Twas the night before Christmas

We get real fancy around our house for our Christmas Eve dinner. Wine glasses and martini glasses with sparkling cider. I love Isaiah's giant glass! It's so much fun.

Nana and Isaiah toasting. It was nice to see Nana having such a great time.

Next we all get to open one present each on Christmas Eve. I actually got to open two because Isaiah decided to give me $2.00 from his savings account. What a sweet boy.

(actually earlier that day Isaiah had 29 cents and he wanted to play a game that cost 50 cents. I told him he didn't have enough so he would have to find something cheaper. Instead he decided to donate his money to the salvation army on the way out of the store. I was so proud of him. Later that day I gave him 50 cents out of my car and told him I was proud of his decision to give to those less fortunate. I told him to keep the money in the car so he wouldn't forget to use it next time we were there).

Dad got the book "The Christmas Oranges" He was so thrilled (sarcasm emphasized). This will be a new tradition to read the story each Christmas Eve to remind us of how blessed we are to have the things that we have.

Isaiah got a new family game. I didn't get a picture but it is called Fundominos. That is another one of our traditions to get a family game and play it on Christmas Eve together. Nana actually really liked this one so it was extra special.

I got my new annual snow globe. I love these things. This one sings, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Nana got some of my old perfume that I have never used. I know we are so sweet but really she doesn't need a whole lot and it was mostly to help her feel welcome and loved. I think she had a really great night.

Now everyone is tucked all snug in their beds. I love Christmas!

Traditions

Due to my tardiness of getting organized, we are currently celebrating the "16" days until Christmas. Under each number is an activity we can do together as a family. It has so far been a lot of fun.

One of my favorite traditions that we celebrate is the Christmas Pickle. After all the presents are opened we hang the last ornament on the tree, the pickle (it's a cute little pickle ornament). The person who is, "most observant," and finds the pickle wins a prize.

One of our family activities was to make gingerbread houses and then decorate them. This took us three days to do. Daniel gets home from work so late that we don't have time to do a whole lot in the evenings after dinner. The first night we made the gingerbread dough, the second night we baked it, and the third night we assembled our houses and decorated them.

Isaiah actually decided to make a gingerbread man/soldier. I think his decorating technique was to cover every spot on his cookie with candy.

Daniel's, of course, ended up looking like the house straight out of the book, "Hansel and Gretel."

I messed up on my gingerbread so I ended up making this crazy cathedral looking house. It's a little creepy looking to me.
I was actually pretty tired by this time and ready to be done. I had a little Christmas "bah hum bug" that night.

Every year here in Corvallis the Pepsi plant puts on an amazing light display with music. I love how excited Isaiah still gets to do these kinds of things.

He was amazed by the huge piles of crushed aluminum cans.

When we drove by he asked me to stop. He just looked at it all in awe. He said to me, "Wow mom that is a lot of pop cans! We could make a giant Tin Man with all that!" I love his imagination and enthusiasm.

We had a full moon that night and Isaiah snapped this shot.

This picture came out blurry because the beavers were moving but it's my favorite display. It's a bunch of Benny the Beavers each representing a different sport.

There's even a TMNT out there!

Isaiah wanted to jump out and sing with the choir and then got embarrassed when I took a picture.

I love this time of year that we get to spend more time with family. The only problem is time just flies by.

Creating Christmas

Nothing says Christmas more than raking leaves! We have a tree in our front yard that refuses to shed it's leaves until the first of December. It was Isaiah's delightful duty to rake all the leaves prior to putting up the lights.

(given it's Christmas time Daniel and I did help him a little:)

Daniel putting up the lights.

(Do you see those leaves up there in the gutter? There were a whole bunch more on the roof as well. While we were out getting our tree the wind blew all those leaves onto our nicely raked lawn. Isaiah was devastated).

Isaiah got his own tree this year. There was a man giving them away because they didn't grow correctly. We were happy to give a home to a misfit tree!

Isaiah waiting for dad to find the perfect tree. Daniel is seriously Chevy Chase from Christmas Vacation. We spend a lot of time and do a lot of walking to track down the perfect one. Isaiah of course never takes my advice when I say it's going to be cold so grab a jacket and a hat. He was soooo cold, but still smiling!

No help from us this year carrying the tree. We finally got cold enough and went inside for some hot chocolate.

The Perfect One!

Isaiah's Misfit.

All decorated and ready for presents.

It makes a nice nightlight for Isaiah. He really loves it and he actually waters it without having to be reminded....for the most part!

