Kai's Reception

We were also able to attend Dane's cousin Kai's wedding reception while we were in Bellingham.  It was fun to see Dane's cousins Mica and Shane and their spouses, Mike and Katelyn.  Eme followed Katelyn and Mica around and they were both so cute with all the kiddos.  I wish we lived closer to Dane's side of the family because it is so much fun when we see one another and reconnect.

The Hatch Clan

Easton really took a liking to Pop's guitar on this trip.  He would strum it and sing every song, he was quite the performer.  He loves to sing and the guitar made singing even more fun for him.  More fun with the grandparents and great-grandparents.  Dane and I even got out for a couple of dates during our 10 day stay - it was much needed and fun to be together!

Grandpa and the Plasma Cars

Grandpa and Dane took the kiddos up to the high school to burn off some energy.  They were able to race their cars and really have fun on their new Christmas gifts (that stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house for fun when we visit).

Nana and Pop Fun

Dane loved being just around the corner from his Nana and Pop growing up and everytime we visit Bellingham we make a beeline for their home to go and get some love and kisses from Nana and Pop.  The kiddos were spoiled with lots of love and attention!

Christmas

We decided that since our children had NEVER been to the Northwest for Christmas or Thanksgiving, that we would make some memories and planned a trip for Christmas.  We arrived in Seattle, and went to Red Robin's because we were famished.  Then headed home to Bellingham.  We also had the perk of being in town for Dane's cousin Kai's wedding reception and to meet Kai's new wife, Patty.  The next day we went downtown and viewed some gingerbread houses that were in a store front window and then walked down by the water to where the ferry boats and cruise boats come into dock.  We came a day late, or we would have seen the large ferry boat that goes back and forth between Alaska.  The next day we got to work making the traditional chocolate and sugar cookies to leave for Santa.  We then read a Christmas story out of the Bible.  The kiddos went to bed after leaving some cookies for Santa and oats for the reindeers to sugar plumbs dancing in their heads (not really, just sounded Christmasy).  They awoke Sunday morning and we had them open their stockings, but left the gifts until after church (because church started at 9).  We had a yummy breakfast and headed out the door to the Christmas sacrament meeting.  The meeting was great and it was fun to reconnect with the Hatch family that we hadn't yet seen and are in Dane's parents ward.  We came home and opened presents (plasma cars, colorable playhouse, barbie, and car's 2 remote control car were the favorites), ate lunch, took naps, and then headed over to Dane's aunt Carolyn's home for a yummy Christmas dinner with all the Hatch clan.