Cousins

I couldn't get the three of them to smile real smiles at the same time, so you get the pleasure of seeing several silly poses from when B&G had dinner with Cousin B last week.

I'm still here...

Winter Recap:
My grandmother turned 99 and is still a treat to visit with after church on Sunday mornings. I love that my kids know her so well. She is intelligent and well read. She asks fantastic questions about our lives, our interests and the world in which we live. She loves to discuss ideas, particularly those with which she may disagree because she views it as an opportunity to learn something new.

4 generations of women in my family celebrating Nany's 99th Birthday on December 1st.
*The youngest didn't want to smile so she pretended to be asleep!

Both kids had Christmas pageants at school. 

We are spending many weekends setting up our new cabin in Central Oregon. It is a beautiful home away from home and we feel so blessed to be able to get away to spend some fun time with the kids.

Sunset on the Three Sisters - view from the cabin living room

Christmas was wonderful. Happy kids who are learning not just about Santa and presents, but also about the birth of baby Jesus.

Christmas Eve in front of the tree

I am trying to practice my skills as a multi-tasker and feeling I am a bit rusty. I volunteered to help with our school auction procurement team (no idea how much time that would take) as well as volunteered to plan our annual Cub Scout banquet in February. Needless to say, I am using every moment of spare time trying to do what I can with those two events. Add that to helping at B's school and acting as his Cub Scout Den Leader, taking G to gymnastics and play group each week. T is busy with work, but doing his best to spend time with the kids and squeeze in date nights with me. 

Walking in a Sandy Wonderland

For the first time in my life, I thought, "Let's Move HERE!" and I really meant it. We were blessed with the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving in Hawaii. It was warm and relaxing. I will be going back. 

The view from our hotel lobby.

lei-making class graduates

Even rain and rainbows are beautiful in Hawaii.

We spent most of our down time playing in Kapalua Bay.

Luau Lovelies

More Luau Lovelies

Even a whale wanted to say, "Hello."

Pure Joy!

Island Princess.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Aloha!

Halloween, Again

Halloween 2011

Our witch transformed into a princess. 

Our ghost wasn't too spooky. 

Happy Halloween!

G Turns Four!!

ETA: I know a picture should be worth a thousand words, but I hit "Post" before I could add that we had a lovely time celebrating G's fourth birthday. We had a party with our favorite Rat. She got lots of new toys. (The accessories are going to kill me. Seriously, does a Ken doll really need sunglasses and a wallet or a My Little Pony really need 6 barrettes? But she loves them.) But I digress. 

We are lucky to have a great celebration with friends, at school and then with several Halloween related celebrations through the weekend. 

Our always sassy and never boring daughter turned four. She is beautiful, empathetic and not afraid to express her feelings. She loves dolls and animals as much as trucks and dinosaurs. She is friends to everyone, enemies to no one and has an infectious personality that draws people to her, both young and old. We feel blessed to be your parents. We thank God for you every day. 

Look Out Fashion Week

B and G were asked to model in a fashion show last weekend. I think it is more brilliant campaign to get parents and grandparents to buy clothing than anything else, but they had fun for sure.

Strutting their Stuff Down the Runway

G decides to play shy

They walked like old pros!

B declared it his first and last experience in runway modeling. G is still undecided. We ran into some familiar faces while there, which made it more fun, for sure.

Halloween Party Take 1

I thought we had a few more years before we transitioned from cute costumes to scary ones, but I guess I was mistaken. Ok, they are very G-Rated scary, but scary, still.

Fright Night Begins

Cute Version of the Witch

Serious Ghost

7th Annual Play Group Halloween Party