since I've posted anything on our blog...sorry about that. I haven't even posted anything about our holidays. Well, I guess it's time to play a little catch-up. We spent a week in sunny Phoenix with Evan's grandparents while the whole northwest was being pummelled with snow and ice in December. We had a GREAT time visiting Grandma and Grandpa Thacker and all the other Thacker relatives in the Phoenix area. The average temperature was in the high 50's and low 60's and I think the locals thought it was cold, but we were in heaven. It rained a few times, but mostly the sun was shining and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Some of the highlights from this trip were: going on multiple walks around the lakes in Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood, visiting the Mesa temple at night to see the lights, seeing Grandma and Grandpa's old house in Phoenix, visiting Mark and Tammarie in Tucson, relaxing at Grandma and Grandpa's house, Grandma's delicious cooking, visiting "uncle Don" and Lawana in their home, listening to Lawana play the piano, seeing Edwena play with Sam, etc.. It was a great trip...

Because the weather was so bad in the northwest we decided to change our plans and skip returning to Seattle for a night and fly directly to Spokane to spend Christmas with my dad and MaLeesa & John and their family. We had a great visit with them too. There was a TON of snow in Spokane and so the kids (and John and Evan) enjoyed playing in it. Here are some pictures from our week in Spokane for Christmas.

Twinners...

Malachi and Sam holding their babies...

Boys will be boys...

Sam and Daddy Christmas morning...

I seriously can't get over how cute these two little girls are. They're going to be such cute friends when they get older. It's so fun that MaLeesa and I have baby girls a month apart.

Spokane got 5 FEET of snow in the month of December. It was seriously a winter wonderland. Speaking of wonders it's a miracle we were able to get in and out of Spokane with the weather. We had a few delays, but thankfully we were able to go and come without too much trouble. We had a great visit and everyone had lots of fun in the snow.

On Tuesday morning(December 30th) we flew to Portland for another week or so of vacation. We always have a great time visiting Evan's parents. Alan took this picture of Sam with his "Duckie Book" (Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey). This picture is a classic. Sam LOVES his books and we literally don't go anywhere without one of them. For the longest time his "Duckie Book" was his favorite. It still is, but now he's moved onto others...Where the Wild Things Are, Harry the Dirty Dog, Corduroy, and Curious George are a few of his new favorites.