When it snows

When it snows, we are always SO excited! 

Even just an inch or so, and we are immediately outside playing.

We can make a snowman from the snow on top of the picnic table!

 

Opening a surprise

In the first week Jared started at Precoa, he was given by Chris Giovarelli a box and a picture. Aunt Viv. The story was that it was Chris's aunt who would have loved to welcome people, and became a tradition to give to the new employee. It sat on Jared's desk until the next new employee, Jana, who received Aunt Viv a few weeks later.

Since the summer of 2009, Aunt Viv has been passed around the office, undisturbed. Until Motoko, that is! She decided she was going to see what was really in the urn...

It turns out - a can of pop, CORN FLAKES, and a note from Chris welcoming Jared to Precoa! It is so funny that all these years later, Jared finally read that note from Chris. It was fun imagining Chris's delight that his little practical joke lasted for nearly a decade!

 

Valentines Day

Valentine's Day cookie decorating

in our Christmas pajamas!

Some 'piley faces' and some delicious cookies~

Dinner included heart-shaped ravioli and strawberries shaped like hearts.

 

Winter Olympics - Korea

We love our tradition of opening ceremonies with food from the country that is hosting the Olympics, and we were thrilled that the winter Olympics are in Korea.

Bulgogi beef, Korean meatballs, Korean sticky chicken, rice, Asian salad, and, of course.

Our classic Olympic rings!

It's a great way to start a couple weeks of watching some amazing athletes

14th anniversary trip to Whidby Island

Our Leavenworth trip last year was so much fun we decided to do it again. We went to Washington again, this time to Whidbey Island. We rented a small home right on the entrance to Penn Cove, outside of Coupeville.

The house was super cute - big windows facing the beautiful cove.

Going to the Puget Sound in January, we didn't really expect to have clear skies, but we were lucky to have beautiful blue skies almost every day. The cove was gorgeous too.

The cove was so calm that Jared decided to take his brand new stand-up paddleboard out on the frigid water for its maiden voyage. Dani said "Don't fall in - I'm not coming after you!"

We went one evening to Deception Pass. We hiked up to the bridge and watched the currents as the water rushed through the tight channel.

The sunset from the beach at the park was gorgeous!

We enjoyed walking along the beach to Coupeville a number of times.

There were interesting structures and buildings along the way.

 

Coupeville was a cute town. We had breakfast a couple times, walked up the wharf, and walked into some shops. It was a quiet place with an easy lifestyle.

One day took the ferry to Port Townsend for an afternoon. We had lunch, explored the shops and some of the history of the town. 

A big part of the fun was the ferry ride over!

A view of Mt Baker - a treat in January!

A quick stop in Seattle on our way back home

We love this time together. This year, we reminisced over the past year, made personal and family goals and continued to enjoy in our wonderful friendship and love.

 

Big Boy Bed

Torin's first time in the big boy bed!

And, unlike our other kids, he stayed in his bed all night long!

We love that the littlest guy in the house gets the biggest bed for the kids.

Starting the year in Paradise

What a way to start 2018!!! Fireworks over Aulani, in beautiful Hawaii.

 

There is a manmade reef on the property. It is visible from a window viewpoint.

We reserved a time and got to snorkeling in the reef.

The kids all did well, and we got to see the fish from a different view.

The lagoon waves were tiny - but big enough to give surfing a little shot! The uncles would give a little extra momentum, and the little kids could ride the wave!

As usual, Kate and Adele found lots of time to spend with each other. Those girls LOVE spending time together.

We did get some time a few times with just the adults - that was so relaxing, for sure!

The sunsets in Aulani are spectacular! We enjoyed our time in paradise!

We spent countless hours at the beach and in the water.

And the view was always spectacular!

As much time as we spent at the beach, we loved the pool just as much. There was a big waterslide that the kids (and some of the adults) went on over and over!

One of the activities was to design, decorate, and build a boat.

After we built the boats, we took them to the lagoon to see how they performed.

We took a little ukulele class and learned a couple cords.

We got daily wrist bands - some people collected and kept all of them on for as long as they could as a reminder of the wonderful time we had.

The whole cousins crew from the front

and from the back (with their drawstring backpacks)