Merry Christmas!

With Love,
Tony, Elissa, Sadie, Zack and Drew

And....... More Snow!

Okay, Holy Cow, we have had an insane amount of snow today! It was snowing when we got up at 7:30 this morning and now at 9pm it is STILL snowing! We went outside this morning to play and we thought there was a bunch of snow then!

Sadie recreating the scene from "Polar Express" when the main boy (trying to convince himself it's all a dream) sticks his face in the snow, saying "Wake up, wake up!!"

No, Zack wasn't posing, he was trying to get snow to stick to the tree. Not sure why...

Gotta have a bat at all times, even in the snow!

Our house late this morning

So NOW take a look at the pictures I took at 5pm.

The playhouse out back

Notice how deep the trains are in the snow now? (Refer to the picture of Drew)

And finally, here are pics I took at 7:30 tonight.

Tony measured the mailboxes - 8 inches!

The van is under there somewhere!

Can you tell it's the backyard?

Tony's footsteps

Now that I am positive we made the right decision not to go to Federal Way this weekend, I am thoroughly enjoying the snow! It is just beautiful and I really hope the freezing rain that is forecasted doesn't come and ruin the gorgeous snow!! Don't we have such a wonderful and creative God who gives us all this variety in the way our world can look?

Winter Wonderland Take 2

Wednesday it snowed some more, but this snow was a little wetter than Sunday's snow. So the kids and I were able to make a snowman!!

Snow Angels!

Nature's Christmas Tree

We have an apple tree in our backyard that just won't let go. There are quite a few apples just hanging on for dear life, it's kind of funny. We even watched a squirrel the other day pick one and eat it right there in the tree! When it snowed on Sunday, we went out back and saw what looked like a bare Christmas tree with gorgeous of snow-covered red ornaments! What a beautiful sight.

Fun in the Snow!

FINALLY, after having no snow to write home about last winter, we got lots of snow on Sunday! Even though it has ruined many plans and the probability for more in the next few days jeopardizes our trip to Washington, it is definitely beautiful and super fun!

My Little Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Conversations With Zack and Drew

I was trying get get a little video of Zack and Drew playing with the train that goes under our Christmas tree. I got that but also a cute conversation between them. Aren't kids the best?

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Christmas Jammies

I have to be honest. I have never bought Christmas pajamas for the kids. Not sure why, but I have always wanted to. So when I was at the beach for my girls' weekend, I bought some for the kids! I picked pajamas that matched each of my kids' personalities, so they don't necessarily match each other. Anyways, last night after we got the tree up, they got to wear their Christmas jammies for the first time! Pretty cute, I must say!

Off to Get a Christmas Tree!

Yesterday was the big day we went to get our Christmas tree!! We went to our usual tree farm, Loch Lolly, that is only about 10 minutes from our house. Of course, it started raining hard the second we stepped out of the van! We found a great tree right away and got started cutting it down. Now, let me remind you that Tony had back surgery a month ago, so I was a nice wife and started hacking away. Unfortunately, I am quite wimpy and Tony had to step in and finish. (I promise, he didn't hurt himself too much!) The guy at the farm was helpful and picked up our tree in his Gator, baled it and put it on our van for us. Yay!

We got it up and put the lights on, but it was still kind of wet so tonight we will put the ornaments on. It is a beautiful tree, maybe the best we have ever had! This morning I came out of my room and breathed in deeply and smelled such a wonderful smell. Words can't explain the feelings I have at Christmastime, I LOVE IT!!

I swear, I tried my hardest!

Sorry, Honey!

Can we go already?

Our beautimous tree!

Daddy's Little Helper

Karen, this picture is for you! I actually bought it last year! ;)

A Girls' Weekend Getaway at Cannon Beach

The very first job I had as a nurse was at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, WA. I only worked there for 18 months or so, but I loved it and met a bunch of really neat people there. When Tony and I moved to Oregon, I kept in touch with two friends named Icel and Candice. A year or so after I moved, they decided to make a trip to Cannon Beach for a fun girls' beach weekend. And they included me! I knew some of the other gals that went and some I didn't know very well. But we bonded quickly and here we are in 2008, and this last weekend we went on our 7th annual Girl's Beach Weekend!!

Unfortunately, my dear friend Icel couldn't come this year, and we really missed her. So there were 8 of us total and we had a blast! We had massages at the spa, ate delicious food, cooked delicious food, played games, shopped til we dropped, and laughed til we had six pack abs! Even though I usually don't see these girls any other time during the year, I absolutely consider them some of my best friends and I am so thankful for the time we spend together at the beach. I love you girls!

We were also blessed with the most beautiful weather we have ever had in November on the Oregon coast! Very little rain, no storms and lots of sun!

A down the beach view of Haystack Rock

Walking on the beach - Mariel, Karen, Jenny and Jessica

And oh, the sunset!

Spicing it up with some games!
Clockwise from right - Candice, Karen, Jessica, Mariel, Jenny and Anna

Can't wait for next year!

School Pictures

Sadie and Zack finally got their school pictures back! They are pretty cute, thought I would share them!



Aren't they SO big? Wow, time sure flies.

Side Bangs

Sadie has been wanting bangs for a long time. I keep saying no. Now to be fair, I am not saying no just because I don't want her to have bangs. She has such thick crazy hair that bangs would not work, guaranteed. But recently we have talked about her doing some "side bangs" and she has been SO excited. So yesterday we went together to get haircuts and our wonderful friend Jen gave Sadie side bangs! I must admit, they turned out pretty darn cute. We shall see if they bother her, but we retain that it was her choice and if she doesn't like it, bummer! :)

Karate Kids Three

Monday night was another karate testing for Sadie and Zack. They happen about every three months and the kids earn a new colored stripe for their white belts, since they are still Little Dragons. They went in groups of three and Sensei Guido had them perform different skills and then their kata, which is a series of karate moves that they practice at every class. Sadie earned her second stripe, orange, and Zack his third, blue.

Showing their belts BEFORE earning their new stripes.

Sadie doing down block front stance during her test.

Zack doing punches for his test.

After everyone tested, each student got a certificate with their new stripe. Sensei handed them out to everyone but Sadie and Zack, which we were a little confused about. Then he told everyone he had left them out for a reason. He pulled Drew up to the front and told how Drew likes to participate in class and how he counts to ten in Japanese. So Sensei asked Drew to count in Japanese while Sadie and Zack did punches. Drew was a little confused, so he did punches while he counted, but it was cute. Then Sensei presented Drew with his own uniform! It is this tiny little thing, but SO cute. The whole thing with Drew was unexpected, but it just shows how passionate Sensei is about teaching even the youngest kiddos!

"Ich! Ni! San!"

Sadie getting her certificate and stripe.

Zack getting his.

The whole group, including Drew and his new uniform!

The new stripes!

Drew immediately wanted his new uniform on as soon as we got home!

We are so proud of our kids and the work they have put into karate. They truly enjoy it and are learning so many valuable lessons and skills from it!