“People think of education as something they can finish.” – Isaac Assimov
We had an atmospheric river over Seattle this week so as I flipped through my pictures, I was pleasantly surprised at how many moments I’d caught of pretty sunsets and time outside.


We had a birthday party in the student union building on the UW campus. I’m not sure I even knew that there was a bowling alley there was there when I attended UW. But it was so fun to be back on the campus that I was jumping for joy on the inside. Miss O was doing cartwheels. Mr. D was practicing his bowling form.


You know how you tell your older child that the younger child will not always be smaller than they are? Yes, that’s six-year-old Mr. D giving ten-year-old Miss O a piggy back. To continue the theme of launching things from the bowling above, he’s been practicing his form for paper airplane flight.


Cooper and I did a foggy day hike. He’s not sure how Miss O’s apple pie got in his bed but IF it had anything to do with him, he’s pretty sure he earned it.


Our dear friend invited us for a wreath making party. My dear friend Eric dubbed it Wreather Madness. No tears necessary!
Oh my, I’m smiling while reading the post, especially the term, jumping for joy on the inside. I like the feeling like that. The photos are amazing, until….. the wallet cried.😁 Gosh, it made me laugh, Wynne.🤭
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Glad you were smiling and laughing alongside us, Hazel! 🙂
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Always a treat to see your kids. Cooper takes second place, but I’ll bet it is nice when he wants to get close to you or the kids.
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Ah yes! Thank you, Dr. Stein!
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May we forever be educated! Cooper with the suspicious empty apple pie box cracked me up. We bought the stocking stuffers for our two doggies. They are in my office, in a bag, high up on a bookshelf. They keep coming into my office and staring at the shelf, wishing they could climb up those shelves. I’m sure they think they deserve what’s in that bag too. 🐶🐶
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That is so funny about your dogs, Darlene! I bet they do wish they knew how to climb. Is it funny that they track everything? Dogs are not stupid!! 🙂
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You are so right! It takes me back to hiding the Santa gifts from the kids.
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That’s a hard task as well. My kids seem to notice EVERYTHING this time of year! 🙂
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Your kids are adorable Wynne!
So is Cooper.
I am sure the wallet will do more than cry when the holidays are over 😄
Thank you for sharing.
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You’re right about the wallets, Maggie!! Thank you – I agree about the kids and the pets. They compete for cuteness every day! 🙂
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Happy Holidays Wynne!
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“Jumping for joy on the inside” is always a wonderful feeling. And, you’re sharing it with two adorable littles. I like the idea of wreath making. Those are beautiful wreaths!
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Thank you, Cathy! The wreath making was fun! Of course my friend had all the stuff and all the tricks but it was lovely to have that time to get creative! Thanks for the comment!
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Cooper in the fog! He’s officially a fog dog 🙂 and he absolutely needed that pie.
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A pie-eating fog dog. I think you are 100% right, Deb!
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I was wondering how you all were faring with the weather, and happy to see the beautiful sunsets. love all the action poses, and there must have been some dog action too in order for that apple pie to have landed in cooper’s bed. p.s. I don’t know if you know, but you have some elves in your wreath?!
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I’m laughing about the elves, Beth! Crazy how those types get around this time of year!
Yeah, the rain was pretty intense at times and there are some communities in the outlying areas of Seattle that are under water. But nothing is flooded in the city so far!
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Your three…such goofballs. Love, love, love! Cooper really holds his own against tough competition in the cute department! ❤️🥰❤️
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You are right, dear Vicki! The competition is steep but they all know how to bring it. Goofballs is right!
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Xo! 😘
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Fun action photos, beautiful sunset, and fun sign. Another week of fun and adventure.
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Perfectly said, Brad! Thank you!
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Looks like you had another fun week with your adorable kids (and Cooper)! I love the education quote.
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The education quote is good, isn’t it? Thanks, Belinda!
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A bowling alley on campus? Yes please!
The wreath making activity looks fun! Something that needs to be done each year, if one doesn’t want to hang the bare branches next year after the needles have fallen off!
Happy holiday season to you all!
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I thought the same about the bowling alley. How I didn’t know that was there when I attended is beyond me! Good point about wreaths! Happy holidays to you, dear Tamara!
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Ah, the hours that could have been spent bowling! 😉
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Wreather Madness! That’s steal-able brilliance there. Love all the dynamic, active photos.
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Stealable — exactly, Rebecca!! Thank you!
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Love the piggyback ride! I hope you’re not affected by the flooding from the atmospheric river, Wynne.
And too funny on the crying wallets. 😂
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Isn’t it funny how the relative sizes start catching up?
The rain was pretty intense at times and there are some communities in the outlying areas of Seattle that are under water. But nothing is flooded in the city so far! Hope Laura is doing fine in BC!
