1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper - you can sneak peaks in bags
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial 150$ vs $40 a year - you do the math (long vs. short term)
3. When do you put up the tree? Right after thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? When laura gets around to in January - I always hate to see the decorations go..
5. Do you like egg nog? Nope - can live w/o out
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Waterbed
7. Hardest person to buy for? Usually Laura, but this year it was my parents.....
8. Easiest person to buy for? The kids
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep on the Piano
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both -
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Tupperware - ugh
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Christmas Story
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes... Im not telling what.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Dark Chocolate Rasberry Truffles
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? White Tree & Most of Outside - Colors for the kids tree.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay at home this year - its usually one on one off
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudy (we're tight like that)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? one present on Christmas Eve(ornament), all the rest in the morning. Santa doesnt wrap his gifts.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Malls
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Laura has a nice white tree with a lot of "Memory" ornaments, from places we've visited. The kids have a Kid tree with colors, home/school made ornaments. The kids each get an ornament every year that is kind of a "theme" Gabrielle now has 13, Jake 9, Audrey 7, etc...
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I like either Turkey or Ham.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men... or a Tag .... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009VC6UW/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2FT79L2PKCRD9&colid=3DBJ9KAP5S9XS
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Elf Yourself - Merry Christmas!!!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1471938231
Chris & the Kids
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1473683306
Laura & her partners in crime (Jenelle, Stephanie, & Nicole)
http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1472237609
Chris & the Kids
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1473683306
Laura & her partners in crime (Jenelle, Stephanie, & Nicole)
http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1472237609
Christmas Town - Leavenworth WA
Yesterday we went for our first trip to Leavenworth, WA, a small town about 2 hrs drive from our home. It was recently featured on Good Morning America (according to Laura)
. While we were there, we ran into Father Christmas, Santa Clause and the Nielson's, who had arrived the day before and went sledding, eating Chestnuts roasted on an open fire (really! - we did).
After spending some time letting the kids play, we visited the town's Gingerbread cookie store, we went to the candy shoppe and got some Salt-water taffy for the kids.
We window-shopped and went into the Kris Kringle store for some holiday ornaments. It was snowing all day which made for a wonderful atmosphere. 
. While we were there, we ran into Father Christmas, Santa Clause and the Nielson's, who had arrived the day before and went sledding, eating Chestnuts roasted on an open fire (really! - we did). 
After spending some time letting the kids play, we visited the town's Gingerbread cookie store, we went to the candy shoppe and got some Salt-water taffy for the kids.
We window-shopped and went into the Kris Kringle store for some holiday ornaments. It was snowing all day which made for a wonderful atmosphere. At about 4:45 we went out for the Lighting ceremony and it was fun. The lights were pretty, they had caroling, we did the Chicken Dance, then called it an evening.
The lighthing Ceremony was featured on GMA (See the link below)
Merry Christmas to all!
The lighthing Ceremony was featured on GMA (See the link below)
Merry Christmas to all!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Trip To Jackson Hole, WY
Last weekend we took the opportunity to go visit our good friends, the Englands, at their cabin near Victor, ID. We had a great time (despite the 12 + hour drive from seattle). We visited Jackson Hole, WY and saw the Tetons.
We enjoyed dinner at Bubba's BBQ - in honor of Gabrielle.
A family portrait in front of the Elk Antlers at Jackson Hole.
The entire group photo, up in the Tetons...and a campfire with, of course, smores....
Halloween 2007
I know these are late, but better late than never!Gabrielle as an "oh so cool" Vampire (WHATEVER)
Jakob is the guy from ScreamAudrey is a little devil - Oh so true,...so true
Pumpkin-carving festivities!
Making pumpkin seeds -We made salted and sweet (cinnamon and sugar)
They actually turned out great!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Seattle Argosy Cruise
We had a great time with all of our visitors last week. One of my best friends, Jenelle Smith, came out for a week from Ohio. We had an incredible time hanging out, shopping, hiking, etc... Melinda, Kevin, Kiersten, & Kara McCarthy came out for the weekend. It was great to see my sister & her gang, and show them the sights around here. This pic was taken as we boarded for the Argosy Seattle harbor cruise. We had a lot of fun! Okay, so who wants to visit next???
(This was actually posted by my mom (Laura) but she forgot her account and doesn't know how to use it so she did it on my account. :P)
(This was actually posted by my mom (Laura) but she forgot her account and doesn't know how to use it so she did it on my account. :P)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Tagged by Bec....
