Christmas and Suncadia

This Christmas break was full of excitement, relaxation, wonderful company, snowy days, and great family time. We spent Christmas with the whole family in Ellensburg. It was very relaxing, but we also found time to make a giant snowman on Christmas morning and go sledding up at our old childhood sledding hill. The day after Christmas my parents took us all to Suncadia resort for a small vacation. We had a blast! We ate yummy (expensive) food, went sledding, swam, went ice skating, played games, and enjoyed time together as a family (plus Marie). :) It was a Christmas to remember!

On our way to go sledding!

We loved having Marie join us!

Our 2nd Christmas together as the "Drakes".

Christmas Favorites...

I love everything about Christmas time! It is one of those times of year that brings so much joy and happiness to my life. Most importantly, it is when we get to celebrate the gift of Jesus! Although it can often be overlooked by presents, lights, snow, cookies, etc, I am forever grateful for Jesus' birth. Here are a few of my favorite things about the holiday season...

Baking Cookies: I love to eat AND bake Christmas cookies. A few of my favorites include caramels, fudge, and traditional sugar cookies.

Wrapping Presents: I have loved wrapping presents since I was very young. I love turning on Christmas music, sitting on the floor, and wrapping presents!

Christmas Cards: This might possibly be my favorite. I love putting together a Christmas card and letter to send out, addressing the letter, mailing the letter, and then in return I LOVE receiving Christmas cards. 1 o' clock mail couldn't come soon enough the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Decorations: We are one of those families who decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. If I could keep x-mas decorations up all year... I would!! They are so cozy and cute!! :)

My new favorite place...

I have always had a passion for decorations/home decor. Whether its decorating our home, shopping at home decor stores, looking through model homes at the decor, etc... I LOVE IT!! As of one month ago, Coeur d' Alene got the most amazing home decor store. The name... REAL DEALS. It is a franchise so you may have heard of it, but if not... you need to find the one nearest to you! All "Real Deal" stores may look a little different, but they all are quaint, inspiring, inexpensive, and only open two days a week. :) Go to www.realdeals.net to check it out!

Fall Family Photos

A puppy at his best...

If any of you don't know... my husband is the ultimate "project man". Every month when his dad comes to town, they come up with creative projects to make or fun "fix-its" to find around the house. Aaron and the garage have become very good friends over the past year. Last weekend we thought it would be nice to make Cooper a luxury dog bed. After one try and a destroyed bed we moved to a more solid material (canvas). Once again, 8 hours passed and bed # 2 was destroyed and in shreds. After two tries of the same bed, we decided to take his bed from inside and put it in his kennel outside. Cooper only needed one afternoon to tear his third bed into shreds and chunks. I think we have finally learned our lesson... Cooper will be getting NO bed outside in his kennel! Oh the joys of having a 7 month old puppy!

A puppy in trouble and bed # 1 destroyed!

Just moments before bed # 2 was destroyed!

* Bed # 3 not pictured!! :)

A wedding weekend in California!

In September we had the honor of attending Aaron's high school best friend's wedding in California. Aaron and Nate have been and continue to be best friends since high school. Aaron was honored to be the only groomsmen that was not a family member. Although it was a quick trip, it was a joy to see Nate and Rachel get married!

Aaron & Nate

The Drake & Torres Family

Cooper is 6 months!

Thought it might be nice to have an updated/recent picture of Cooper. He is getting so big, becoming so much smarter, getting much more energy, and growing very fast!