It's Going Too Fast!

A bit frustrated here...we have been trying to upload photos since Christmas Day and keep getting the 'failed to open page' So sorry Portland kids! We put a few on facebook and we hope one day blogger will cooperate with us.

The holiday season is really going by fast. Wish is would slow down just a little. We are all enjoying our time together especially with Liam here. He sure keeps us laughing and shares a wonderful energy that only little children possess. We saw Avatar today with Jason & Paul and loved it. We are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jake & Lindsey's little baby and our New Years Eve Party. Did you all know it is going to be a 'once in a blue moon night' ? Pretty cool!

Enjoying December

I must say that I really do love the fact that it was just yesterday, the 7th, that we received our first Christmas card in the mail. It makes me very happy to know that everyone else is busy too and getting things done in the best way they know how. It's the years we get a dozen on the day after Thanksgiving that makes me feel like I just can't get my act together! This year we are in no rush to get the halls decked. We are taking it slow and enjoying the process. Friday night we put up the tree and covered her in sparkling lights. Saturday we admired her simplicity. We haven't had a real Christmas Tree for a very long time and it is a real treat! She is a Lodge Pole Pine from Idaho. (We support the little guys!) In the daylight you can see the beautiful pine cones covering her branches. Camber thought it would be great if we left her up in her nakedness all year long. She really is a sweet tree. Sunday night we watched a Christmas movie and strung popcorn - it's a family tradition - that silly, popcorn + cranberries. One year while we were living in Idaho and we had a very busy life with lots of little ones, I tried to save it so we could save some time the following year... the little mice found it to be a wonderful winter snack!

Mom's not really not sad, she must be concentrating...

A cute, messy stringer.

Lookin like a pro with that needle in her mouth.

Draping it on - glad to have Dad around for a minute on Sunday evening! We will most likely break family tradition this year and keep our traditional ornaments tucked safely away and only use gingerbread men and a few hand crafted elf people that we fell in love with in this months Martha Stewart magazine. It felt like breaking a cardinal sin, but only for a moment. I think giving our cats up for adoption has been a very freeing experience for us! They are now living in Missouri with a very loving lady and we do miss them - but not the cat hair!

They really were great little cats ~ it was just time.

On Sunday, Lindsey & Jake took our annual "family photo". If you want to call it that - "family photo". We have shrunk! When we were trying to think back if we actually had a pic of our entire family together - it would have been that one we took last December at Mark's parents 50th Wedding anniversary. Wow. Kinda sad, but it's the way life goes. Lindsey said, Mom - you just need to do you, Dad and the girls. that's your little family right now :) And we love this little family right now! What a simple life we are enjoying! In any event - the process of the family photo shoot was still pretty hysterical. I may have to post about all the out-takes or bloopers from every family photo shoot we have ever had some day. They really are hysterical and at the time may not have been to funny but over time become very endearing. You all must know what I mean. Every family has those photos and memories to look back on with fondness, at least I sure hope they do!

Happy Holidays!

*enjoy each and every moment*

it's going by way too fast!

(And one of these days we will contemplate

the annual Christmas Letter!)

And The Winner Is . . .

S P R I N G !

Congratulations!!

Her comment was:

Happy 100th Blog! You guys are so cool! Much love to your family! I will blog if it involves winning something, it's the Vegas in me baby!

She won the fashionable Santa Hat, $20 Movie Theater Gift Certificate,

Candy Canes, Lindor Truffles & Hot Chocolate! Enjoy!

A little bit about her reaction ... she was so thrilled and said it was perfect timing as she is right in the middle of preparing for finals. She was also anxious to know how many had entered - you see, she is taking a statistic class and found her win intriguing! :) When I delivered the gift basket to her I saw their beautiful nativity set on the table in her entry way. As I told her how much I loved it, she pointed out a special piece that I might not have noticed. When her 18 year old son was a little boy, he would place one of his little army men in a strategic place to guard baby Jesus. So now, each year the little fellow is packed away with the nativity and is there to keep the babe safe and sound.

Lindsey & Jake helped me and Lindsey was having so much fun watching Jake pull out the winner that she decided we should draw to see what order everyone came in. We have been informed by a farmers-almanac-junkie-friend that this year we are in for a real treat! On new years eve, the beginning of a new decade, it will truly be a 'once in a blue moon' moment! We can wish you all better luck then. For now, you can look below to see how it all shook out. Thanks again for your faithful following (hee hee) and for having some fun with us! Enjoy your weekend. Looks like we will be having a beautiful blanket of snow while we finish decking the hall!

1. Spring

2. Lisa G.

3. Danielle

4. Jake & Lindsey

5. Donut (the name Liam has given his new sibling in utero)

6. Kris

7. Joan

8. Scott & Lisa

9. Tracy & Alyssa

10. Debi

11.Kaycee

12. Audrie, Audrie, Audrie, Audrie :)

13. Liam

14. Jenny

15. Nate & Starlie

16. quippish endeavor

17. Alycia

18. Shelley

19. Brady

20. Nemesis

21. rarely David usually Lisa

Thanksgiving

*You won't want to miss our 100th Blog below :)*

Even after 100 blogs - there is still struggling posting. The little memory book was suppose to go first, but instead it is at the bottom. Oh well. This post is like many here - just documenting. This was our little Thanksgiving trip to Portland. You're welcome to see what we did.

Highlights:

Breakfast at Roosters in Pendleton

Being with our two girls on the long rides to and from

Spending time with Janell, Ben, Davis, Jason & Paul

Laughing so hard while playing games all night down in the lobby

The lovely hotel we stayed in

Kicking around Janell's new neighborhood and enjoying all the

antique stores, boutiques & bakery!

Hugging our kids :)

Great food - we always seem to find it!

A Thanksgiving movie all together - The Fabulous Mr. Fox (GO SEE IT!)

Portland's Saturday Market

Watching Davis buzz off on the scooter.

The great Radio Lab clips Janell shared with us for the ride home.

The beautiful scenery - people watching - the weather!

Just being together, cuz we LOVE our family!

Saturday we wandered around the market a little. It's always changing so it's fun to go back when we visit. Such talented artisans this world has and so many unique individuals. Here are a few pictures of our day down by the market & waterfront.

Driving over the Sellwood Bridge. Such pretty country in the northwest.

We loved the green moss - nice photo, Camber!

No shortage of beautiful trees in Portland - with or without their leaves.

We were so happy to be with our kids in Portland. We certainly missed those who weren't with us though. What a crazy thing it is when your chicks wander from under your wings.

Happy to have that awesome helmet on his head ?

Happier to have a faster mode of transportation for sure !!

Emily & Bower/Bauer sp? the cute hound :)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our *1 0 0 th* Post

We have come a long way from our first post nearly 16 months ago. It has been a sweet connection with family and old friends and a way to make new friends. Just to make it fun and to kick off December 1st and the wonderful Christmas Holiday approaching - we are having a little surprise give-away! (It will be a very festive and sweet little package) ;) Just leave a comment and we will have a random drawing on the evening of December 4th to pick a winner. We will mail it out first thing Saturday morning or make a personal delivery if you are local.

We've come to love this fun connection of sharing our lives, documenting our every day experiences and learning more about all of you through your beautiful, informative and fun-loving blogs.

Thanks again for visiting our blog!