New Years Eve & Pacific Science Center! Welcome 2009!

It's late..ummm may be early...almost 1 am...can you tell? T likes to celebrate New Years in pajamas!

Papa Dondalin's crazy light up glasses were great for the New Year celebration!

The kids had a count down and celebrated with Gma and Gpa Soltero by blowing horns, using champagne poppers and wearing hats of course ...we did this at 7:30pm..a little eary for the Newy Year but they have similar bedtimes:)

The real New Year party at the Cook's house...wahoo!!!!!

 traditional fondue dinner at the Cook's...the chocolate was the winner:)

we took the kids to the Science Center and they had a great time!

Ashlyn used all her weight and got a little bit of help from dad

Baylee and Caden took a ride in the car

it took a lot for Caden to get enough courage to touch the ocean creatures

Baylee and both kids even touched a cockroach!!! 

Skating Party!!!

Tara and Baylee

Miss Ashlyn loved running around the rink....until she got kicked off for not having on skates:(

Caden & Steve. Caden enjoyed his first skating experience and learned to "love" the wall! He did try taking on the rink by himself and soon after requested to take off the skates and take a few spins around the rink in his socks like his sister....he reminded me of Dash from the Incredibles! Thanks Jobe family for the invite!!!! 

Christmas Morning at the Soltero's

Grandma Soltero, Aunt Molly & Aunt Kristin

Caden ....Our knight for the day

Baylee was in love with her husky puppy from the start

Ashlyn is in heaven!!!! That was her Disney princess kitchen stuff I think....

Christmas Sledding & Snowmobiling:)

Caden and Ashlyn made Santa's 

Steve jumping over Caden as he is coming down the hill

Go Caden!

Papa Cook on his new toy!

Papa Soltero taking a ride after taking a nearly 40 yr break from snowmobiling!!!!

Kristin and Tara taking a drive

Ashlyn, Caden, and Steve

Baylee and Steve sledding a "smaller" hill

Aunt Kristin and Ashlyn going together down the hill

Miss Baylee is ready for the snow!!!!

Christmas Eve at the Cook's

The Cook Family has a Christmas Eve tradition of doing a talent show, singing songs, crackers, etc. Tonight was different and the crew was smaller than normal but we still had fun! We did sing Christmas songs and read from the Bible about the coming of Christ. The kids also acted out the nativity. Caden was Joseph and Hailey was Mary and the baby...well, yes, the baby was baby Jesus. We ended with a significantly important task- the VERY traditional making of homemade doughnuts....thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Cook. We ate up like they were going out of style....and missed those that are normally part of this process. Tara's family came to join in the fun as well!

Don Soltero (GPA) Steve,  Aunt Molly and Baylee
Grandpa Cook "Head Baker"
Cousins Hailey and Ashlyn giving a greeting of love!
Hailey and Caden doing it up Nativity Style

They were so cute! They acted as choristers during the music and took on the care of Baby Jesus almost too well:)

Winter Storm Hits #2

We made a trip out to see the Gunters and the grandparents for snowmobiling and making the traditional "Giant Bellevue Coul-de-sac Snowman" with Papa Soltero but obviously not in Bellevue. We made this snowman every winter as Tara grew up. Hailey wanted to eat snow in her close up shot. We also got to take Papa Cook's snowmobiles out for a ride...there was enough snow and it was a blast!!!!

AJ with Steve...so cute!

Out in the snow again...a snowman in our own yard this time....he was a pirate then became a train conductor snowman until he melted on Dec 28th

The snow fell over night and filled in the paths Steve had worked so hard to shovel out the night before... it was pretty to look at though!

Four Wheeling in the Snow!

Thanks to Papa Cook...the kids got to enjoy doing some 4-wheeling out in the snow!

Prepared and READY for the winter snow!