Winter's Guest

Our first official guests of Winter, the Elmer's, came bearing this huge boquet as a Happy Housewarming Gift. It was even bigger than it looks! We had a wonderful evening starting with US giving them a tour of their former home of 33 years, followed by dinner, dessert, and spooky stories. Todd and I wanted to gift them something meaningful for letting us be the lucky owners of their well loved and restored old craftsman home. We know the most talented artist Chris White, who did this sketch in graphite. The detail of it is amazing!

The following Monday we had a few Winter guests in our new ward over for FHE and dessert. Krista and I went to grade school together in Arizona and Alli is my friend and employer.

The older kids were really good for the lesson and had fun running circles through the house.

Fog was winter's guest Christmas Eve morning as I awoke early for the waffle run 10K. Todd had the bird ready for the oven when I got home.

The Lake's came out at 3:00 and Tyler and I had some good laughs over Christmas Albums from the last 15 years. Boy howdy how styles have changed!

Beverly made each of us a housewarming gift of heat pads for our toes, hands feet or back. She made one for me years ago which I use when I'm doing backbreaking work....such as moving!

We had a nice eveing program of stories told by Maga and myself, Nativity read by Steve, a solo sung by Tyler, a cello number by me and a piano solo by Griffin.

Camdyn is my #1 helper in setting the dinner table....and loves the sparkling cider!

Todd cooked up a delicious bird and we all enjoyed a lengthy dinner together followed by games, dessert. After the Lake's left and Brody went to bed we played Family Trivia, the kids favorite part of the evening, with questions taken from this years events and prizes for 1st-4th place.

Santa was Winter's Guest on Christmas morning. We slept in till Brody woke up at 7:15. Kennedy got a surprise from Santa with a Fancy Nancy doll and lots of her books.

For now, this is as close to a dog as Cammy is going to get. She loved it though!

Griffin is overjoyed with his flat screen TV that has had a waiting place for it in his room for the past 3 weeks.

Brody was excited to get "boy toys" as he calls them. He's surrounded by girl toys, so he was in heaven with little power tools, a tool box and guns.Our last guests of Winter I had invited to come out for a visit and treats. I love to make cookies and this was a good excuse. Well, I love to make them even without an excuse, but it's been a full week of cookie dough! I like to give everyone the "full" experience of a tour. The sauna at the back of the shower is too neat to miss....I also wanted to see what the maximum capacity is for this shower! Not bad.

Good friends from Harmony Ward and our other neighborhood, that although I will still see, I will definitly miss.

Arlon made a guest apperance and got hugs from two Brunette Beauties.I enjoyed having friends I've known for a long time come out and pay a visit, even though some not so happy about our moving (Nancy :>)

Before and After

Yesterday Todd and I went out on a fancy date. We dined at a Hawaiian Grill, I had the macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi....now doesn't that just sound delicious?! Then off to the Keller Auditorium to see the Nutcracker with our complimentary tickets from my sugar mamma Karen. I call her this because she is always hooking us up with freebie tickets and yummy desserts!

This is not part of the fancy date...this is Todd whispering sweet nothings in my ear after a full evening of fun with the kids downtown.

Every Christmas season we take the kids to dine at Spaghetti Factory, see Pionner Place tree, visit Santaland at Macy's and walk the boardwalk along the Waterfront.

The weather was spectacular tonight! So mild out. The Christmas ships were out on the Willamette and we had the best view. The kids loved the sounds the fire engine boat was making. There were about 30 boats in the procession and it looked breathtaking on the water.

Last week w e had Kendall and her girls over for dinner and to make our traditional "candy trains". Her girls were eating them faster than I could glue them together! Kendall watches Brody while I work and these girls are like the little sisters he'll never have. I love this family!

I promised my mother some before and after shots. Here's a little preview:

Now granted....this was taken after Cindy took out all her fabulous belongings. To be fair I should include the before, before of when she lived here.

