Our Christmas Letter

In case you were unfortunate enough to not receive a Christmas Card from my family this year (or fortunate, however you want to look at it), there wasn't a lot about our year in the letter. There was a heinous accusation of being #RUDE since we no longer let certain people use our Netflix account. (#ifyoucanaffordtripstoSanFranandMexicoyoucanaffordNetflix #seriouslyitseightdollarsamonth) I will not be addressing the latter, but I will be addressing the former by writing our own Christmas letter!! Here goes...

January of '14 found the 'Washington Dials' living the simple life in Silverdale, Washington. Bryan completed his first year with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a Mechanical Engineer, and was actually starting to feel like he was accomplishing something. He began working lots of overtime, since many of the projects are way behind. He continues to enjoy his work, and is learning tons!

Adrienne is still a stay-at-home mom with the two hoodlums, Ethan (5) and Alexander (2). Ethan participated in a Co-op Preschool/Playgroup with some of the families in the ward. We also began Preschool at home, since we missed the deadlines for applications (go us). He's totally ready and excited to go to Kindergarten in the fall (as are his parents). Alexander (finally) was old enough to go to Nursery, and grew big enough to take Ethan on. Now they are true brothers and fight all the time. 

Adrienne and Bryan both had callings in the ward, and both were in Primary. Bryan was the CTR 6 teacher, and Adrienne was an Activity Days leader; Adrienne loved, loved, loved her calling; Bryan not so much, but both callings kept them pretty busy.

In April, Bryan and Adrienne began the long, arduous process of house-hunting (see previous post). In August, they put an offer in on a house (offer #3) in Bremerton, about 10 minutes from where they lived at the time. Miraculously, their offer was accepted! The closed on their house in mid-September, and moved in at the end of September. They are loving being home-owners, just not loving all of the things you have to do/buy when you are!

Their new house meant a new ward! Bryan and Adrienne both got callings after only two weeks in the ward: Bryan as the 2nd Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency AND Scoutmaster; Adrienne as the Primary Chorister (3 weeks before the Primary Program). Their callings keep them incredibly busy, Bryan's being super intense! But they love their new ward, and the opportunity they have to serve the ward family and the Lord.

They continue to enjoy the Seattle area, NCIS, and playing together as a family. Now that they have a house, they have a guest room, so they welcome visitors! (As long as they don't stay too long!)

That about sums up our lives here. We are so grateful for the blessings we received in 2014, and look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in 2015! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Advent Calendar: Days 8-14

Week #2 of the Advent Calendar was a smashing success, and not because this was 'Birthday Week' in our house. Here's how the week went down:

Day 8: Scripture- Luke 2:1-3; Activity- TOP Secret
I will reveal the activities of this day at a later time, but for now, know that we celebrate Ethan's 5th Birthday!!

 This is the 'cake' that he requested. He saw a picture of it in a book of mine. I think it turned out pretty well!!

I can't believe he is 5!! He will be going to kindergarten next year, and that blows my mind. But I know that he will LOVE it because he loves trying new things and he loves to learn. I think he got that from me =].

Day 9: Scripture- Luke 2: 4-6; Activity- Wrap Presents!
We wrapped presents for Grandma and Grandpa Street, Taylor and Cameron, who are all coming to our house for Christmas this year!!

The boys picked out the wrapping paper and bows, and I wrapped them and made them look pretty!

Day 10: Scripture- Helaman 14:3; Activity- Help Daddy pick out things for Scouts!

Day 11: Scripture- Helaman 14:5-6; Activity- Color Christmas Pictures!
Once again, Bryan had Mutual, so we did something simple. I printed off some Christmas pictures, and let them go to town!

Day 12: Scripture- 3 Nephi 1:13; Activity- Movie Night!
We watched the movie that Ethan got for his birthday, Planes: Fire and Rescue. It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be!

Day 13: Scripture- 3 Nephi 1:19; Activity- Pizza Night!
Pizza Night morphed into an outing to Chucky Cheese, since it was Alexander's 2nd Birthday!!

They had a BLAST!! Bryan and I were exhausted!

My baby is no longer a baby. This makes me really sad. But he's also so adorable that I can't help but love the little man he is!

Day 14: Scripture- Luke 2:7; Activity- Make Borax Snowflakes!
This is a Pinterest Activity that I found, and it turned out to be super fun, but time-consuming!

 We had to cut pipe cleaners and shape them into snowflakes, which took forever!

 Once they're all shaped, you dip them in a solution of boiling water and Borax laundry detergent, and let them sit overnight!

And in the morning they are beautifully crystallized!! So fun!!

Stay tuned for Week 3 of our shenanigans!!

Advent Calendar: Days 1-7

This year, we started a new tradition (that I hope sticks!). I made this advent calendar, thanks to Pinterest.

Toliet paper rolls and tissue paper are the main ingredients! Super easy. Inside each roll or 'day' is a scripture about the birth of the Savior and an activity. I thought this idea would be super fun, but I was unsure how Ethan and Alexander would like it, i.e. would they understand the scriptures, would they like the activities, etc. Let me tell you....THEY LOVE IT! Ethan asks almost everyday when we get to open the 'present' for the day. Here is what we did for the first week:

Day 1: Scripture- Mosiah 3:5-8; Activity- Decorate the Tree!

 This took forever! We brought a brand-new (fake) tree, and we seriously underestimated how long it would take to make it look like an actual tree!

The final product. All red and gold ornaments, with an angel on top.

Day 2: Scripture- 1 Nephi 10:4; Activity- Decorate the House!

 We put gel clings in the windows...

 ...And they got to hang their stockings by the fireplace...

 ...And we decorated...

 ...And Grandma Street gave them a nativity that they could put up and play with...

 ...And this is what the Living looks like! I forgot to take a picture of everything else!

Day 3: Scripture- Luke 1:26-28; Activity- Make Christmas Candy!

Disclosure: I'm not the best candy-maker, which is why we chose to make chocolate covered pretzels!

Which, of course, they boys thought were super tasty!

Day 4: Scripture- Isaiah 7:14; Activity- Read A Story (no pictures)

Bryan has Mutual on Thursday nights, so the boys each picked a story that we read together. Ethan picked Green Eggs and Ham. Alexander picked Horton Hears a Who.

Day 5: Scripture- 1 Nephi 13:18; Activity- Go to the Ward Party! (no pictures)

Day 6: Scripture- Luke 1:30-31; Activity- Make Christmas Candy!

 In addition to candy, we also made Pumpkin Bread!

The candy: Oreo Truffles dipped in white chocolate. Heaven.

Day 7: Scripture- Matthew 1:18-24; Activity: Draw Pictures for Santa/Papa's Birthday!

I didn't get any pictures of them coloring because I was busy getting Bryan's birthday all set up!

 His 'cake' (Chocolate Cream Pie) and presents!

The boys had such a great time doing all of these Activities! I am so grateful to Bryan for helping and being just as willing to do all of these fun and sometimes crazy things! Stay tuned to see what this next week has in store!