Garden Lights

One of the many displays at Garden d' Lights

There was so much to look at it,
I couldn't stop pointing!

One of the many floral exhibits

Mommy and Daddy
let me sit on their shoulders so I could get
the best view.
Mommy doesn't usually look this scary...
It's the lighting.

I definitely want to go again next year!

Garden d' Lights festival features over a half a million lights which transform the Bellevue Botanical Garden into a winter wonder land. This was our first time going as a family and we had a lot of fun. I LOVE Christmas lights so to be surrounded by them was absolute heaven for me. This will be another Christmas tradition in the Hoffman family!

Gingerbread Village 2011

Daddy's coworkers built this one.
Over 1,000 pieces of gum were used!!!

We were supposed to be taking a family photo but
I was so enthralled with all the huge gingerbread houses
I couldn't look at the camera

Mommy's favorite

and here's Mommy's favorite at a different angle

And another angle of Mommy's favorite

This was MY favorite.
I wanted to touch it SO BAD!

Here it is in all its glory!

Ending the night being silly and eating two candy canes!

Each year local architecture firms partner with the Sheraton Seattle culinary team to custom design, bake, and build awe-inspiring gingerbread displays. This years theme was "Holiday Express".  I wanted to touch and eat the gingerbread houses SO bad, but Mommy gave me two mini candy canes instead....

Separation Anxiety?

Separation Anxiety or Temper Tantrum?!
 Hmmm, I wonder....;)

I am a pretty happy kid, but one thing I do NOT like is when Mommy leaves me in the car when she delivers meals to her meal ministry. Daddy snapped this photo of me last night. It's not a pretty picture, but I wanted to show you that sometimes I even have my moments.

Snowflake Lane

SOooo excited to see Snowflake Lane!

I was in shock to see Frosty come to life. He gave me a High Five!

This pretty blond woman was over 9 feet tall.
She flirted with me and gave me a peppermint sucker!

Family Photo
So much was going on I had trouble smiling for the camera.
Mommy said I was  overstimulated...

Sucking on my peppermint sucker and hanging out with
Mr. Polar Bear

Peppermint drool all over my jacket...YeS!

Ending the night with a Starbucks water and standing on the
drummer boy's stage.

Last year when Mommy and Daddy took me to Snowflake Lane I was still a baby. This time I was able to walk around and enjoy all the fun entertainment. I was shocked to see it snowing and so many guys drumming Christmas songs. It was a really cool event and I look forward to going again next year!

Girl Time...

Auntie Becky showing me the tricks of the trade

Playing gently with girls' hair makes them relax

Cuddling and hanging out with two beautiful ladies

I woke up from my nap to find Mommy's former roommates and close friends, Amber and Becky hanging out in our living room. I cuddled with them and Becky showed me how to play with Amber's hair gently. She said she was giving me tips for when I'm older...Mommy was happy to see that I was learning how to be gentle and not pull hair.

Santa Claus

The lights kept changing color in Santa's workshop
 It was like magic

Hanging out in Santa workshop

I held the bears hand while waiting in line

Sharing some giggles with Santa!

I think I was sugar crashing when this picture was taken
peppermint sucker=sugar overload!!!

Mommy and Daddy took me to go see Santa Claus at the Bellevue Mall! I had a blast checking out Santa's workshop and hanging out with Santa. He was really cool and even tickled me! Afterwards he gave me a peppermint sucker and a plush teddy bear. I was pretty stoked.

Dancing to Christmas Music

Dancing to music is one of my favorite things to do. Mommy recently introduced me to Christmas music, which I like a lot. Daddy took a couple videos of me showing off my dance moves so I thought I would share!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

I had my own way of decorating the Christmas Tree this year. 

It was a lot of fun!

Christmas Tree Hunt

On the hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree

I picked this one out, but they said it was too small

Daddy showing me where we can find other trees

Come on, lets go!!!!

Daddy said this is the "Spoiled Children's" tree because
it has a lot of room for lots of presents.

Sharing some giggles with Daddy

We found it!!!
A Norwegian Fir

Our Christmas tree was quite large and full compared to what we had last year
The pros of going to a Tree Farm instead of the mountains...
Look below, to see what I mean!

This picture was taken before  the needles flew off
on our drive home last year. By the time Daddy trimmed it,
it looked like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree...

This year we were unable to make it to the mountains ( Mommy was happy - she's not a fan of snow ) to find our perfect Christmas tree so we headed to the Carnation Tree Farm instead. I had a lot of fun running around and helping Mommy and Daddy find the perfect one. Afterwards we grabbed apple cider and nibbled on some yummy baked goods. Our Christmas Tree Hunt was a success!

18 month birthday

Mommy and Daddy took me to a play area at the Bellevue Mall
to celebrate my 18 month birthday

I made a new friend while I was there.
She liked me so much she followed me
EVERYWHERE.

I had my first Cake Pop from Starbucks!

No, I am not falling asleep in this picture.
Mommy rarely lets me eat sugar, so I'm having
a sugar overload

She tried taking a bite, but I wouldn't let her!
It was so good, I ate the WHOLE thing.

I had a lot of fun celebrating my 18 month birthday! It's hard to believe that I will be 2 in less than six months. Excited to see what my 2nd birthday holds!

Carousel

My First Carousel Ride!!!

Maddie and I having a blast

The end to a perfect play date!

My friend Maddie lives far away so I was thrilled when our Mommies made plans for a play date. We met  at the Supermall and I went on my first carousel ride! Unfortunately, Mommy ran out of quarters so I couldn't go on it again. Instead, Maddie and I played pretend and took turns sitting in each ride. I can't wait for next time!

Nature Walk

Going on a Nature Walk with Mommy and Daddy,
collecting leaves and sticks

There was a sign near our beach house that
said our road was a dead end.
It was the longest dead end road we ever walked...
It kept going and going and going

Touching a fern

I found more leaves!

Still going and going and going...

One of the activities I loved doing while we were in Port Townsend  was to go for walks. One of the walks we went on, I walked about a 1/2 mile without the stroller or being carried by Mommy or Daddy. I was so tired by the end, I took a four hour nap!