Always Exciting Friday

 Emily calls on the way to work sometimes, and that's one of the few times we can talk without kids or work interrupting.

She sent this sunrise picture and was talking about how Bellevue is such a pretty town, even though it's more of a city now with a downtown that looks like some Seattle areas.  That's from my limited experience at either place.  I only go to places where I can creep in on the back roads, the scenic ones by the lakes and waterfalls when you aren't in a hurry.

She's going full speed ahead with the opening of the Bellevue Clinic, and even thought I don't quite understand all that's involved, I know it's a huge undertaking.  I can tell she's excited underneath it all, although it makes Christmas planning a little harder.

Ryan is taking the girls to Bellevue after lunch to meet up with her to go see Wicked, so I won't see them this afternoon.  It should be a nice fun night for them.

Em and I had wanted to go to an event at Squak Mountain Nursery in the morning, but I think we're going to call that off.  We knew it was doubtful we could fit that in.  Gray has a soccer game, and we'd like to catch the Snoqualmie Winter Lights event from 3:00 to 5:00.  These activities are always out of my comfort zone as far as staying warm, but if I layer and prepare for it, I'm always glad I got out.  We haven't even had many freezing temps this year, and I doubt we'll have a white Christmas either.  I'd just as soon have snow away from holidays so I can burrow into my cave and not come out.  

I just looked at the calendar of activities on the community pages for this weekend, and if you had the energy, you could stay out from breakfast until bedtime, shopping at the markets and bake sales and listening to the choirs and band ensembles, ending with the tree-lighting ceremony and singing carols.  This is with fitting in soccer and possible birthday parties and cookie exchanges and school activities.  

The family likes to go to Leavenworth on Winter Break where everything is snow and hot chocolate and sleigh rides and whatever else you can find to do in the cold and snow.  They're thinking they won't have snow this year, and I suggested they stay home and just rest.  Emily said that's all they did in Leavenworth - rest.  Cavort around in the snow, get warmed up, and go back to the cozy cabin with coffee and hot chocolate and do nothing BUT rest without any temptations to do housework or wrap gifts or go to parties.  I guess she has a point.  

I suppose it's time to start wrapping gifts.  I don't mind it, but it's just getting all that stuff out and making a big mess and then having to clean it up...... Maybe some Christmas music.