Lake Quinault

We spent a wonderful weekend at Lake Quinault.  We saw a lot of big trees, moss, and rain.  We were glad that our friend Jean was able to come with us, but sad that her college-aged son had too much homework to come.  We went on a few hikes in the rain, then enjoyed swimming in a very warm swimming pool that felt very much like a hot tub.  NICE!!

My favorite place on the trip was Ruby Beach.  The rain stopped long enough for us to play on the beach and then started again when we were finished playing.  We saw an amazing double rainbow.

I really love the Olympic Peninsula. I feel so blessed to live in such a gorgeous area. I never get tired of the Northwest.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures followed by a little video with more pictures and narration...

I had a hard time keeping the lens of my camera dry because the rain was so heavy.  Many of my pictures look like they were taken underwater because they were!

 Thought about using this as a Christmas card picture, but I'm lounging in my sweats and T-shirt and Rachel was grumpy. Shucks.

10 Years With Rachel!!

December 1, 2002, I held my first child for the first time. I loved her then and I love her now.  Happy Forever Family Day, sweet Rachel Bug!!  I love you!!!

 We celebrated a little early because we are going to Lake Quinault for the weekend.  My girls always get an ornament to hang on their Adoption Tree each year.  I bought several "ornaments" in China when I adopted them.  Rachel also got a comb from the White Swan Hotel which is where we stayed while in Guangzhou.

 Look how tall she is now....

 Look how little she was when she placed her first ornament on the tree...

I love you so much, Rachel!!  Thanks for being my daughter!

Here is a little movie with pictures of Rachel...
 

Thanksgiving

I am so glad we made the long journey to Idaho for Thanksgiving this year.  It was worth the 850 mile drive.  I have the BEST family in the entire world!  My mom is especially amazing.  After a wonderful family Thanksgiving with good food, games, and chatting, my two new baby nieces were given special blessing.  It was so fun to be able to be home for the blessings.  The day after Thanksgiving, my mom had a Gingerbread party for all her grandkids.  She kept them busy with making gingerbread men out of paper, making and decorating cookies, playing gingerbread games and reading them stories.  She has so much patience with her many grandchildren.  Rachel and Erin Joy really love her and I do too!!  My dad spent a lot of time driving kids around on his four-wheeler.  We played a lot of card games, stayed up too late, ate way too much food, and had fun!  I am thankful for my wonderful family.  I am truly blessed.

Here is a video of our adventures:

 

Christmas Cactus

 I am so excited that my Christmas cactus is blooming!  This is the first time it has ever bloomed for me.  A friend took care of my plants while I was waiting for my house to close.  She fertilized it and watered it carefully and now look at it!!  The above picture was taken a couple of weeks ago and the one below is a recent picture of it in full bloom.  Love it!!

 Hermy, our Elf on the Shelf, who watches us and reports back to Santa each night enjoyed spending a day in the cactus.

 This is just a random picture of all the Little Ponies surrounding MY bathtub.  Erin Joy likes my tub the best.  Sometimes it's ponies, sometimes it's Barbies, sometimes it's Polly Pockets....

Pierced Ears

Rachel helped at our school's Veterans' Day assembly.  She did a great job.

Erin Joy tried on various glasses while she waited for Rachel to get her ears pierced.

Rachel has wanted her ears pierced for quite some time.  She really doesn't like needles and the first time we went into the shop to get her ears pierced today, she changed her mind.  I gave her once last chance and told her if she wasn't brave enough to do it today, we weren't coming back for another year.  She did it, but it wasn't easy for her.

She also picked out a dress and boots to wear for her birthday celebration the first weekend in December.  We are having dinner at the Space Needle followed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of the Nutcracker.  My favorite!  I love the Maurice Sendak sets and scenery! I'm so excited!

Halloween, Flute, and Disney on Ice

The girls enjoyed a special Reading with Rover night where the dogs, cat, and children dressed in costume.

We had fun trick or treating around town.

The Granite Falls Museum is always one of our favorite stops.

We enjoyed a magic show at the retirement center.

Rachel got to be part of the show!

After trick-or-treating, Rachel serenaded us with her flute and Erin Joy danced.  This is entertainment at its finest!



Here is video of Rachel helping the magician.....



Tonight we went to Disney on Ice.  Why the day after Halloween?  Why Thursday instead of the weekend?  Well....we got cheap tickets.

It was a wonderful show and well worth the cost and lack of sleep.