Keeping the Party Goin' in Jan!!

Rewind to last week for Aunt Cait...Enjoyed tasty dinner together @ Olive Garden though my boys' restaurant behavior is severely lacking! Then traditional stop @ Coldstone Creamery except for this time we brought it back to our house to eat-whoo hoo! Thanks Cait for sharing your special night with us before the Vikings took over the celebration!


















Since Dane and MLKJr have become pretty tight b-day buddies over past few years, we felt obligated to start family festivities last night with his Bakugan Ball cake (will save visual so you can imagine it was cooler in your mind than it turned out-ugh!) and ice cream (ordered just plain vanilla?!) Grandpa Gar, Grandma Neecy, Aunt Britt, Uncle Lance, Aunt Cait & even Baby Ben

were invited to join us for that & cool presents--thanks!
Began celebration on actual day Dane turned #5 with Cole conveniently missing the bus (has nice new driver but comes/leaves even earlier?!) so we could grab doughnuts for breakfast. As you can see, Luke thought pretty fun way to start off day too!
Dane humored me by having his pics taken with anticipation of Dad's afternoon visit & another tradition, which has become pizza dinner @ the Rock--LtoR: Notice Rudolph made a post-Christmas appearance courtesy of marinara dip; Cole is always prepared to rock out on command; Dane's dough creation featured a b-day cake in case you were wondering re: modern art:); Coloring thanks to Dad's skilz seems to occupy boys until dinner served-sugar bags will oft do the trick too, but we didn't offer this time around!Considered adding movie theater to the fun & games, but Dane was content with x-box selection, new Leapster game & choice of 2 movies rec'd as presents @ home=3-D Monsters vs Aliens & Space Chimps.He chose to watch the latter before bedtime, much to Dad's chagrin due to the animation masterpiece that it is....T'was the b-day boy's choice, however, & he was thrilled despite his expression to top it off with that esp with oft requested popcorn/candy combo for dessert!Also want to wish Happy B-day to Uncle Ben (gotta differentiate now that we have 2 cousins with same name!!) 31 years later, you are still alive & well in your parents' & sisters' hearts!

Vote Ben in '10!

I settled my OCD with thought that he made their fam total=3 on 1/3/10:) Yep, I'm an aunt again & my sis Brittany & her husband Lance created this handsome boy named Benjamin Paul Bergeson!The middle name is for his grandpa on Berg side (Lance's dad) & great grandpa on ours (Grandma Neecy's dad). So fitting for another Jan birthday boy to match his namesake (my bro Ben) & Daner on 1/19! For a while we thought he might wait until then-poor Britt! or @ least make Cait share a happy b-day (1/8).
The campaign stretched into new year although we were ready for his grand entrance much sooner-Luke helped Aunt Britt to open her presents @ baby shower last mo.While we strongly encouraged him to arrive @ least 3 days earlier; thought for sure this would've done the trick?! I wasn't present to relive glory days & wet my pants on trampoline 'cuz I had gone home to try & be responsible mom for 3 boys with which I've already been blessed myself. Plus t'was captured around 10P & we'd already gone on am circuit too:)
Sorry not able to post more pics; stole what appears from proud parents' blog 'cuz not cool enough to fig out how to transfer pics from phone to computer without tutorial from the new momma; however, we were able to catch a sneak peek on their way up to post-partum room ?! Dumb hosp policy hasn't allowed me to even hold him until tomorrow, but glad he's here safe & sound & that mom/baby are both doing well @ Tacoma General...Not complaining about having him close until they gotta go to dental school! Welcome to the fam Baby Ben!!

High Time for New Year

Tried to be on TIME with Christmas pic, but I'll give ya 3 guesses who didn't want to cooperate this TIME?!
Boys decided December is a good TIME to wear matching sleepers:), which fit well with my OCD about their coordinating clothes:Also TIME to focus on being on the nice list & all things Christmasy; here they are with their own sleigh & team o' reindeer:)
This white stuff didn't last for long, but took full advantage of TIME before 2 hr school delay: Then t'was TIME to re-enact on JibJab-->Always TIME for one of these with cousins during winter vacation...never mind the liquid version in the Great NoWest for the rest of the month?!

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Had lots more fun TIMES in week leading up to Christmas...We'd only just begun & cousins wondered when it was TIME to take off Sunday best & stop taking pics already!?! They do love to spend TIME with fav people in world=Grandpa Gar & Grandma Neecy, who in turn, seldom miss chance to make TIME for them!
Traditionally TIME for BYU victory during their traditional appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl!
And then when we're done, we'll take TIME to snuggle=adapted from one of boys' fav lines in classic movie Elf!Despite our share of good TIMES in '09, don't really want to focuson not-so-good moments:( So moved right along with much to do in just one night to welcome new year! Bring on 2010!! We had to bid farewell to Uffens mid-day, but meeting 'em for lunch @ Cheesecake Factory eased our pain:)


Wished we could've greeted new nephew/cousin before the clock struck twelve, but not part o' plan-ugh! Back @ my parents' we watched UW bball victory & checked out G-Force (for boys' 5th time this week). That was all Luke got to do before bedTIME-
Since the older boys were wide awake & ready to party, we stuck with TIMELY tradition of fondue (despite saving cheese course for NY Day)-
Perfect TIMING for a dance party to humor Dane:) Does your 5 yo have moves like this?? Hopefully video to come from Aunt Brooke... In meanTIME, pic here is popper prepping:
Then we kept the wild party goin' banging pots/pans outside in the rain:) Midnight Revelers that we are-

