Snoqualmie Santa Train!

Lucas has been enthralled by trains for over a year now...so we decided it was time to go on a real train ride. It is always more fun with a buddy so Lucas asked his buddy Andrew to come along. The boys loved the ride, the visit with Santa, warm cookies and hot chocolate, and touring the outdoor train museum.

Breakfast with Santa!

We have started a tradition of attending the Lynnwood Rotary Santa Breakfast each year with the Schreiber family. It is an event to benefit 'Toys for Tots'. Lucas donated 4 special NEW toys to little boys who needed some Christmas joy. We have a wonderful breakfast, danced and sang on stage, and finished off the morning visiting Santa! It is always a fun morning!

Lucas on stage during the sing-a-long!

Lucas is trying to stay on the "nice" list :)

Markus was NOT a fan of Santa this year!

A Hunting We Will Go!

I have fallen WAY behind in posting! We got our Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving so it has been up and decorated for several weeks. It is a yearly tradition to head out to the country to cut down the perfect tree. This year Papa and Nana came along since their place is too small for a tree. They decided to instead enjoy ours!

Lucas searching for the "perefect" tree!

Look he found it! Just his size!
"Helping" Daddy!

The thinking face! I love it!

The fam with our 2009 xmas tree!

Papa and Nana with Lucas Dean!

The Tractor that hauls it to the car.

A Visit with Santa!

This was Lucas' 4th visit with Santa! Year one he was only 2 months so he was sleeping and the last two years he was screaming...this year FINALLY a smile! So cute! He still would not speak or even really look at him. But after some coaxing he did smile and pose. I bet by next year he will be ready to tell Santa all about what he wants for Christmas.

Gobble till you Wobble!

We had a nice relaxing, but filling Thanksgiving at my mom's. She worked hard cooking and preparing a wonderful evening! Lawrence (our good friend and neighbor) joined us and took some fun family shots after dinner. It is so rare to get a recorded memory of all of us together!

The table is ready to DIG in!

Drue started off NOT wanting to be in the pictures!

Teenagers!

The boys!

A family shot!
Lucas kissing his "baby"!
Our life :)
Lucas LOVES helping Mimi with dishes. He is so domestic!
24 weeks pregnant with our little guy!

The Streak of the BOYS continue!

We found out on Monday, October 19th that we will be welcoming yet another boy into the Johnson/Dean/Grim family! It has been 21 years and 16 straight boys since we have had a baby girl in the Grim family. 23 years since my cousin Sara (the last girl) was born in the Dean family. It is the 4th boy between Si and his brother. It is also the 8th boy (no girls) born in the neighborhood since we moved in. I tried to ask the doctor where the 50/50 odds are in this equation. He said that some other family is having 16 straight girls :)

We are just thrilled to be expecting another healthy baby! He will arrive into a family so ready to love and care for him. Both his big brothers knew it was going to be a boy long before we found out and they are *ready* to share their toys with him.

No names yet! If you ask Lucas he is convinced that his name is going to be Tyler. I think he has Si pretty convinced at this point as well. We have NO idea where Tyler came from and why he is SO insistent. It is cute!

As far as another baby...... Si and always thought we would stop at two kids together. We are still leaning toward our family being complete in March, but I have to say that I would really LOVE to have a girl someday. So....we might have to try one more time!

I absolutely LOVE baby feet!

Yep! There is NO DOUBT he is a boy!

Trick or Treat!!! Happy Halloween!

This year Lucas was really excited about Halloween! The night before Halloween, we went to his future preschool (he starts in January) for some indoor treats, games, and shows! On Halloween we hosted a neighborhood party of appetizers and then Trick or Treating in the "hood". The boys ate "mummy" hot dogs and lots of treats! It was a perfect night (except for the rain).

My Dad and Cindy got Lucas an adorable astronaut costume at Kennedy Space Center!
Indoor Trick or Treating at Gold Creek Church/Preschool!

Maddie, Owen and Lucas!

Fall Picnics = Indoors

Lucas and his buddy Andrew!

Some of the neighbor boys!

Brady, Markus, Nathan, and Lucas.

The two pumpkins on the way!

Our crazy neighbors!

Trick or Treat!

Pumpkin Pickin'

Fall is in the AIR!!! We headed to Craven Farms for our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Lucas' little buddy Andrew joined us. The boys loved the hayride, picking out their very own pumpkins, and playing at the different play stations. Lucas is already excited to carve his pumpkin and wear his costume!

The Partying Continues!

We celebrated with a Buccaneer Bash at Mimi's the Saturday after Lucas' birthday! He had all his friends, including the boys from the neighborhood. They played on the play set, went on a treasure hunt for chocolate coins, ate hot dogs and cupcakes, opened presents, and pulled strings on the pinata. It was perfect and a BIG thanks to Mimi and Auntie for helping pull it off. Lucas really showed that he is not so shy, and he really loves being the center of attention. We are so proud that he is our little guy!

Mimi organizing the kids for the birthday song and treats!

Blowing out his 5 candles (three was not enough for him)!

He did it!

MMMmmm...cupcakes!
He loves his Auntie!

The kids all opening together!

He got fireman rainboots, too cute!

Pinata time! You pull strings now instead of hitting it with a stick.

Lucas and all his friends collecting the candy!

Andrew and Lucas being silly with the birthday gifts!