Happy holidays, Michelle!
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It is funny. When I was really small and my older sisters would pick on me, I would cry and say, “One day, I will be older than you and I will pick on you!” 😂 I did end up taller than them all, but not older.
Thanks for asking about Laura. She’s fine. She’s far enough north that she’s not impacted. The community she lives in is a desert nestled between the Rockies and the Coast mountains so they get very little rain or snow. Their biggest threat is wildfires.
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Looks like a great week Wynne!
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It was a fun one! Thank you, Cristiana!
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I love the sunset and the fog! And I’m amazed at the wreathes… they are gorgeous!
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Thank you, Erin! My friend makes wreaths every year so she has all the good stuff – and tips about texture and color. It make it so they all turned out! Happy holidays to you!! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Love the talent! Y’all are sprucing up for Christmas naturally with these handcrafted wreath beauties for your holiday doorsteps!
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Thank you, Mary! It was so much fun making those wreaths!
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How fun! I loved viewing your photos, glimpses into your life with those adorable kids!
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Thank you, Deborah!
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Loved your pics! 🙂
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Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate your lovely comment!
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I enjoy the warmth, humor and camaraderie in these photos, Wynne: thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you, John! I’m always up for warmth, humor, and camaraderie! Well said!
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Beautiful pictures as always, Wynne! I love the sign—
“I told my wallet it’s Christmas. It cried.”😂
Love it!! Wishing you a wonderful, Sunday!
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I loved that too! Thank you, Shaun!
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You’re welcome, Wynne.💕🌸
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Wonderful photos, Wynne! Your children and Cooper are so adorable, and I laughed about the wallet, but poor wallet! ‘Tis the season! 🥰🎄
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You said it, Lauren – Tis the season!! Right! Hope you are enjoying!
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This treats ‘appear’ beside my dogs too. Wonder how that happens. Love how your kiddos love each other.. and another great sign. Have a wonderful week. Peace.
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That happens to your dogs too, Clay? Wow, they should make a club with Cooper! You are so right – it is a good sign that my kids love each other!! Here’s to a week of joy, love and peace, my friend! ❤
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Just so much cuteness in your week. Mr D has great airplane flying form, down to the eye wink. And yes, I could see him being a very tall kid. Ms O better enjoy the tallness now! 🤣
Hope you three have a great week ahead. The kids must be excited the Christmas break is coming up soon.
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We are so excited about Christmas break, Ab! I bet T is ready for it too? Do you all get a full two weeks off from classes?
I think they’ll both be tall but he’s coming for her! 😉 Hope you have a great week, my dear friend!
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Is that an apple pie in Cooper’s bed or an empty apple pie box in Cooper’s bed?! Pretty sure where I’m placing my bet…
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Ha, ha, ha, Mark – you nailed it. LMAO 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Cooper is the apple of my pie…um, eye…in this post, Wynne. Wreather Madness definitely should be trademarked if it hasn’t been already. That sounds like a lot of fun, although as poorly as I gift wrap presents, I suspect my wreaths would also be adhered to myself at some point during construction.
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Trademarking Wreather Madness — that’s a GREAT idea, Bruce! I think if you are mostly covering the gift with paper that it counts as good wrapping! The rest is just style points and I bet you have plenty!
Hope you have a great week!
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The wreaths look great! And love that quote, there truly is no end to learning. Far too many people become stagnant and stubborn after a certain age.
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Stagnant and stubborn — love how you put it, Pooja! Yes!
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What a wonderful set of photos, my friend. Mr. D is getting stronger, and for a moment, I thought he was practicing his baseball throwing technique. Very nice technique, I would have to say. Cooper—well, you know I’m on his team. My first thought was that someone was trying to frame him. But if that was after the foggy day of hiking, then he probably thought it was a doggy energy bar, which, of course, he needed after all that exercise. 😂 And the sign—yes, mine has been crying for a couple of weeks now.
Well, my friend, just in case, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I pray that God continues to bless you and your family.
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Well, when Cooper learns to read he’ll know that’s not an energy bar but we’ll give him a break until that happens. 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family, Edward! I’m so grateful of this space in which I’ve gotten to know you. Your writing, humor and comments have blessed me. Thank you, my friend! Wishing you all the best in 2026!
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You’re very welcome. You also blessed me with your posts and podcasts this year, and I know 2026 will be even more impactful. Thank you, my friend.
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I think Cooper is correct about the Apple pie! 😍
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100%! 🙂 ❤
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