Holiday Roundup

We didn't take a ton of pictures over the holiday season, but here is a few moments that we did capture!

Family picture at the Winter Festival at Tagawa

Checking out a reindeer at Tagawa

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Evergreen Winter Festival - they arrived for the festivities on a fire truck!

G loving the live music at the Evergreen Winter Festival

Making the traditional Christmas Eve pizzas

The perfect Christmas scene (snow was falling outside too)

Opening presents with the help of Abey

I apologize for my serious lack of holiday pictures.  I have nothing of Hanukkah and none of our dinner on Christmas Day.  I definetly need to get better about remembering to take pictures!!

The Little King Gets A Queen...

...sized bed that is!  We decided to move Graham into a queen-size bed (with a rail).  He really enjoyed napping in the larger beds at both sets of grandparents' houses, and we were finding his toddler bed a little small to fit the larger stuffed animals he was wanting to sleep with.  The mattress (mine) and bed frame (Michael's) had been set up in Michael's parent's guest room for the last few years.  They were nice enough to let us have them back, so we didn't end up having to spend a bunch of money on a new bed set.

Last sleep in the toddler bed

Somehow M got everything loaded onto and in the Prius

First sleep in the big bed

G's room

G's room

G's room



The Artist

Angie, Graham, and I painted Christmas ornaments, did apple stamping, and ball rolling art (is that even what it's really called?). It was Graham's first time painting, and he jumped right in!  Definitely something we will be doing again in the future, maybe we'll even make a tradition out of ornament painting with our favorite Aunt!

Oh, You're a Wild One

I've been keeping Graham's hair a little longer - partly because it's winter and partly because of the massive panic that resulted the last time I buzzed it down.  Graham has a cowlick right on the top of his head, so when his hair is not quite short enough and not quite long enough, it sticks up.

Go Pretekin's!!

The Pretekin family has recently had a lot to celebrate.  Michael finished his second bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.  Michael has been working full-time and going to school online for this degree nearly the entire time we've been together (close to 5 years).  He has often had to spend all of his time away from work completing work for school.  We couldn't be more proud of him for putting in the amount of effort he did and working hard to further his career!  Michael's brother, Zach, recently purchased his condo!  Michael's parents put together an open house with a delicious spread of food (as seen above being sampled by a toddler) and invited many wonderful friends.

Chopped

The day after Thanksgiving my mom, sister, and I took a knife skills class - something I have always wanted to do.

My station

My mom and sister getting ready to chop

My sister, Angie, and I

Some of my work during class

Practicing at home with my new knife!

Thankful

We enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving.  The day before Thanksgiving me, Linny (M's mom), and Zach (M's brother) spent the day cooking and preparing everything.  After cooking, Linny treated the 3 of us to mani's and pedi's while Roger (M's dad) watched Graham.  So relaxing! 
Our actual Thanksgiving was such a great time!  My family joined Michael's family (including a cousin from out-of-town) for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  The food was delicious and the company was even better.  With Graham starting to understand more about holidays, it was so much fun to see his sweet face sitting at the dinner table with us and enjoying the food while contributing to the conversation in his own way.  Roger even brought out his door trick, something I've been hearing about for years but have never seen.  So much fun!
I have a very limited number of pictures from Thanksgiving...I think everyone was having such a great time that we all forgot to snap some pictures.

Graham enjoying some videos with Zach before bedtime

The mamas

Relaxing with my sister after our meal

Thomas Takes Over

We are creating our very own Island of Sodor (this is the island where Thomas and his friends live for those of you who aren't familiar) one track set and train at a time!

Thomas Take-n-Play track sets and trains

Thomas pj's

Top Chef

A little chef in the making! Graham likes to help me cook. On this particular day we made pizza dough. Yum!



Mommy's Day Off

Yesterday, Graham spent the day with Cookie and Bompa.  They took him to the zoo for the very first time.  I'm told that he had a wonderful time and liked identifying the animals.  What a great day!

Checking out the bears

Elephants (a favorite of G's in his books)

Riding the train with Bompa

Getting a closer look at the train

Lunchtime!  Deciding on a bagel

Yummy!

What a busy day!

Choo Choo, look who's 2!

Our little man is 2!  My, how time flies!  We celebrated up at my parents house in Evergreen with a small party of close family and friends.

A very cool balloon wreath made by me (thanks Internet, for all of your wonderful ideas)!



Train-themed table



Party favors - cake pops made by Angie

The birthday boy in his "2" shirt (sewn by Grandma)

Blowing out his candles

Sampling the birthday cupcakes

Delicious!

Present time!

Checking out some birthday loot with Daddy

Thomas card from Mommy and Daddy

Look at all those trains!

Trying out e fire station (thanks Uncle Zach!)

Birthday boy and Bompa

With Uncle Zach

With our good friend Terry

With Cookie

Checking out the toys with one of our good friend's daughters

With Grandma

With Abey

With Daddy

The Pretekin men

Happy Birthday sweet boy!  We love you more than you could ever know.  Cheers to another healthy, happy, and fun year!