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago would be 1997 - October - ....Was in the MBA program at BYU. Had just completed my internship at EDS (and vowed not to go work there), was in the throws of job hunting. I can't specifically recall if I had my Koch industries experience yet, or not, I think I might have (thats a different story - short version, I wanted to work there but didnt get the offer - very humbling experience). Around that time we had to choose between competing offers at HP in Colorado or Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH. Gabrielle was 3, Jakob was just a few weeks in the womb....This was a very pivotal point in our life, starting out on the path that led us where we are today. This was definately a life-altering choice.
2. What was I doing 5 years ago?
5 years ago would be 2002 - October. Just moved back from spending two years in Dallas, Texas with P&G. We started building our house in Mason, OH in April, it was supposed to be done in September. It wasn't. As a result, school had started for the kids, and we were living in Temporary housing since August. This was a cramped two-bedroom apartment with 3 kids and a dog. We had two twin beds and a roll-away in one small bedroom that all the kids slept in - it was cozy and fun..(sorta). We were very happy to move back to Ohio and our friends in West Chester/Mason. At work, I had just started as the Global Personal Cleansing Product Supply Finance Manager - a new promotion. Work was very challenging, because I was working on a very big project, the outsourcing of the Ivorydale Plant (P&Gs bar soap manufacturing facility). It was a big hairy project, remember spending lots of time at work....We moved into our house in November. Gabrielle was 8, Jakob was 4 and Audrey was 2... we still had Sophie our Cocker Spaniel.
3. What was I doing a year ago?
October 2006. Was in the process of switching jobs, moving from being the Secret Brand finance analyst to the FemCare Global Profit forecaster. Was a good move career-wise, but less satisfying work - started me thinking about my role and future with P&G. Some of our closest friends had moved West to various places (WA, UT, etc.) and we had almost moved to Stamford, CT, but didn't. Laura and I were regularly playing indoor co-ed adult soccer on Saturdays. Kids were very active in school, sports, music, church, etc. Hectic life in suburbia.
Oh yeah, my motorcycle went into winter storage (purchased in the summer).
Sophie (our incontinent cockerspaniel) found a new home with someone who didn't mind when she peed on the carpet, and we picked up our slightly neurotic cat-dog Riley.
4. What was I doing yesterday?
Working at Amazon.com after a huge career change, still moving into our home in Sammamish, WA, hosting visiting family (the McCarthy's) and friend's (Jenelle Smith).
5 Places I would rather be:
Snorkeling/Scuba Diving Hawaii
or Key West
Skiing, River Rafting, or 4W Driving in Utah
Vacation in Europe
NYC
5 snacks that I love:
Doritos
Frozen Berries mixed with Sprite Zero
Laura's Chocolate Chip Cookies (cold) with a glass of Milk
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Dark Chocolate
5 Favorite TV Shows
My Name is Earl - makes me laugh - what kind of name is Earl ? ;-)
Boston Legal - Laura doesn't understand why....and I can't explain it
American Chopper/Mythbusters/Survivorman/Dirty Jobs - anything on Discovery!
Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice (this is the same show -just on 2x weekly now)
Dancing with the stars.....
5 Favorite Movies
LOTR - Epic -> has set the bar so high, how can you compete?
Shanghai Noon
The Matrix
Pirates of the Caribbean
Star Wars
That's it - hope it was done right ;-) first time and all....
10 years ago would be 1997 - October - ....Was in the MBA program at BYU. Had just completed my internship at EDS (and vowed not to go work there), was in the throws of job hunting. I can't specifically recall if I had my Koch industries experience yet, or not, I think I might have (thats a different story - short version, I wanted to work there but didnt get the offer - very humbling experience). Around that time we had to choose between competing offers at HP in Colorado or Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH. Gabrielle was 3, Jakob was just a few weeks in the womb....This was a very pivotal point in our life, starting out on the path that led us where we are today. This was definately a life-altering choice.
2. What was I doing 5 years ago?
5 years ago would be 2002 - October. Just moved back from spending two years in Dallas, Texas with P&G. We started building our house in Mason, OH in April, it was supposed to be done in September. It wasn't. As a result, school had started for the kids, and we were living in Temporary housing since August. This was a cramped two-bedroom apartment with 3 kids and a dog. We had two twin beds and a roll-away in one small bedroom that all the kids slept in - it was cozy and fun..(sorta). We were very happy to move back to Ohio and our friends in West Chester/Mason. At work, I had just started as the Global Personal Cleansing Product Supply Finance Manager - a new promotion. Work was very challenging, because I was working on a very big project, the outsourcing of the Ivorydale Plant (P&Gs bar soap manufacturing facility). It was a big hairy project, remember spending lots of time at work....We moved into our house in November. Gabrielle was 8, Jakob was 4 and Audrey was 2... we still had Sophie our Cocker Spaniel.
