Tis the Season...

I love Christmas. I love good food. I love game nights and volleyball games at the gym. I love spending time with family. It's been a great week. Here is the update. In pictures...

Holiday Happenings

Last night we stayed downtown at the Davenport hotel. A year ago, Jono got a gift certificate from a patient and we stayed there on the night of his office Christmas party. This year we had no reason to do it again, but my husband made a reservation without asking me. I didn't complain too much when I found out.

Last year we woke up on Saturday morning and went to the Rocket Bakery (I am borderline obsessed with the place) and then downtown to Christmas shop for the day. This year we did the same thing but it was way more fun. That is because we had this little Christmas package with us.

Doesn't she look kind of like a Christmas package in this outfit? Thank you Ella:).

We had decided a few weeks ago that we'd do Clara's santa pictures today. Some friends had told us we'd have no problem taking a photo ourselves and avoiding the overpriced elf photos. We were sad to find out that we could not take our own picture without purchasing something. The lowest priced item? $20. Ridiculous, I know. So...in true Hook form, we sent Jonathan up to the second story to capture a picture. What did we get? This lovely shot.

So, we caved. Or, I guess you could say I caved. We went back an hour later and purchased a small sheet of pictures. We weren't anticipating how slowly the line would move, so the girl was at least 20 minutes past her eating time. She didn't cry but a smile was hard to come by. At least you can tell that it's our child in the photos...

Was it worth it? I don't know. I am glad we have a picture so if we want to continue the tradition in the years to come, we won't be missing the first one. Come on, though, people! This is ridiculous! Does anyone know any santa look-alikes? Maybe we'll put a wig & beard on Jonathan next year and invite all the kids we know.

In other Christmas news, here are a few recent pics from today and of the past few weeks...

Here is how much Clara loves Christmas trees.

Posing with Daddy in front of a really cool gingerbread house at the Davenport.

Here she is with Benjamin (3 weeks) and Quinn (4 months) at the Mopsqueezers Christmas Concert. Who are the mopsqueezers? Maybe I'll actually remember to take pictures at their next concert. I know you're dying to know.

In one of the smallest Krochet Kids hats in existence.

Just posing around the house.

Merry Christmas from the Hook home!! Isn't this just the best time of year:)?

California Baby!

This Thanksgiving we were able to take a trip to California for one whole week! One nice thing about this full-time motherhood thing is that we don't have to plan our vacations around two wildly different schedules. For Jonathan, it is always best to take time off around a holiday, thus maximizing his days off. As a teacher, it was always nearly impossible to think about taking time off around a holiday. You're not supposed to "extend" your vacation, especially since they don't want kids doing the same thing. Yeah for this change of pace and chance to get away for Thanksgiving!

California was wonderful. That almost goes without saying. I had been dying to see my sister and I know she was dying to see Clara (and probably me too). My sister has a Devil Wears Prada kind of job. It's not in the fashion industry and it doesn't involve high-rollers at all. The similarity comes in the fact that she's barraged constantly by her coworkers/boss about scheduling, covering shifts, fixing problems. She doesn't work at a magazine though, just Tully's coffee:). Since she started her job in mid-August, she hasn't had two days off work consecutively. She broke the streak while we were there, though, so that was great news! She only worked two shifts and it was during our trip up to Pasadena and Bakersfield. Here's Leah in all her glory...

Travis is incredibly busy too. He works full-time for Krochet Kids by day and then at the Spagehetti Factory on Newport Beach by night. He had a nice chunk of time off while we were there, though, so we got to enjoy lots of time with "uncle T" too:). Time with Leah and Trav is always precious. You know what I am talking about if you know them. Here are some highlights from our trip...

Disneyland & Leah's 24th Birthday!

Thanksgiving with my grandpa Jack & grammy Joanne

Crystal Cove Walk

Pasadena to visit Jeff & Katy

Can you guess what house I am standing in front of? It is just four blocks from Jeff and Katy's place in Pasadena. Here are some clues..

1. Two of my favorite movies were filmed here (#1 is my all-time favorite).

2. In movie #1 there is a wedding reception in this house.

3. In movie #2 a giant wrecking ball almost destroys the house before Steve Martin buys it back.

4. My dad sang "My girl" for hours straight after watching it...and convinced my sister and me that we needed to play some dad/daughter hoops.

*I hope you know it by now:).

Bakersfield to visit Clara's great grandpa Allen (Jonathan's grandpa)

Balboa Island

Laguna Beach

Other highlights include game nights, eating out at BJ's, The Spaghetti Factory, Big Belly Deli, yummy Mexican, runs/walks in the sunshine, Ikea, thrift store shopping (which has a whole new meaning in Cali!). And the best part? Trav and Leah are coming home for Christmas!

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago my friend, Whitney, took some family pictures for us. Whitney and I have known each other since we were in a 3rd/4th grade combination class at Evergreen Elementary. Pretty crazy, I know! We played volleyball together at Mead & Whitworth and have reconnected through blog-o-sphere in the last few months.

Whitney just started her own photography business and she is so talented! She has such a great eye and did an amazing job capturing Clara. Here are just one or two favorites...but visit her website for more. If you are in Spokane and want some great pictures, contact Whitney!