Merry Christmas with Love From the Spakouskys

"HE" is the reason for the season!!! Happy Holidays!

Halloween...My Three Bugs

My girls were real troopers in wearing costumes we already had. Not only did they wear costumes we had, but they agreed to my plan of having them all be bugs. Jason brought out his artistic side with his creative face painting abilities.

Alese is THREE!!!

Oh my sweet Alese, how I wish I could slow this time down. Even though you are no longer a baby, I am going to try and keep you as young as possible for as long as I can. I wish you would remind me when I get too busy and forget to enjoy all life's little celebrations

that this time will be gone before I know it.

This picture shows that there is no denying that these three are sisters!

Alese has the greatest expressions.
This is her favorite pose for a photo op.

Pumpkin Carving Party...The Beginning of an Annual Event

After years of fun at an annual pumpkin carving party at the Bredbergs

in Alaska, we decided to start our own annual event in Washington.

Some of the final results.
Erin and Cole Williams.
Avery and Mike Stark.
Kylie and Kinley (a super cute little pumpkin) Gaard.
Michael, Thorin and Tiffany Nixon.

Rachel, Ben, Brooklyn, and Josie Showalter.

Thank you everyone for a fun night of good food, wonderful friends and messy orange fingers!

Pumpkin Picking 2010

Second annual pumpkin picking!

Some face painting and scarecrows!

Sisters...Priceless!

Once again, got a picture of the two of us because I held out the camera!

Totally worth it to capture the love of my life!

Hannah's perfect pumpkin!

The excitement of being surrounded by massive rows of pumpkins makes it very difficult to get them to pause and let me capture the moment!

Alese is looking for the perfect ONE!

The Praying Mantis

We don't have bugs like this in Alaska! Mayah is my scientist and little discoverer. Last Praying Mantis she held pinched her so this one made her just a hair nervous. It tried to climb up her back and she wasn't too excited about that. She is currently keeping another Praying Mantis and its name is Bugsy!

WA Friends...The Starks

Hannah, Mayah, Avery, Peyton, and Alese

Mayah and Avery, Best Buds

Mike was the one to give Alese her nickname of Alese the Beast!!!

My friend and running partner April! She keeps me moving!

First Day of School...Another Year Older

Hannah and her 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Lemelin.Mayah and her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. TilqueMayah and Sara Hannah's last year in elementary school, totally unbelievable!

So sweet, a girl can never have enough hats!

The Smiths

We met the Smiths shortly after our move to Alaska in 2000 when we were both eight months pregnant with Hannah and Ella. They are an incredible family who will forever hold a special place in each one of our hearts. Thank you Pam and Tom for the incredible example of a strong and faithful family. Thanks Pam for the many experiences we have shared, including a total of seven pregnancies and over ten years of friendship. Thank you Ella and Claire for the laughter and moments you have had with Hannah and Mayah. Thomas and Owen, someday I will allow you to fight over Alese!!!

Hannah's BFF

Ella will forever hold a huge place in Hannah's heart.

There is not a day that goes by that Hannah doesn't miss her and their friendship.

Our Adopted Alaskans...The Harris Family

Not only did we have wonderful neighbors in Alaska, but they became more then that over the NINE years we lived by them! My girls gained an extra set of grandparents, a.k.a Nana and Papa. Nana Darlene drove me to the hospital when I had Alese and Papa Lynn and Rob took care of Hannah and Mayah. Lynn came to our house dressed up as Santa one Christmas Eve! Darlene taught me how to make my first pie...the best lemon meringue! Thank you for opening your hearts and home to our family! We love you!

Nana Darlene and Papa Lynn

Hannah, Korah and Rob

Mayah and Rachael

Hannah and Isabel

Megan and Rod

Girlfriends

Korah, Pam, Sarah, Me, Darlene and Stephanie at the Grape Tap!

Darlene, Korah, Me and Pam

Sarah, Me and Stephanie

No matter where I am God has always blessed me with great girlfriends! I appreciate each one of them so much and feel so fortunate to have been able to be with and hang with my Alaskan girls!!! Thanks so much for who you are and the friendship we share!

Cousins

Hannah, Lindsey and Mayah

Mayah, Mason, Alese, Emmy, Marynn and Hannah

Mayah, Hannah and Lindsey

Trevor, Alese and Hayden

Kael