NYE Cle Elum Style

Happy New Years from Cle Elum.  We love going up to the ranch to celebrate the new year with good friends.  The kids spend most of the day sledding, riding snow mobiles/side by sides, sitting by the bonfire, a heated ping pong tournament, playing buck hunger, card games and of course staying up until midnight (we barely made it).    Happy New Years!

 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! It feels like we wait for the holidays and then they go by way too fast.  This year was extra special because we had Mimi and Papa at our house.  Of course I had to get us matching PJ bottoms b/c who doesn't!  Everyone was spoiled with gifts and lots of love this year . . . even Murphy was excited to see what Santa brough him in his stocking!  Kallie can't wait to use her new paddle board with friends this summer!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 

The Holidays - Soccer Style

We love celebrating the holiday season with our soccer family at LFC.  The girls do a fun cozy sock exchange follow buy some crazy games Sabrina came up with (thank you Pinterest).  We feel so lucky that Kallie has found an amazing group of girls who loves soccer as much as she does.  Eric and I feel luck too b/c we couldn't have asked for better families to spend our weekends with.  Soccer Family is the best

 

The Perfect Little Tree Lot

We went back to our favorite tree lot to find the perfect tree and we had success!  I don't think we realize how tall our tree was until we got home - we had to use a tall ladder to decorate but it fit perfectly.  Thankfully we have so many ornaments we had no problem filling it right up.  Tis the Season.

 

Turkey Day 2024

We had another successful Bates Family Thanksgiving!  It was a smaller group without a few of our favorites but we made enough food for a village anyway.   We had fun catching up with family over dinner, dessert followed by rooting for the Seahawks!  Thanks to everyone for all of your help pulling it off . . . especially Eric who stuffs and butters the turkey before it goes in (GROSS).  

 

Halloween Festivities 2024

This year it felt like Halloween lasted for a week!  Eric and Kallie carved their pumpkins like they always do (I am not a a fan).  Kallie's soccer dressed up at practice and she went trick or treating with her middles school friends in New Castle.  Happy Halloween

 

Happy 13th Birthday

We officially have a teenager!  I have no clue how you went from 1 to 13 in the blink of an eye but you did.  Today is your day to be spoiled!  We started the morning with cinnamon buns per your request followed  by opening presents (in the present chair of course).  You got some pretty cool stuff if you were to ask me (HA) - Strawberry iPhone Case, UGG Slippers, Pure Vida Bracelet Club, Stanley Water Bottle!  Since we already went to the safari park we decided instead of the zoo we would go to Second Chance Ranch to feed some of our favorite animals.  That night for dinner your requests Build Your Own Pizza/Calzones.  We had fun with Grammy, Sophia and Ella trying to see who's food looked the best . . . Pretty sure Ella won but they all tasted good thankfully!

Saturday we had a birthday with a few of our closest friends.  The party started at Pine Lake paddle boarding and jumping off the dock.  We had dinner at the Gaslamp and ended the night with cake and a slumber party.  I am pretty sure lights did not go out until close to 2am but based on the laughing and fun I heard downstairs sounds like it was worth every minute.

Happy Birthday, we are so proud of you and all you have accomplished.   You are a smart, caring, beautiful girl who's love for her family, friends and of course soccer is unbreakable.  Keep dreaming and you will do even more GREAT things!  We Love you!

San Diego Vacation

We decided to take a bit more time in San Diego after Surf Cup to enjoy the CA weather.  We spent time with a few other soccer families shopping on the boardwalk on Mission Beach and Dinner at a fun brewery with lawn games for the kids and good drinks for the adults.  The pool was a big hit along with the nightly fireworks right across the bay by Seaworld!  

This year Kallie wanted to go to the Safari Park so we made a day out of it!  Since her birthday is coming up in a few days we decided to buy a special tour at the park riding in a Jeep through the African/Asian safari parks so we could get up close to the animals!  It was so much fun - we all loved the giraffes (they ran after our jeep) and the BIG rhinos!   So glad we were able to squeeze a little family vacay!