A Great '08!

Can another year be over with already?!? It was bittersweet looking back at some pictures from this year. My #1 girl is nearing the big 4th birthday and my #1 boy is definitely not a baby any more!!

Enjoy a picture of the Kasparek kids on the first day of 2008......and the last day of 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is Camden's priceless reaction to one of his gifts. For those of you on Facebook...Chris has added this and a few more to his page.

A Holly Jolly Christmas

Christmas morning was as exciting as I expected. Emma and Camden are at such a fun age! I loved that they were thrilled with the simplest things like bubble bath and electric toothbrushes.

Santa brought Camden a fish... ...and a bike for Emma!
Camden's WOW present from Babi and Pops.

Dress up clothes were on the top of Emma's wish list...

Presenting Belle!

We spent a relaxing day playing with all the new toys. Chris is teaching Emma how to play pinball.

Emma and I playing Cranium Cariboo

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve started off before dawn when Chris had to trek off to work in the snow. He ended up working all day :( The kids and I spent the day hanging out at home. Emma and I made cookies for Santa in the afternoon. Chris did make it home and we got ready for Christmas Eve Mass

The Kasparek ladies...
The Kasparek gentlemen...

Our photographer, Emma had to make sure we said, cheese!

What a blessing!

Chris read The Night Before Christmas

Our little angels...

Christmas Eve Mass was beautiful! Here's Emma fast asleep!

The Storm of the Century!

Well, that might be stretching it a bit, but this weekend definitely brought an historic snow storm to Western Washington. Seattle weather = rain. In fact last winter when we got a few inches of snow all of our neighbors and friends said, This is rare for us. We usually don't get snow like this!
Last week when my extended winter vacation began I thought it was pretty cool. Today, 9 inches later, I'm ready for life to be back to normal. :) I know, I know, I grew up with this weather! Iowans can handle the snow...my verdict is still out on Washingtonians.
I'm yearning for my newspaper (which hasn't been delivered in 2 days) and for my trash to be picked up (which has been sitting in the driveway since Friday). Snowplows come few and far between, so maybe be next week our neighborhood will be plowed out. Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive!
Poor Chris was on the phone last night dealing with the majority of his employees saying they could not come into work today. He was up and out the door at 5 a.m., picking up some of people, and delivering them to the child development and school-age care centers. He wanted to treat them all to pizza for lunch today and had a very hard time finding a pizza place that was opened!
I must say that I am excited to have a white Christmas this year. For a place that doesn't see much snow, we'll be 2 for 2 in the white Christmas department! ;)

When the snow is falling, what better thing to do than cuddle up on the couch and watch Sesame Street Christmas?

Holiday Boat Parade

Saturday evening was the annual Bremerton Yacht Club's Holiday Boat Parade and our dear friends, The Warthens, hosted a party to watch the parade. A "little" snow kept some of the party goers away, but those of us who braved the weather had a fabulous time watching the lighted boats parade around the bay.

Flashback to the 4th of July....Emma and Camden playing in the sand boxHere's that sandbox on Saturday night! ;)
Me (with a big snowflake for a nose), Aimee, Grace, and Helen are on the look out for the boats!

Emma loved seeing the boats all lit up! Santa Claus was even on one!

Snow Day!

I woke up yesterday expecting a usual Thursday morning. We were all dressed and downstairs eating breakfast, when Chris came into the kitchen with our newspaper covered with snow. Hmmmm-wasn't expecting that. We turned on the TV and sure enough schools were closed! Chris headed off to work (helping out at Camden and Emma's child development center) and we stayed home for a day of fun!

Camden was ready for a picture!! Playing dinosaurs together. :)
Out to play in the snow!!!
Emma pulling Camden down the driveway...

Along the sidewalk...

She decided it was much more fun if I pulled them both!

We're home again today for snow day #2 (and the beginning of winter break-yippee!!)

The first snow of the season!

We woke up to snow this morning, so after church the kids and I bundled up and headed outside for some fun. Emma was a little disappointed that it was not snowman-making-snow, but as you can tell from the pictures, it sure tasted good! I do recall that last winter she was constantly eating snow (maybe something is missing from her diet...) Camden was getting used to his snow get up and loved being pulled around on the sled!

The Kasparek holiday photo

Christmas is approaching quickly and the annual Kasparek family holiday card is on the top of our "to-do list" this weekend. Now for the picture...

Scene 1 take 1...

Yesterday morning, we set up the camera and tripod in the entry way. If only we can get Camden to smile... Scene 1 take 2...

While Chris was readjusting the camera for a closer shot, Camden decides he's not really in a photogenic mood...
Scene 1 take 3...
We thought maybe Elmo by the tripod would get Camden to smile, but we were wrong. Camden thought Elmo should be in the picture. Chris didn't quite make it back before the timer went off.

Scene 2 take 1...

It was obvious that Camden was not going to cooperate for pictures, so last night we thought with a live photographer (Aimee) we might have better luck. Chris had his hat on all day and is not thrilled with these pictures (I think he looks as handsome as ever!)

Camden's changing facial expressions are my favorite!

Scene 2 take 2...

Scene 2 take 3...

Scene 2 take 4...

(the winner)

Mr.Goofy and Miss Adorable

Our little guy is becoming quite independent these days. This evening he pitched a fit because I took the jug of milk out of the fridge instead of letting him. He found one of Chris's Hawkeye stocking caps and thought he was pretty funny putting it on all by himself.

This evening was my school's Winter Music Festival so I invited Emma to join me at the concert. When she found out it was a holiday event, she just had to wear her Christmas dress. She sat right in the front row and loved every minute of the show! She was a big hit with all my students in her festive attire! :)

7th Annual Kasparek House Lighting Party

The holiday light masterpiece was finally revealed last night as over 20 friends joined us for our annual house lighting party. This picture is just a taste of the big show... Here we are standing out in the street as Chris hit the switch.
Back inside it was time for more food and drinks! We had a surprise guest! A friend from Japan, Steven, was in town out processing from the Navy. His wife, Alison, worked with Chris and we were excited when he called yesterday and was able to join the party!

Helen, Aimee, and Heather hanging out and enjoying baby Alison

The 3 Musketeers-Emma, Claire, and Logan enjoying some cookies.

Michelle and I lounging at the after party. ;)

The Nutcracker

Emma and I had our 2nd annual trip to see the Pacific Northwest Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker on Sunday afternoon. We had a wonderful time-it always gets me in the holiday spirit!
Emma (looking quite grown up, I might add) was posing with the stage behind her,but it's a little too dark in the picture.