Just a few...

Here are a couple pics from our wonderful Christmas. This year was so much fun and the kids had a blast with all thier new goodies. I already can't wait for next year when Nolan can get into the action a little more! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and we wish you all a happy and safe New Years!

The children were nestled all snug in their beds .....

.... but before they went happily to bed they got to open one Christmas gift! Every year we have let Norah open one gift Christmas Eve, always PJ's. We did this when I was growing up and thought it would be a fun tradition to keep with our kids. Nolan was much more interested in the wrapping paper, bows ect just as I had anticipated, but Norah couldn't have been more excited. I can not wait to see her face in the morning. Now that they are asleep and as soon as I finish this post I have to bake 2 pies and finish wrapping all the gifts, it's gonna be a long night.

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We hope that all of you have a Very Merry Christmas and enjoy the day and time spent with loved ones. I know we will.
Love, The Suetta's

A play date & a Christmas party

All bundled up to go play!

Nolan bundled too, yes he's front facing.... and loves it.

Nolan and his buddy Carson

They are almost the same size and Nolan's 3 months older, Carson is one big boy!

Norah and one of her bestest friends Alissa. Little princesses.

Daddy's work Christmas party, playin some football. Kinda :)

And it's Norah's turn with the ball (my little athlete)!

I absolutely love the winter weather we've been having, and am excited about the potential for a white Christmas. Yesterday we had a play date at my good friend Holly's house with her and her kiddo's. It was lots of fun, us mom's had a good time visiting while the kids entertained each other. Later that afternoon after the Nolan's nap we headed down to Casey's work for his Christmas party. It was a fun time too and was nice to be able to meet and visit with his co-workers. Casey's boss got the football out and the kids had fun taking turns playing with it. It was a fun, long day and I was really ready for a good nights sleep.

Northwest Trek field trip

Norah, Ruby and Violet in front of the moose statue.

Her poor little nose is already red and we haven't even started the walk yet!

Trying hard to see the animals hiding from the rain, this was the lynx exhibit and you could just barely see them.

Gettin out of the rain for a few minutes before going on the tram ride.

A herd of elk seen from the tram, there is only one boy in there for all those girls!

Bald eagle up close!

Norah posing :)

Norah blew on her hot chocolate so hard it splattered all over her face.
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Today Norah's preschool class had a field trip to Northwest trek. It was a really good time, but the weather was kind of a bummer. I am really glad I decided to leave Nolan at home with my Dad because he would have been miseralble. Thanks Dad! Despite the rain we were still able to see lots of the animals. We saw the most on the tram ride. There were elk, deer, bison, goats and 5 very large moose! The tram ride was Norah's favorite part, and some of the animals were only feet away from the tram. We will definantly be heading back when the weather is a bit nicer :)

Pictures with Santa

Today we went to the mall and got pictures taken with Santa! It was fun, and the kids did really good. Nolan had a smile on his face in all 25 pictures that were taken. Norah was a bit distracted some of the time but did manage to smile for the camera (a little).

11 months already ?!?!

It is hard to believe that in one short month my precious little baby will be a one year old little boy! Where has the last 11 months gone? I'm not really sure but, I know they've been busy and filled with lots of good memories, fun times and lots and lots of cuddles, hugs and kisses. I just love this little guy so much :)

Did you bring my swimsuit ?

Today me and the kids had a date with Auntie Sarah! We went to the waterfront for a walk and a little play time on the beach and then to lunch at the Ram. Before we left I had told Norah we were going to see the big water and play on the beach. She had a hard time on the way there separating the water and the beach from swimming, and she must have asked me at least a dozen times "did you bring my swimsuit?" Turns out she didn't need her swimsuit to go swimming, she just went in rain boots, socks, pants and all. She only got in to the top of her boots before Sarah rescued her. Norah didn't even mind being wet and cold she had fun anyway. And Nolan had lots of fun too. His favorite part eating rocks and sand, what a boy!

Me and the kids
(who cares if I'm the only one looking at the camera)

Auntie Sarah and Nolan

Norah, takin a walk

I think this was just before she went for her little dip :)

Nolan, watching the waves

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The lesson I learned today, bring extra clothes for the 3 year old too, not just the baby. You would think I would know this by now!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

From the Suetta Family

We hope that everyone had as good of a Thanksgiving as we had yesterday! We Had a relaxing morning. Spent some time getting ready and cooking in the early afternoon, and then went over to my Dad's for dinner and dessert. Dinner was delicious! We had so many yummy holiday dishes. My Dad barbecued a Turkey and it was great, we also had some really good ham and too many other things to name. There were equally as many good desserts to end the night with. I am so thankful for all of my family and friends and the good times we get to spend together!

