Quality Family Time

Here's a picture that my sister just sent me from Christmas Day. Just so you can fully appreciate it, I'll set the scene:

Entire Williams family at my parents' house in Portland, many of us having travelled hours to get there...first time all of us have been together since the addition of baby Gus and baby Olive...only 24 hours to spend together...



Wait for it...








Keep in mind that they had just gotten the above electronics (cell phones for Amber and Haley and a DSi for Alyssa) that morning for Christmas, but still...pretty bad! We have since instituted strict rules which prohibit such behavior :)

Pinewood Derby

Danny and Brad participated in their first Pinewood Derby in Scouts last weekend. They spent many hours working on their car together...


They wanted a distinctive car, something that would set them apart from the others...
If you guessed "Hot Dog Car with Storm Trooper Driver", you are correct!

It might not have been the fastest car on the track, but it did win the certificate for "Tastiest-Looking Car".

Lyssie Turns 10

Alyssa hit double digits on her birthday (on January 5th)!

Since she loves all things cupcake she took chocolate cupcakes to school to share with her class and then requested, in lieu of cake, red velvet cupcakes for her family birthday party.


This was not her year for a birthday party with friends, but we always let the kids have a friend over to spend the night on their non-party years. Alyssa has two BFFs and couldn't choose between them, so they both spent the night. Notice that I have not, at any point, referred to this event as a "sleep-over" - no sleep occurred.