Alki, Fremont & Lake Washington

Friday December 28, 2012

I went into work early today so I could leave early to enjoy the sunny weather with Joe & Nikki. We went to West Seattle to view back at downtown Seattle from Alki Beach.

A sunny December day in Seattle at Alki Beach 

Space Needle 

Joe, Nikki & Jackie 

Ferris Wheel 

Nikki walking the beach park 

Next we went over to look at the Lake Union Houseboats.

Next we took Nikki to Fremont, the ‘center of the universe.’ We got a pick-me-up at Peet’s coffee and then walked around. 

Lenin statue, the controversial communist leader

The Rocket, a 1953 Cold War era rocket

Building architectural art 

Waiting for the Interurban statue 

Only in Seattle are their specialty stoplights for the bike lanes. 

Fremont Troll that lives under the Aurora Bridge, holding a real Volkswagen bug 

Nikki and the Fremont Troll 

Today was just beautiful so we took the scenic way home along Lake Washington with views of the Cascade Mountains.

We gawked at waterfront homes with personal docks. 

Seattle at Night

December 26, 2012

Joe & Nikki came to pick Jackie up a little early from work.  We stopped for a snack of piroshkies in Pike Place Market and then drove up to Kerry Park for a nice view of downtown and the Space Needle.

Space Needle 

Panorama from Kerry Park. 

It was cold up on Queen Anne with the wind. 

Nikki 

Nikki & me 

We went over to Capitol Hill for drinks and a bite to eat at Tavern Law.

On our way home the skies cleared up enough to warrant a stop at Gasworks Park.

Seattle skyline from the windy hill at Gas Works Park 

Space Needle

Seattle skyline 

Christmas 2012

December 23-25, 2012

Reindeer Chance wishes you a Merry Christmas! 

On the 23^rd we went to Lowe’s since their Christmas decorations were on steep discount. We bought 1 reindeer & 2 white metallic does for $10 each! Joe tried to convince me to get blow-up lawn decorations, but I said no for many reasons but mostly because we ended up going so overboard with other décor that we could barely fit Nikki & her luggage in the car since we picked her up from Seatac airport right afterwards. 

Christmas Eve Chinese dinner. 

We put all 3 white deer & 6’ Christmas tree together on Christmas Eve to make sure they worked. It made for a festive gift-opening Christmas morning. 

Christmas morning gift-opening with Nikki. 

Chance loves her new tweeting bird toy from Nikki. 

Chance with her bounty of toys for Christmas, the bird and a mini Santa themed hide-away squirrel log. 

Nikki sums Christmas morning at our place well: The tree doesn't fit in the living room and the reindeer got inside! 

Everyone seemed to have the same idea as us on a rainy Christmas day, to go to the movies. We went to Alderwood Mall and the Hobbit had already sold out so we went to go see Jack Reacher instead. Joe really enjoyed it because he has read many of this book series by Lee Child. Tom Cruise wasn’t that believable as someone that could hurt a man 6’ tall 220lb, which are the numbers for Jack Reacher’s character in the book. Mark Walberg would have been better casting in my eyes.

After the movie we drove down to Seattle to see Candy Cane Lane, a cute pocket of homes decorated for the holidays. 

Christmas Sugar Cookies

December 16-19, 2012

I started making Christmas sugar cookies today. I can't wait to eat the teddy Bear ones in honor of the Packers win today clinching the NFC North!!! GO PACK GO! 

As I decorated this pup wouldn't leave my side as the sprinkles fell to the floor. 

I finally finished decorating Christmas cookies! 

Snow dusting!

December 18-19, 2012

This morning we awoke to a snow dusting overnight in Mill Creek. 

More Christmas lights on the house this year.

Day 2 of snow dusting overnight in Mill Creek, but this morning the snowflakes were still falling before turning to rain. 

It makes a cold, wet wait for the bus in the morning. 

Christmas Tree Cutting

Sunday December 2, 2012

Today we went to Stocker Farms to cut down our Christmas tree. They had run out of Douglas Firs already but we were still able to find a nice tall one 8’-9’ Frasier Fir.

I think we found our Christmas tree to cut down! 

 Joe proudly cut down our Christmas tree. 

Once we got the tree home in its stand, we learned the tree was taller than 9’ tall, which is the ceiling height in our living room. It looks like we’ll have another tight fit in the foyer into the living room and not be able to see the star on top from the living room.

GGLO Roaring Holidays Party

Jackie’s office Christmas party was a roaring 20’s theme at the Georgetown Ballroom in South Seattle.

Todd, Jackie & Joe awaiting the Chris Libby retirement presentation. 

Photobooth. 

Robert & Krishane are too cute. 

THA team photo. 

 Kelley & Pamela.