Because We Are Festive And Social, Dontcha Know

Made our way downtown to Pioneer Square tonight to see the lighting of the Big Seventy Five Foot Christmas Tree.

Hail, hail, the gang's all here--Zig, Susie, Ma, Campers and the Cool Dude Cousin (with Pa manning the camera):

Campers got to ride on the shoulders of the Cool Dude:

And why, you might ask? Oh, maybe just because Everyone In The Pacific Northwest was at the big shindig, as you can see from this picture:

Not that we could actually see what was going on from where we stood, mind you. We would have had to arrive at 2:30 in the afternoon, complete with campfire equipment and marshmallows to roast while we waited it out.

And most of the fun was just in getting downtown and back, via public transit. Sardines, anyone?

But we saw the tree! And they lit it! And I saw some especially big smiles on the faces of two boys as they counted down (10...9...8...) to the actual lighting. And another member of the family, who shall remain nameless, was Especially Happy to be stuck in the stroller, staring at kneecaps and knuckles.

And aren't we all just in the Christmas spirit now, dontcha know.

He's A Real Person; I Didn't Invent A Cousin, See?

To the throngs of fans who have requested a picture of my cousin, here he is, in all his glory:

He is One Cool Dude, probably too groovy for the likes of Ma and Pa, but he claims us anyway! And he endures a Whole Lot Of Noise whenever he is in the presence of our Fabulous Five.

If it looks like the kids like him; well, that's an understatement. I mean, when you spend all your time with Loads Of Fun Ma and Worn Out Dad, being around someone who doesn't Snark and Snarl all the time is quite refreshing. For all of us!

Anyhoo, he's a native Ohioan as well, transplanted to our city to get his counseling degree at a nearby school. And y'all know, if there's any bunch that needs a Good Counselor, it's us.