3. What was I doing a year ago?
October 2006. Was in the process of switching jobs, moving from being the Secret Brand finance analyst to the FemCare Global Profit forecaster. Was a good move career-wise, but less satisfying work - started me thinking about my role and future with P&G. Some of our closest friends had moved West to various places (WA, UT, etc.) and we had almost moved to Stamford, CT, but didn't. Laura and I were regularly playing indoor co-ed adult soccer on Saturdays. Kids were very active in school, sports, music, church, etc. Hectic life in suburbia.
Oh yeah, my motorcycle went into winter storage (purchased in the summer).
Sophie (our incontinent cockerspaniel) found a new home with someone who didn't mind when she peed on the carpet, and we picked up our slightly neurotic cat-dog Riley.
4. What was I doing yesterday?
Working at Amazon.com after a huge career change, still moving into our home in Sammamish, WA, hosting visiting family (the McCarthy's) and friend's (Jenelle Smith).
5 Places I would rather be:
Snorkeling/Scuba Diving Hawaii
or Key West
Skiing, River Rafting, or 4W Driving in Utah
Vacation in Europe
NYC
5 snacks that I love:
Doritos
Frozen Berries mixed with Sprite Zero
Laura's Chocolate Chip Cookies (cold) with a glass of Milk
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Dark Chocolate
5 Favorite TV Shows
My Name is Earl - makes me laugh - what kind of name is Earl ? ;-)
Boston Legal - Laura doesn't understand why....and I can't explain it
American Chopper/Mythbusters/Survivorman/Dirty Jobs - anything on Discovery!
Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice (this is the same show -just on 2x weekly now)
Dancing with the stars.....
5 Favorite Movies
LOTR - Epic -> has set the bar so high, how can you compete?
Shanghai Noon
The Matrix
Pirates of the Caribbean
Star Wars
That's it - hope it was done right ;-) first time and all....
Monday, October 15, 2007
Reasons I Love Seattle - A photo montage
Over the past two weekends, these are some of the things we've seen and done
Fish, desperatly swimming upstream to spawn....
Bald Eagles....
Soccer Games in the woods... (thats jake in the green and black on the left making a shot)
The San Juan Islands from Sugarloaf Mtn.
Hikes with cousins - Kiersten and Kara McCarthy...
A beautiful sunset on the beach - with a football!
Are you kidding me... this was so beautiful, I still can't believe we live here....
A bonfire and smores on the beach under billions and billions of stars....
Photo ops...
Seattle, 3 months --- so far so good!
Fish, desperatly swimming upstream to spawn....
Bald Eagles....
Soccer Games in the woods... (thats jake in the green and black on the left making a shot)
The San Juan Islands from Sugarloaf Mtn.
Hikes with cousins - Kiersten and Kara McCarthy...
A beautiful sunset on the beach - with a football!
Are you kidding me... this was so beautiful, I still can't believe we live here....
A bonfire and smores on the beach under billions and billions of stars....
Photo ops...
Seattle, 3 months --- so far so good! Come out and visit!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sample Pics of the House
The Kitchen - 
The Family Room - note we dont have much (anything) on the walls yet... but we've patched the nail holes, etc. and just finished painting most of the spots. I installed, in-ceiling speakers have haven't put the grills on yet.
Bonus/Game room upstairs and our new king-size sofa-couch...Under the red blanket is a napping Jakob (it is Sunday afternoon after all).
Sunday afternoon view from our back-yard....
The Family Room - note we dont have much (anything) on the walls yet... but we've patched the nail holes, etc. and just finished painting most of the spots. I installed, in-ceiling speakers have haven't put the grills on yet. 
Bonus/Game room upstairs and our new king-size sofa-couch...Under the red blanket is a napping Jakob (it is Sunday afternoon after all).
Sunday afternoon view from our back-yard....
Ok - so some of you (Becca) have been bugging us (me) to post some pics of the house with our stuff in it. So here goes....
1st Day of School -
Pictures from the 1st day of school. Gabrielle
This was as close as Laura could get to the bus stop for a good-bye picture of Gabrielle. She didnt pass the "cool" test.... Jakob and Audrey are, for the first time ever, going to the same school. They ride the bus together to and from school. Audrey ocassionally runs into Jakob at lunch time. They, however, let us wait by them until the bus came and we got to wish them well on their 1st day of school !
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