Disney on Ice 2026

I headed out this morning to drive to Kent with Ella and Emmett to go see Disney on Ice for the umpteenth year in a row.  I have been taking my children to see this show ever since 2010 when Lia was just 2.5 years old.  It has always been a fun family tradition and I am grateful that I still have two children who are interested in going.  The three of us had a great time watching this show with the incredible skating, acrobatics in the air, and amazing costumes.  We loved cheering on some of our favorite Disney characters and singing along to some of our favorite songs.  Until next year!

The three of us standing in front of one of the many massive cotton candy towers in the lobby.

Ella, Emmett, and I ready to watch the show!

Elsa letting it go!

Ariel twirling around with the help of Prince Eric.

Rapunzel getting to ready to swing up around her hair.

This was the first time that we saw both Rapunzel and Flynn swinging on the silks together.  It was super cool to watch.

All of the princesses skating together during their number.  This part of the program made me miss Lia the most as she has always been my biggest Disney princess fan!

Mirabel skating with the Encanto cast.

Moana sailing on out her boat.

The awesome whale shark puppet that skated through the rink during the Moana portion of the show.

Annual Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Since it's been a busy fall this school year, we haven't found the time to make our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.  Luckily, we had a free afternoon today due to having a half day at school.  After everyone got home from school, work, and XC practice, the three kids and I headed out to get flu shots before driving to Spooner Farms for the afternoon.  Since it was a beautiful day, we enjoyed walking around the farm and participating in all of the free activities that they offer there.  Emmett thoroughly enjoyed himself and his siblings were good sports to join him in a lot of the activities.  I am grateful that I still have three children to enjoy doing this holidays traditions with each year.

The four of us inside Spooner Farm's "pumpkin house."

The three kids posing in or above the photo cutout.

The kids posing in front of one of the giant spiders in the pumpkin patch with Mount Rainier in the background.  Since it has been cloudy most years when we have visited this farm, it is a rare thing to see this mountain in the background when we are there.

Emmett riding one of the racecar bikes around the track.

Ella pumping the water at the duck races.

Emmett sending the rubber ducks back to Ella on the other side.

How Tall This Fall?

The kids running around the half buried tires.

The kids enjoying their fudge outside the gift shop before heading home.

Logan's Trip to Hawaii

 

Ella's First Trip to the Temple

I was finally able to go to the temple with Ella last night when she did baptisms for the dead for the first time.  Although she has been old enough to attend the temple since last January, we have never been able to find the time due to how busy Lia's senior year was and how busy our summer was.  In addition, Ella missed the one other youth temple trip that our ward planned last spring due to having gymnastics practice on the Friday night that they scheduled it.  Although Logan was in Hawaii with Chris' family and couldn't join us, I was so grateful to be able to go with Ella for her first time.  She was really excited to do baptisms for the dead and had a really positive experience.  I loved being able to be there in person to watch her have this special, first-time experience and hope that she will have many more in the years to come.

Ella and I standing in front of the Seattle temple at the end of the evening.

Celebrating the Big 5-0 in NYC