Fri - January 2, 2009

Thu - December 25, 2008

Christmas and snow recap

Last Sunday we got up to a gorgeous accumulation of snow. We got bundled up and went out. Crunch crunch. There was a 1/4in thick layer of ice. Anastazia stepped into it and then cried "Help me"





So she just watched us from the front stoop.




I cleared the path and the neighbor came over with her boy and the two of them walked back and forth on the path.








The neighbor lady made Anastazia a piggybank with her name.




It deserved a kiss.




Sunday night we had even more snow!!! This is VERY unusual for Seattle. The neighbors had their flight cancelled. Below you see the Volvo covered in snow and then just for kicks because the neighbors had a tough time getting there car out I thought I'd try it too. I didn't think it would make it because the snow was so deep. But with the special "winter" setting on the transmission she got right out. I had forgot that our Volvo had "all wheel drive"




So we went to the Mall...




Anastazia likes this fountain...




It is finally Christmas Eve. The Rauda wife's are chatting.




Sue having a zen moment with Rydder.




Anastazia practicing how to take a nap to remind us to put her down and not go somewhere.




My work in the kitchen is done.




Forget the book vecmam(grandma), can I have this?




Kim goofing with Rydder.




Anastazia get another fairy outfit.




Group shot....




Wow Santa came!




Santa brought her ballet shoes and tights. She had to have them on. The next at Kim's mom she had to put them on again.




More sledding photos...

Posted at 11:41 PM    

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas
Priecigus Ziemassvetkus

We are heading out for a long drive to visit grandma, so this is again a quick post but you can see we are having snow on Christmas Day.





Santa brought Anastazia a doll house that she very much enjoys.

Posted at 12:59 PM    

Wed - December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve Snow

It is Christmas Eve morning and it is snowing outside!
Lots yet to do, pictures later....

Posted at 09:55 AM    

Sat - December 20, 2008

Finally Back Home

It is now Dec 20th and I have spent 12 days of December in Burbank California. Last night I flew in to a city that has been slowed down by snow and freezing temperatures. What is nice is that for the next 2 weeks I will not have to fly anywhere and with my new Boeing laptop which allows me to work from home I wont even be going in to work for these 2 weeks. Just some light email checking etc. Yippeee!!!!!

Well at this moment more snow is pouring down and with the wind we will probably have a snow drift at our front door. Click here for the latest look.

Now lets recap...
Last weekend or was it the weekend before? We were at vecmam Vija's to make piparkukas. Click here to see Anastazia help.
Some past weekend had a late dinner with brothers family after watching Evan drum for the Snow Flake Lane show and you can click here to see what a lollipop does to a 2 year old.
Definitely last weekend we bought a box of mandarine oranges and Anastazia loves them! I peeled 2 and then we decided that for starters that would be enough. Well she grabbed another one and just bit into it...




Sitting in the airport at 5:30am waiting for my flight.... Click here to see my view as we left Seattle.




When I got to Burbank it was pouring rain unlike the previeous week which was a fabulous Seattle summer day around 75 degrees. This odd looking tree is real. They cut off all the branches, drilled holes in the trunk, trimmed the branches and stuck them back in. While I was in Burbank Seattle got some snow, click here to see Anastazia jump in the snow. This has a 9.5 on the cuteness scale.




Hanging at Tiffany's 30 yards from my not so fancy hotel. I had to wear a hat in LA because it was 48 degrees. This week wasn't as bad as last week click here for an on the spot assessment.




Nice fountain,




Friday I got home to a very snowy Seattle and our home look just lovely!




One of Kim's many Nativity's,




Out new fake Christmas tree, it is very nice but probably wont be big enough for all of Anastazia's presents.




Can you see the snow? Ok for our friends up in Lions Head this is just a spring dusting.




Anastazia wanted me to take a picture of her and then she said "cheese" it was very cute.




Anastazia's train coming thru her castle.




Papa, I'm bored.




But I like laying on you!




Here's mommy for a kiss,




Working on our first Ginger Bread House. It ain't done yet.

