OMSI

So we bought a membership to OMSI, and are we glad we did! This was the first time we had been there, and there is so much to do! Bekah and Topher loved playing in the sand in the Discovery Playground which is just for kids under 6. The older kids loved all the hands on science stuff, Chad loved all the Brain Teaser puzzles and I loved taking pictures and watching everyone have fun. We took along Tab, Ty and our friend David Carter who is visiting for the Holidays. We had so much fun, and we didn't even see half of the things to see there. Luckily we did buy the membership, so we can come back all year or we would have never been able to get Bekah out of the sandbox!

Ward Christmas Party

We went to our ward Christmas Party on the 15th. Although a little lame, we still had fun seeing friends and watching Bekah think she was one of the big kids singing Christmas carols with them. Then of course there was Santa-in the words of Chad, "I reckon that's the real one, right there!" Bekah would not go anywhere near him without me holding her, and Christopher, well since he couldn't run away, you can see his reaction here... You might want to click on the picture to make it larger...What a mean mom, all for the sake of a picture!

Happy Christmas Photos

We took the kids into Picture People to get their photos done. Here are the results! I'm really happy with them, Christopher wouldn't smile, but at least none of the kids are making goofy faces!

Discovering Peacock Lane

This was last night, and it was really cool. It's a fun old street in Portland that all the houses go way overboard decorating. Everyone gets out and walks down both sides of the street ooohing and aaaahing at all the lights. It was freezing, so we got bundled up good. All the kids loved it, especially Christopher. We went with my mom and because we didn't know we were going to do this, until we were there, we had to borrow some bundling from her, so that's why Ryeleigh has on gloves about 5 times her size! We had just come from shopping at the mall and getting portraits taken. It was a full day, that's for sure, but the kids slept great!

They're Back!

Zachary & Ryeleigh got in tonight, much to Bekah's delight. She has not settled down since they got here. We hadn't told them about the dog, so when we got home we opened the door to their room and Bauer came bounding up. Ryeleigh squealed "A PUPPYYYYYYYYYYY!" It was quite cute. We have them for the next 2 crazy, fun and I'm afraid very loud weeks. We are glad that they are here though!

Discovering Vista House

This last week we braved the freezing cold wind and drove down the Columbia River Historic Highway. This is such a beautiful highway, with stunning views of the gorge along the way, it also goes right past Multnomah Falls. We didn't go all the way to the falls though. We stopped at the Vista House. I had seen this before on a drive down the highway, but never stopped there. It is this gorgeous building at the highest point of the winding road. It has view points to look out at the river. As the supervisor for the building of the highway and the Vista House Samuel Lancaster put it, it is "an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite." The view was fantastic. We went inside, it is this big open room with pillars and an incredible ceiling and floor. You can go downstairs and see some of the history from the building and the building of the highway, there is also a cafe and gift shop which were closed for the season. The lady who worked there was very nice and gave the kids some souvenier pins which Bekah displays proudly on her coat for everyone to see, (she tells people all about it whenever she has her coat on). We didn't take too many photos because it was FREEZING, so we'll have to go back when it is warmer, but wow, it really was gorgeous. If you want to see some more pictures of the building or highway and find out more of it's history you can go the website. http://www.vistahouse.com

Jolly Old St Nicholas

For Family Night on Monday we decided to go out to Washington Square Mall and see Santa. We were a little worried about how the kids would handle him, but they were both champs, at least for the picture. Topher wasn't so sure about him, but he didn't cry at all he just reached for me after I snapped this photo. Bekah wouldn't talk to him until after she was off his lap, but she snuggled right onto his lap when he picked her up. She really loved it.

At this mall there is also an 8 foot tall bear named Chester that will talk to you and sing Christmas songs with you. Bekah must have carried on a 10 minute conversation with the bear about the Tickle me Elmo she wants for Christmas, bicycles, her Christmas tree and who knows what else.

We had a lot of fun just walking around the mall and looking at all the decorations in the windows and the hallways. Bekah especially loved the Build a Bear store and the Disney store, it was kind of hard to pull her away from them. It was a really great night though, I sure love having Chad home so early in the day, we were able to get to the mall before the crowds got there. We've been able to have some really fun time together as a family thanks to his schedule. We are a very blessed family!

Cutting Down O Tannenbaum

On Saturday, we decided to get our tree. We thought that this year that we would go to one of those U-cut places because Chad thought it would be fun. We drove around to different places looking around and feeling kind of disappointed in the selection of trees they had. So we didn't stop at any of them. We then saw a handmade sign that said Martin's U-cut Tree's in Boring, so we followed the signs for a long way out and found the cutest little Christmas tree farm! It had probably thousands of trees in all different varieties and sizes, they provided the saw if you didn't have one,(we did of course, have you met my husband?), they had a darling little wreath shop with free hot cocoa and twine to tie up your tree. Once we found the tree of our dreams and Bekah and Chad cut her down and put it top of the car the people there gave us all a little candy cane on our way out. It was such a fun experience, despite the bitter cold that was going right through us in sudden batches of wind. We recommend this place to any of you Oregonians that are looking for a good, real, fresh tree. Bekah had an absolute blast picking out "her" tree, and "helping" dad cut it down. Christopher was happy as usual, doing whatever, even in the cold! I was enjoying doing something Christmasy with the family and Chad was thinking he was pretty cool with his little tree saw. It was a fun family activity for all.

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

After we brought the tree home and Chad got it all ready for the house, we got straight to work making our home ready for the Holidays. We got out our two huge totes of decorations, made a mess of them and then put them in all the nooks and crannies of our small little apartment. The tree was a lot bigger than we thought it was and takes up a good portion of our living room. It's really pretty though and both of the kids' eyes light up whenever they come into the room. They love it! Bekah was a lot of help decorating the tree this year, she even put the star on top! Christopher loved the lights, but the tree kept brushing the top of his head when he crawled under it, so he didn't want to be under it at all. He is having a ball with all the metal canisters though. I have about a dozen of them and decided since I don't have holiday goodies in them yet, they can be his drums for now. I have them all in a little corner with the Christmas stuffed toys and board books. It is feeling quite Christmasy in here!

My Little Artist

Bekah loves to draw, she is drawing all the time and telling us to draw her things all the time. Until today though her drawings have been indistinguishable scribbles and cute little doodles. I couldn't tell the difference between a polar bear and a carrot, but she was always sure of what she had drawn. Today she brought me this picture and said it was me, her dad and herself. I couldn't believe it! (She is the smaller triangle, I am the one on the left and her dad is in the middle). She drew all their little faces and feet and everything. Of course I have a 3rd eye or something, but they actually look like little people! I am so impressed! She is growing up so fast! Watch out art world, Bekah is coming!