can this happen at the loyola red line stop every day?

Ready-Raska-Strait Reunion

We were so thankful to have time to be with the Raskas & the Readys while in Spokane (we missed Ben & Maile--you two would have completed the bunch!). We spent an entire day vegging together on Susie & Duffy's sofas, then had a kick *ss New Year's slumber party at Erin's parents' house on the river. We made some serious New Year's resolutions & particularly enjoyed Brent's liturgical dance that rung in the New Year. Let me tell you, Erin's parents make a mean slumber party breakfast. Mmm...

Nothing, however, could beat the experience of cuddling, for the first time, Miles Duffy Ready!!! Troy & Jenny, you two have a gorgeous son & we cannot wait for the memories we have with him to come.

Christmas with FAMILY!

We officially had FOUR CHRISTMASES. Forget Reese Witherspoon--we did it for reals. 1. With the Cranes & Straits @ the Cranes in Anacortes, 2. With the Jacobsons & Straits @ the Jacobsons in Seattle, 3. With the Hamblets in Olympia and 4. With the Straits in Spokane. Four. Count 'em. The fun never stops!

Wish we had more photos of the other events, but we made out with some goodies at the Jacobsons. Sherrill & Jack put on such a special day--complete with Brian's unbeatable hors d'oeurves, Elliot's bartending skills (best cosmos yet!) and Sherrill's ingenious hand in the kitchen. My parents joined us for dinner & we all shared laugh after laugh.

See? Winn made the men & women Christmas aprons & Kevin loved his sooo much...

He forgot to take it off for the annual family photo. Hot!

My dad was a hit playing in Grandma Winn's wheelchair. He's the coolest wheel-chair-wheelie-doer I've ever seen. The best part was...




When he gloriously tipped over backwards (on purpose, of course) while we were getting a shot of these 3 together. Talk about a candid shot! Yes. We were all giggling.

Unfortunately, we never got a group shot! I have no photos of Sherrill & Jack, Courtney, Brian or Elliott. You'll all just have to believe me. They were there, in fine form.

Brrr....

Once we made it to Washington we were so very thankful for such romantic Christmas weather! The photo (of me snow-shoeing at Priest Lake) is a fabulous example of such weather. Although it made getting out of the house difficult (we were snowed in with my parents in Olympia for days & then on to Spokane for more snow)... there's just nothing better than sitting around in peace with the family you've missed for so long. We loved the Hamblet fire that Dad had perpetually roaring in the fireplace, plenty of hot cocoa, big breakfasts, wearing pajamas for much of the day & bundling up to head outside. Here in Chicago we don't have a magnificent amount of snow but the cold keeps us inside. It felt WARM in Washington!!

Once in Spokane we had plenty of outdoor fun. We shoveled 2 roofs (well, I helped shovel 1 & Drew helped with 2), took an overnight trip up to Priest Lake for snow-shoeing with Debbie & Kevin and loved all the time we got with friends (thanks to the Raskas, Readys, VanAnrooys, Joe Hewa, Johnsons & Barbours!) and family (both of the Strait sisters + Janie's husband Chris were in Spokane with us). PLUS we enjoyed a rowdy Gonzaga game at a classy tavern. What could be more fun??

Here are my favorite father-in-law & favorite husband clearing the roof of the cabin bunk house @ Priest Lake. 70" of snow--oh my!


Here are the guys show-shoeing out at Soldier Creek. Check out my view from the other direction--breathtaking!!

Oh how we loved our trip.