And then all the noise! All the noise noise noise...:)

Quote straight from the Grinch & captures our Christmas am 'cuz Mrs Claus somewhat lost her mind for a moment on E-bay & thought ok to display drum set & "wild" (aka electric) guitar in addition to mic/piano (latter = mini so Luke could participate in newly formed Parker Bros group). The set Cole rec'd on his 2nd b-day has lasted pretty well, but they had outgrown mere maracas:). Seriously all of 'em are pretty musically inclined thanks to their dad! They can dance too:

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In the meantime, we quickly learned that the guitar in particular is quite loud, has no "off" switch & really doesn't allow for musician to adapt recorded & fairly obnoxious riffs (I think that's the correct term?! obviously surpasses my random mos. attempting basic piano & royally screwing up my only recital). This is the sight that greeted them after visions of sugar plums danced in their heads--Went straight to the instruments & tried 'em out...Who needs Rock Band? But prob where they got half their moves:)
Actually music-making began on Christmas Eve with traditional chimes...Grandpa Gar is very patient with beginners! Also captured Luke's moment when he slipped away from fam to tickle the ivories prior to gift exch.



















Felt more harmonious to have all Shaw girls home for first time in a few years-thanks for sharing Uffens/Bergesons!! For me, not same holidays without whole fam together despite changing dynamics-- "Christmas doesn't come from a store...Maybe Christmas this year means a little bit more!!"
Even if it meant Luke had to share BaPa with his cousin Paige, who is 3 wks younger:) They are very fond of MahMa too (unsure re: proper phonetic spelling, but rest assured diff emph than regular requests for Momma:) per Luke @ least-By the looks on their faces, either presents are serious business when you're 1 y.o. or very likely past their bedtimes:)Once back to our humble abode overnight, I followed the boys' lead this year & let 'em stop to unload their stockings as they came down the stairs vs saving 'em for afterward. Luke knew right what to do with candy, but thought unwrapping was highly overrated-nothing wrong with a litle foil in your chocolate:)














While Luke not pictured with his stash, I promise that he rec'd more than his one token gift last year. For all of 'em, it's obvious that Santa never disappoints thanks to a lot of generous elves in '09!!


















Perhaps you don't care, but to be thorough photo journalist...other fav gifts for Parker boys incl 7-in-1 Bakugans (found @ great price & exclusively on E-bay, respectively) as well as preview to Disneyland trip in Feb with Shaw side!! Much easier to see Brooke and Uffens fly away when we know in 6 short wks we will be bonding again @ Magical Kingdom that Walt built!! I think I'm more excited than the boys once they realized magnitude 'cuz it's been 10 yrs since I was there & can't wait to experience through their eyes for the first time:) Fwiw, the reason Annie is holding that Elmo phone was 'cuz Grandpa announced the surprise on its record feature; however, since then you'd be surprised how much use that toy has gotten on its own @ our house...Don't know about your kids over vaca, but mine went from easily amused to terribly bored in seconds-ugh!














Last but not least to test your memory from previous post, older boys were very patient to save grand opening of Devastator until they were bonding up no. with their Dad rest o' Christmas Day!!

I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In BEFORE Christmas Day

My dad got bright idea last Sat am to go up to Lake WA & try out the Christmas Ship Festival instead of Snowball Express (too dark too fast & earlier times sold out apparently for latter). So even though we should've built an ark en route we literally cruised up there in the rain that very Sat afternoon!Apparently it's been going on for 60 yrs, but first opportunity for us to taste delicious three-course dinner on board Royal Argosy Dinner Ship & watch 2 "performances"...guess you'd have to be there to appreciate the humor in that phrase, but we were a little apprehensive about what was expected of passengers or the ability of the boats themselves:) Little did we know, we would have splendid vocals provided & a little band for the whole night in the dining room whether we liked it or not-ugh! Added our own dance party toward end since we were seated front & center...
Paige quickly caught on that all activities have tendency to become wrestling matches if not careful even in public!
Certainly didn't let the weather dampen our spirits nor the Santa imposter, I mean, happy helper (no offense to red-headed friends, but c'mon! his youth & coloring didn't really go with the image except I guess, emph on red cheeks?! Luke & Paige fully agreed with every fiber of their one-year-old beings:) Notice luxury of being on opposite end of the table from 2 of my 3 always well-mannered little boys:) We took advantage of one more photo op with this guy awaiting the later passengers 'cuz I thought he was a lil' more authentic:) In fact the boys have asked me several times in the car about their confusion re: so many running around & claiming to be Mr Claus?! So not really question of believing, but in whom & all the logistics?:) Ahh, to be 7 again! But I digress...
Anyway, good food & great company with Shaws, Bergesons & Uffens!! Enjoyed gawking @ Bill Gates' home amidst the downpour & festivities surrounding the lit boats encircling us.
I've always been a true Washington girl when it comes to cheesy seasonal songs, but THANKS Clark/Grandpa Gar as well as Grandma Neecy braving elements & footing bill so we could truly enjoy a fun night celebrating Christmas in the NoWest together!

Everybody's doin' it...but not as groovy as Parkers!

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Don't worry if boys & I stayed cozy during snowfall for about 2 hrs with these silly holiday greetings & other dance styles--Yep, I was even a sucker & paid for this one...might post some more to get my money's worth so thanks in advance for humoring me!?! T'is the season to be jolly & we were quite entertained:)