Before: Cindy's sewing room

After: our study

Before: Living Room

After: our parlor

Before: Arlons study

After: our music room

Todd has been a busy painting boy. I get to do all the taping of the trim work. Although we have several projects we're excited to start on....we're ecstatic about the character of our new home all projects aside.

I've been working part time at Moses Orthodontics since I was just barely pregnant with Brody, June 2006. I can't believe it's been 3 1/2 years already. I LOVE working here! I am grateful for Alli and Ryan, my employers who were first just great friends. I am thankful for Tonya and Teresa, close friends who I share all our family "goings-ons" with. I am tickeled over the talents of the photographer who did this shoot and made it so fun. We have some changes underway with our staff, so we just might be seeing her again soon!

Jolly Old St. Nicolas

For some reason it just tickles me to see the kids run down the porch steps to catch that big yellow bus. We have a tradition that on St. Nicolas Eve if the kids set out their shoes, his elves will leave a present or surprise for them to find when they wake in the morning. Some years it's been an ornament or a color book. This elf was lucky she even remembered to leave anything at all!

I spent the afternoon stringing garland and lights. Elmers had it all rigged up with hooks and light plugs so all I had to do was fasten on the garland and lights, plug the cords into the lights on the porch ceiling and flip a lightswitch next to the door to turn them on. Genius!!!

Flowers in the fridge

Isn't this banister devine!My friend Kendall took Brody from 11-8:30! I got much done. He had lunch, napped and went with her and her girls to the ZOO lights. The girls are jealous at the fun things Brody does with his favorite babysitter. I love that family!!!

Organized the pantry. I have the same theory with a pantry as I do with a fridge. My mom puts fresh flowers in her fridge as a little surprise when you open the door. Yes, they do take up room.....but all condiments fit nicely in those side doors anyway (that's an inside joke).

The sunset these last few days has been beautiful. We can see lights of the homes across the fields light up with twinkling red and white displays of Christmas.

And no, that is not my banister. I just loved the garland on it.

Moving day madness

Todd and I wanted to get a jump start on loading out of our old and into the new on Friday. We borrowed a trailer, had a good friend watching the kids and loaded up as much as we could. Luckily we made it out to Elmer's before Todd's truck completely died! Altenator went out. I called our hometeacher who came to rescue us, give us a lift home and lent us his truck for 4 days! I will miss Eric and A.J. The bright side to the moving was this awesome weather we had! The view out here changes as the sun is rising and setting. The veiw of the mist on the field across the street is breathtaking.

The men in Harmony ward came to lend a hand. They were awesome!!! Everything loaded in 2 hours.

These were 2 of the heaviest peices of furniture. I'm not sure where I was when the heaviest one came slipping down the stairs and nearly crushed Jared. Luckily he moved just in time!

The men from Lacamas Creek helped us move in as well as 3 of the elder missionaries and my friends Tim and Cyndee. Bless their hardworking hearts! Got everything in the house in 2 hours. It was an entire 3 days of moving and getting the house cleaned out and ready for the new owners. Boxes, boxes everywhere!

Todd and I worked late into the night Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday....now Tuesday, getting things put away, beds put together and generally triying our best to get the house ready for some sort of Christmas!

I went back to our home one last time to pick up a few items and snap some pictures. I did get a little teary. I couldn't have one last good sob like I'd wanted because Brody set off the alarm on my van and then was running out into the road. He put the kabosh on me trying to be sentimental!So many friends helped me out with the kids.

Amy Morgan took the girls ALL day on Friday. Heidi took Griffin and Brody. Carrie and Jewell took Kennedy on Saturday while Camdyn went back to Amy's house all day. Griffin went to Heidi's and Kendall took Brody from 8:30-6:30. What a huge help that was!

The icing on the cake was the meal brought in by Suzanne Reid to the new home, just as Todd and I were wondering what to do for dinner as we were famished! SO delicious!!!

Thanks to the Jackson's for providing dinner on Sunday. Still thinking about that turkey gravy and hot fudge sauce!