Posted at 08:13 PM    

Sun - December 14, 2008

The Girl

Been setting up all our Christmas decorations and we have enough stuff now to have a tree in the living room, kitchen and even Anastazia gets a little tree with Mary and baby Jesus.




Finally got Anastazia to eat pizza and she ate it New York style by folding it. Also the pizza was a simple thin cheese pizza from New York Pizzeria here in Seattle.




Goofing off at Sam's,




Enjoying the festive atmosphere of my Santa hat at the Central Market.

Posted at 05:18 PM    

Sat - December 13, 2008

Burbank and the Wind

The Monday after Thanksgiving I was off to Burbank for Boeing, got my new assignment as was thrown directly into the fire.




Came back Wednesday night and the following Sunday was over at mom's making gingerbread cookies. Anastazia was helping.




Anastazia also enjoyed watching some football with the men.




Uncle Sig entertained Anastazia with her favorite past time.




Then Monday it was back to Burbank California.




Universal City out my hotel window.




One night after work. It was always in the low 70's, like a perfect Seattle summer day.






Going home on Friday. Kim and Anastazia picked me up and then we drove for 2 hours to go to a Christmas party. There was some question about going since Seattle was being hit be a wind storm and some thought snow would come. And Monday I am leaving to go to Burbank again for a week. That will make it 3 consecutive weeks in Burbank. Granted the first week was only 2 nights.




Snow didn't come but the wind destroyed our canopy. This is where the food was and people hung out during our yearly Halloween parties.





We will rebuild!
Oh rats did their business on our patio furniture.

Posted at 11:40 PM    

Sun - December 7, 2008

Sat - November 29, 2008

A Saturday with Anastazia

Heading out we check the mail and wave to papa.




Then pose with the Fremont Troll to get some pics with Flat Stanley.


Also of note is what some of the shop keepers said to us while we were in the heart of Fremont. First a small amount of background, also in the heart of Fremont can be found a bronze statue of Lenin, which essentially fits with the inhabitants of the area. In one shop as we left the lady wished us a Merry Christmas and in this day and age this is rare anywhere in Seattle. Ok Seattle isn't some Christian strong hold but the change over the years has been noticeable. Then Kim went into a shop asking for a postcard of the Troll. The lady said that she has a card of Lenin and that he was a troll. She also added the she was from that part of the world and would know.

Stop in at the grocery store for a driving lesson.



Then we visited the Bauers to see the new kitchen and visit with Gary's mom who was visiting from Arizona (?)
Click here to see Anastazia blessing the new kitchen.

Posted at 11:06 PM    

The Fair (Finally)

It has been a long time coming but here are all the pics from our trip to the Fair.

It is knows as the Puyallup Fair or the Western Washington Fair but around here we just call it The Fair.

Some sort of cattle showing by the Future Farmers of America. We see this every year and this is Anastazia's second. Click here  to see Anastazia pick a winner.





Last year we discovered Pete's BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. I said that I would have 3 before we left. Even though we were there for a very long day and perhaps since I had to eat Anastazia's leftovers I only managed one sandwich. Next year...




Eating Pete's fries.




She spied these colored seats and had to sit on one.




Reviewing the 4H dog displays.




Getting ready to watch some Mutton Busting click here to see Anastazia not paying attention to this click here 




Checking out the agricultural displays...




My girls behind one very large squash




Her first bumble bee




Posing with the canned goods contest entries.




The production line of world famous Fischer Scones. We always buy a bakeers dozen when we leave. Ok this year we only bought 4.




Trying out cowgirl hats.




Mommy desperately trying to find something on a stick for Anastazia that doesn't cost $15.




Posing with a big heffer.




The petting zoo was a bust.




Anastazia's fisrt carnival prize.






Happy with her stuffed doggy.




One last stop at the carousel just like last year.  See the french fry in her hand? We had to wait for it and to be cooked and the nice lady gave Anastazia her first lollipop, there was a big fuss since I showed it to her. Click here  to see Anastazia go to work.




Goofing off, not letting mommy change me...



Another fun day at the Fair, going again next year rain or shine!

Posted at 04:13 PM