The Fantastical Gymnastical!

Lucy's Birthday party was everything she wished for: lots of friends, lots of cake, and lots of gymnastics! Here she is showing some of her moves...

Kalina and Chicken

Resting after some rigorous jumping

Some of the gang: Kalina, Nate, Parker, Cash (in awesome flight suit), Kai and Isa

Blowing out the candles (and clapping for herself)

Everyone eating cake and popsicles

Frosting!

And some jumping...

Thanks to everyone who came to the party!!!

Family Snow Adventure!

Since Seattle has no snow, we found some a bit north at a place called Happy Trails, run by the wonderful and spritely Happy Jack. They drive you in a horse-drawn sleigh to a sledding hill, which is outfitted like ye olde pioneer campsite, so all we needed was some food and our hot chocolate mix!

Chicken makes a friend on the sleigh ride

This is one of the only moments that Chicken isn't cackling with laughter- she REALLY likes sledding- a lot more than she likes being in a family photo

And some videos!

Overheard at Vansmithstrand Manor

Lucy: Hi Papa, how you doin? How's your mother?

Papa: Three books, then bed.
Lucy: No, five books.
Papa: How bout four books.
Lucy: How bout THREE books.
Papa: Deal (sucker).
Lucy: Deal (sucker).

Happy Birthday GG!

Lucy Hosts a Hot Chocolate Party for Her Friends

Lucy chooses her Candy Cane Dress for the occasion (thanks, Davi & Dapa!)

Doing her "little teapot" impression...

Waiting for guests to arrive...

Amelia and Jasper

Kai and Lucy

We wish we had more photos of all the great friends that were there! We'll do better next time...

Overheard at Dinner Last Night

Lucy is really into this PSB show called "Sid the Science Kid." I assume this statement was from that:

Mommy: "How's your pizza?"

Lucy: "Water can freeze and turn into ice, than can melt back into water, then turn to ice again. This is called Reversible Change."

Mommy: "Uh, right, I knew that..."

Holiday Highlights 2010

We had a fantastic holiday with Smiths and Van Nostrands- and it rained almost every day for two weeks, so this image of Lucy was a common sight in our neighborhood...


Uncle Chris (Coo Coo Kee), gets a prime carousel viewing spot (we have so many photos of Chicken on a carusel they have been omitted here for reasons of redundancy)


Riding the beloved Monorail


Baking gingerbread cookies with Uncle Chris, Grandma Marion (Dama Mooie) and Aunt Sarah (Mimi)






Christmas morning: presents from Santa in foreground


Mommy and Papa...


...and a Christmas Chicken


An out-of-focus shot of the whole group: Papa1, Mimi, Uncle Chris, Mommy, Dama Mooie, Uncle Greg (GG)


Lucy's Christmas present-opening seat


Wearing as many gifts as possible at one time


Wuhoo! Lucy asks for a conga drum and Santa delivers!


Aunt Sarah's award-winning footwear from the Festive Sock Competition


Christmas Dinner in the making


And a tired girl!