My other husband's new movie is now out in theaters, so we went to see the related “Boys in the Boat” exhibit at MOHAI. It's small, just three glass display cases of memorabilia.

Definitely worth heading over to MOHAI to check out. Here's a link to my story for Seattle's Child.

I thought it was super cool, but my kids were far more impressed with the exhibit about Native knowledge and science. "Roots of Wisdom" is a special ex developed by OMSI that is all games, games, games.

These are the only pools where Paul doesn't get shivery and blue, because it's hard to have fun when you're freezing!

Part I: McMenamins North Shore Lagoon Swimming Pool

• 18709 Bothell Way NE, Bothell
• BIG shallow end. Each open swim session starts at the top of the hour, so the schedule is super flexible all day.
• $6 per kid, $7.50 per adult
• 88-90 degrees

Part II: Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion

• 5303 228th St SW, Mountlake Terrace
• Look for "rec swim" slots in the schedule. The pool is divided into a tot zone with a beach entry and sprayers, a middle section that's sometimes used for lap swim and classes, and a lazy river!
• $5 per kid, $6 per adult
• 87-88 degrees

The Fremont Troll got a major glow-up! New concrete steps and lovely landscaping all around.

Last year we learned that we love the festivities and fun at Kringle's Filling Station, but we did not love the long lines. This year we waited until post-Christmas on purpose and our patience paid off. I'm good on ski ball for an entire year now.

Fantastic FREE light show at Evergreen Church in Bothell! Runs through Christmas Eve.

• Evergreen Christmas Lights
• 3429 240th St SE, Bothell
• \Every night, 6-9 p.m., through Dec. 24
• Lights synced to holiday music
• Faux snowfall every 15 minutes
• Free photo print with Santa
• Model train and holiday village
• Homemade cookies! (Chocolate chip or gingerbread)
• 15-minute animated movie
• Restrooms inside
• Big parking lot, with lots of attendants directing traffic

Definitely nice, not naughty, boys visiting with Santa.

Our gingerbread house tradition, where every year it looks nothing like the picture on the box!

Going all out with holiday lights has been a tradition in Olympic Manor since 1958! Extra pretty on a foggy night.

A few blocks away, PNB's longtime harpist displays the Maurice Sendak-designed "Nutcracker" set at his storybook cottage on Golden Gardens Drive.

Our annual salt dough ornament making day. It's the holiday activity they look forward to most each year.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 2 cups of hot water (keep adding until it gets to dough consistency)
• food coloring

Stick the baking sheet in the oven at 325 degrees for 45 minutes so it dries and hardens.

That's it!

The people at Swanson's always do such a nice job with their model train display! This year's theme is treehouses. Swiss Family Robinson is represented, as are Jack and Annie, Shrek, Star Trek, LOTR... and the Mojo Dojo Casa Treehouse. Runs through Dec. 31.