Winter Wonderland

Seattle is super fun in the winter and we have been taking full advantage of it. It has snowed here in the city twice, if you can believe it. Once on Christmas Day! The kids got out and played in it a bit, but each of them hated it on different occasions.

The day after Thanksgiving we ventured downtown to see the Macy's Parade. We bundled up nicely, having lived in Michigan we now have proper gear to survive cold days. We took the bus downtown and braved the crowds. It was fun as we got front row seats and Liz, the oldest girl the I nannied for was the Snow Queen and the highlight of the parade by far. They make it snow paper in the streets after the parade and the wind form the bus tunnle made is a surreal experience for the kids, running around in the streets chasing the "snowflakes".

My brother visited and we had a great time. We took a trip to the mountains to sled and found a snow hike to a waterfall. We went ice skating a visited The Garden of Lights, a display of 800,000 lights in the shape of different plants, very cool.

Other highlights have included visiting reindeer and watching marching toy soldiers perform. I never would have said this before I had kids, but I love winter.

Snow in Seattle, an annual experience

Enjoying the Downtown lights and watching toy soldiers

Hiking in the mountains

Playing in the "snow" after the parade

"I'll deliver the presents!"