In Seattle I might have gone a little overboard by listening to the radio station that plays "all Christmas, all the time" music, non-stop for 3 weeks. I'm not going to say I was burnt out on Christmas because I think that is pretty much impossible for me...but I did struggle to get back into the spirit of things after arriving in tropical sunny Singapore.








A festive evening out for our last book club session for 2012, we read the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed (highly recommended).  Vicki hosted and prepared a fantastic Christmas feast for us all.


I just love the weird and slightly creepy looking Santa's and Elves that wander around the shopping centers to pose in photos with kids.  Yes, I was the only adult waiting in a line full of children to get my photo taken with Frosty and Santa!

Sometimes visiting our Seattle home can be crammed full of so many things to do and people we want to see that entire weeks fly by in a blur of activities.  But there are also moments that stand out as extra special where time mercifully seems to slow down and we are able to relax and enjoy quality time with the special people in our lives.


Brunch at Salty's on Alki with my parents on a beautiful clear and crisp fall day in Seattle.  The brunch was incredible (I ate no less than 6 large crab legs!) but spending time together laughing and chatting will always be an incredible memory for me.


Enjoying a long lazy dinner at Luc with friends who always have and always will play such an important role in our lives.

Dinner at Matt's in Redmond where Graham and I shared our first "official" oyster shooter together.


Dinner and Karaoke night at Ohana's.  Despite a fair amount of bragging earlier in the evening, none of us were actually brave enough to sing Karaoke after the first guy got up and sang a perfect rendition of Mario's - "Let me love you" which brought the house down.



(Blog-worthy) Santa photos with Sharon.  We met in Singapore 3 years ago and developed a weekly coffee date tradition. I have missed our long chats since they moved back to Seattle about a year ago.  Enjoying a coffee date in Seattle together along with a impromptu Santa photo was one of the highlights of the trip!

Mark, perhaps sensing we would be climbing at a slower pace took it up a notch with this mask that you can wear which alters the "altitude" you are at.  He set his to 10,000 ft and then proceeded to sprint up the mountain.  Kingsley and I climbed at a significantly slower rate. 

Many people have asked where I learned to be so good with kids and babies.  I think the above video pretty much sums it up.  I had the most incredible role model - my mom!

I am so thankful for time with my brother Mark who recently finished up his second deployment in Afghanistan. He is an incredible man and I am so very proud of him.

I am incredibly thankful for my parents who upon learning (way back in August) that we might be home for Thanksgiving, took it upon themselves to offer host Thanksgiving dinner for 14 of our family and friends. To have the chance to be surrounded by the most important people in our lives for Thanksgiving was such a special gift. Thanks Mom and Dad!