Preschool Artwork !

A sample of the artwork for the last few weeks!

Abstract

I think this one is paint from a dropper onto a coffee filter, they get creative.

Painting wood shapes, always fun!

Stars?

Real nails, nailed with a real hammer into Styrofoam.

My little Picasso :)

It amazes me how much artwork one little 3 year old can do at preschool, 2 times a week for only 2 hours at a time. I cannot possibly save all of her precious paintings, drawings, doodles and creations, so I have decided to only keep a select few and periodically take pictures of all of it so She and I will always remember it. The artwork in this post is only from the last few weeks and is missing the 5 to 6 pieces hanging on the refrigerator and the ones that may have not made it out of my car yet! Her creativity is really blossoming and she is starting to draw some representational things, like bears(this is what she calls them). About 2 weeks ago she started drawing bears. She draws a big circle 4 extremities (lines coming out of the circle) and eyes and a mouth, they are so cute! Anyway enjoy the imagination of a 3 year old.

Strep throat and a totaled car?

Is what sums up my really crappy weekend. Friday night I started getting a little bit of a scratchy sore throat, which happens from time to time when I am overly tired. So I went to bed and by the next morning I new it was not my usual sore throat. As the morning went on it got progressively worse quickly and by 1 that afternoon I was leaving the doctor with a diagnosis of strep throat and a prescription for some antibiotics and an anesthetic mouth rinse, good times:( I then called in sick to work for the next two nights and went home to rest and recover.

Later that night after the kids went to bed Casey left to go to a dinner for his bosses 40th birthday. Here's where the totaled car comes in. On his way home he got into an accident on the dark foggy roads of black diamond and he's pretty sure his car is totaled. The insurance adjuster will be looking at it later in the week. Casey is fine, thank God! Just a little sore. So, looks like we'll be car shopping.

Back to my awful strep throat. I have not been this sick in a long long time and it has been rough. I didn't really manage to make it off of the couch much of Saturday or Sunday and by this morning when I still wasn't any better and actually a little worse I drug myself back to the doctor and got a prescription for a steroid and some vicodin. And now as I am writing this post I am finally starting to feel a little bit better. The only good thing about this weekend was that my kids and husband didn't catch this awful bug from me. I hope to not have another weekend like this for a long time.

A walk in the park!

This is a park near our house where we go a lot to walk, Norah rides her bike and there is a playground.

My little speed walker :)

On the path playing with one of the many fallen leaves

The same leaf, I think it made it home with us

Nolan made it out of the stroller for a little while on the walk

At the end of the walk is the playground, Norah swinging. She can finally do it a little without being pushed

Here's Nolan happy just watchin sister swing.

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I feel so lucky to be able to work and have lots of days off to spend with my kids while they are still so young. I treasure every single moment that I get to spend with them, even if it is just a trip to the local park!

A busy afternoon !

Yesterday after Nolan's morning nap I packed up the kids and we went to get Nolan his very first haircut. For the most part he did really well, there were only a few tears and a little squirming. They gave us this cute little certificate and put some of his hair in a little plastic bag and taped it to the back. Next we went to the mall for a shopping and lunch date with one of my best friends Jenny and her son Dylan who is 6 months older than Nolan. They recently opened a new play are in the mall and the kids had fun trying it out. After playing for a while it was off to find a shirt for me to wear out later that night. My sister got me a really cute necklace so I wanted to find something to match it. I ended up finding a great shirt at Macy's and it was on sale, Yay! Next we went and got some food. Norah and Dylan were sharing fries and mini corndogs and Nolan felt left out so when I wasn't looking he decided to sneak a couple handfuls of fries and he really liked them and wasn't so happy when I took them away! After lunch we were all exhausted even the mommies so it was off to home with hopes of late naps for the kids. It was a fun really busy afternoon. And Nolan's haircut makes him look about 6 months older that he really is.

The Certificate!

Before the haircut

And after the haircut

Dylan and Nolan playing

Norah being "eaten" by the hippo!

Norah with Dylan, she really likes him :)

Nolan after playing, looking so serious, and he looks exactly like my dad did when he was a baby in this picture.