Waiting for the New Year

We've been playing Star Wars Monopoly to pass the time until 2024:

We watched National Treasure just before this. The way our game is going, we may need to play some more games before time is up.

Ice Cream & an 8-bit

On the way back from the beach, we were pleasantly surprised to find Colleen's Coffee House open, so we ordered up some ice cream (cotton candy, of course). In the pic with the sun beaming in through the windows, Tor was holding Dad's ice cream while he waited for his order:

We went to Jack's for some groceries, and Tor found a little Throwback 8-bit Handheld game console that he bought for himself.

Summer-like Beach

It was amazingly sunny and warm at the beach today. No coats needed! 

After waking up super late (11 am), the kids all needed some exercise, so they had a race. It's getting closer now, but Jillian still is ahead:

We brought a football to keep at the beach, and Bridget tried striking a pose ala Tor:

... and Tor and Jillian battled it out for the ball:

Team Bonding

Jillian's club volleyball team, Cowlitz 16 Black, got together at teammate Macy's house for a team bonding event. They ate tacos and played all kinds of games:

Peterson Family Christmas

The Peterson Family kids got together with the adults at Papa Ken and Bev's house to celebrate Christmas.

We started with appetizers for the adults and pizza for the kids, followed by treats. Then, presents were passed out and opened:

Bev set up a game of drawing a Christmas scene on a paper plate (without seeing it):

Somehow, Dad won on the adult side, joining Karlie who won on the kid side.

Pre-Party Dinner

Cousins Andy and Karlie came to visit, so we invited the Peterson family over for dinner ahead of the Christmas get-together the next day:

Mom made everyone's favorite ... tacos, plus there was lots of leftover Christmas treats. We wrapped up the night with some Christmas shows: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, and Merry Madagascar.

Castle Rock Christmas

Our final destination of the day was Grannie and Papa's house, where we got to see Kenny and a very wide-eyed Rory:

After bagels, soup and treats for lunch, the kids passed out presents, then joined in opening their own:

While waiting for pizza dinner, Bridget and Tor busied themselves with playing with toys and putting together a puzzle (while Jillian napped):