This year Dr. Moses and Alli took the staff to Clackamas Mall to spend our Christmas Bonus and dine at Claim Jumper. It's fun to have a day out with the girls to shop and eat. Poor Ryan. That is a lot of females. We were only given 50 minutes to shop. Time to hustle!!! We all get along so great. It's more like hanging out with girlfriends rather than a typical staff party. We enjoy seeing what each girl purchased and then topping it off with a delicious dinner!
The kids made beds in our room after going out to play in the winter snow storm that hit the NW pretty hard. You see, we are not used to getting snow. No one owns snow shovels, salt, let alone any snow plows that clear the city roads. So....we were pretty well snowed in. Church was cancelled, many stores closed. Under house arrest pretty much.
Cody asked "what is that?"....oh, that's the Griswalds. They're our neighbors. It's quite the light show out the front window.
Todd made his way safely home from Beaverton after working a 48 hour shift. The kids played in the snow while Todd, Cody and Griffin performed acts of service, shoveling driveways and walks for older members in our ward. They were rewarded with lots of sweets. Speaking of sweets. They keep rolling in! I should have taken a picture of just how many cookies, candy chocolates and desserts we have laden on our counters. It's being enjoyed to say the least.
Poor Brody kept losing his gloves. He and Jaken make it only half as long as the older kids who don't mind getting FREEZING before coming in to warm by the fire.
During snowy days I turn to baking. I got Sara in on it too. Cody was a happy recipient of our homemaker services. More of that to come.......
She asks us to bring 6 doz. cookies, display them and dress in holiday attire. I tried to dress to match my display.
This was hilarious. Lori called it "naughty and nice". Naughty won for Best Attire (you can't see but they light up). I won Best Display.....
And for the overall Cookie Queen. Yay! Lori gave me a crown and this Queen apron. I LOVE aprons. Thanks goes out to Amy's Wings, Grandma Mayme's mollasses cookies and too much Christmas decor'! Lori, is the Queen of thoughtfulness and flare! Everything she touches turns to gold.
For so many years we visited the Winter Wonderland on the 8th floor of Meier and Frank. Macy's bought it and changed the scenes and placement of Santa-land. It's still fun to see, but it broke my heart knowing Brody wouldn't get to ride the monorail circling the room, looking down at Santa.
Kenna asked Santa for Sweet Streets and a doll.....Griffin wants a Wii.
The weather was perfect....and the tree is beautiful and huge as always.
Camdyn wants her retainer out and the same toys as Kenna.
Todd and I got what we wanted.....for him to get Christmas day off!
One year we took a family Christmas picture here with our umbrella's and Grandma wondered who that man was standing with our family :>
Macy's has a monorail memorial setting out for the kids to sit in.....not quite the same.
Brody, who doesn't know any different, couldn't be peeled out of it! He played there for about 10 minutes.
Went to a movie.
Ran 18 miles from the Hilton out to the Red Rocks where the fam met me at the entrance and we went on a beautiful and steep hike.
The real reason we were honored to be here was to be able to attend the American Ambulance Association Awards Ceremony at the Hilton in Las Vegas where our father was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Only the 3rd of this award presented in the last 15 years. Currently he is the Director for Global Operations for American Medical Response. What this means is that he travels to India, Trinidad and other far-off places to help establish medical/ambulance services in these inadequately prepared countries. His knowledge and expertise in this field were made even more evident as we heard the many tributes given in his honor this evening.
I'm pretty bugged this picture of us girls turned out blurry! Below, dad receiving his award from the current President of the Association.
During one of our 3 night stays mom and dad took us to see Phantom at the Venetian. This theatre was awesome and the sets spectacular. Loved it, loved it! Sara and I were accused of being twins several different times. We just go along with it. It's actually quite funny, especially when they think we're identical! Now that I don't see.