Thanksgiving

It's been awhile since I have updated my blog but a lot has been going on. I will give a quick run down. We have definitely been busy and we have had some good, great, and not so great times. Now of course I am only going to blog about the good and great unless by special request someone wants to hear about the not so great:)

I will share one really bad moment. Halloween. What a bummer it was. I love Halloween here in Corvallis. We bake treats and go see friends, we get all dressed up and go trick or treating downtown, and we make a special stop by my Aunt Roxanne's house to get some disgusting, (in both taste and sight), candy eyeballs. Well a few days before Halloween Isaiah came down with swine flu. It was horrible. High temp, head ache, body ache, and just overall feeling bad. He handled it so well as he does every time he gets sick. Just a few days later I came down with it. After getting it and being in the thick of it I couldn't believe how tough Isaiah was. I felt horrible! I kept thinking the whole time, 'This is why I thank Heavenly Father for a healthy body and this is why I always ask to be healthy and strong.' I HATE being sick in any way, shape, or form. Needless to say Halloween was cancelled for us this year. Since Isaiah was feeling better he and Daniel passed candy out but that was as far as it went. I kept thinking as Isaiah would hand out the candy, 'Happy Halloween, enjoy the swine flu you might get from taking our candy!' I was too miserable to protest.

Now November. My moms 65th birthday was on November 15th and we invited her down to our house for a little party. My parents crack me up. I remember when they turned 55 and they were so excited for their senior citizen discount. Now that they are 65 they are so excited for Medicare, and in a year retirement.

I made my mom a special "cake" since she swore off treats over, I don't know 30 years ago or something like that. It was sugar free raspberry jello with cool whip topping and as you can see,raspberries for garnish. It was actually pretty good and I think she enjoyed her weekend here. I know Isaiah did. He loves his grandparents so much and gets very excited when they come to visit. I am so grateful to have parents who take the time to make their grandchildren feel special and loved. I know this is something I didn't have growing up and I'm glad that Isaiah does.

We have a really fun toy store here in Corvallis called the Toy Factory. They have really cool toys, books, and games and I love it because they always have toys out for kids to "test" while parents shop around. The game of the weekend was Labyrinth. I love it because I love mazes. My dad got into it as well which was pretty fun because last time they visited we played Clue and he seriously had NO CLUE. Isaiah did a really good job. At first we modified how he could play to give him an advantage but it made it way too easy for him so we decided he was old enough to play the real way:) Daniel, of course, beats me every time we play, just like in Blokus. I always thought I was a good strategist. Apparently not as good as him. I do recommend this game to those out there that enjoy games. It's very versatile meaning you can play it with your adult people or your little people.



At the beginning of November I threw my sweet friend Ivy a baby shower. I love throwing parties and it had been a long time since my last one. I think it went well. I had fun and was glad to be able to get together with so many of my friends.

THANKSGIVING!

We had an amazingly great Thanksgiving. I was so happy when my sister called and suggested coming to our house, from Idaho, for Thanksgiving. I love her family so much. She has four adorable little kids. Our house is only three bedrooms and we were taking care of Nana since my parents went to Colorado for Thanksgiving to visit my sister Bridget and her family. Nana gets her own room. We can never convince any of the kids to sleep with her. We don't know why? We gave Dallin, Mindy, and little Kate our room and her three other kids slept in Isaiah's room. Thankfully Daniel had finished Isaiah's bed, which is amazing I must say, and then there is a day bed with a trundle that pulls out. I had the big couch in the living room, Isaiah had the small one, and Daniel, by request slept on the couch in the garage. He likes it. So we were all nice and cozy and crazy but we were together and I LOVED it!

The kids eating their artichoke appetizer (Not pictured, the platter of deviled eggs devoured and a whole bowl, and almost whole bag of chips and salsa).

We spent a lot of time cooking. This was my first year hosting Thanksgiving and all I could think of the whole day and day before was, 'how did my mom do this every year with eight kids and very little help?' I mean my husband knows his way around the kitchen. I love my dad, but he does not! I did the meal planning, we went shopping as a family, and then all the adults cooked together. Daniel cooked the chicken (no turkey lovers), ham, potatoes, and green beans. I made three desserts, and the artichokes for appetizers. Mindy and Dallin made yummy cranberry chutney, deviled eggs, and a yummy raspberry, pretzel, jello dish...seriously yummy. I really wish I would have added up how many sticks of butter we used because everything we made called for at least a cube. I guess that's why everything tasted amazing

All the cuties in Isaiah's new bed. Isn't it awesome! It hangs from the ceiling with a very cool, yet a tad bit dangerous of a rope ladder to crawl up. From left to right, Jack, Isaiah, Kate, Claire, and Evelyn.

Jack is my little sweetheart! He loves me, what can I say:)

Claire is one you have to keep your eyes on. She loves, lotion, lipstick, and anything else she shouldn't get into. I do have to say she was quite well behaved. I love her to death because she is the most like her mom and her mom always can make me laugh. Very fun personality!

Little Kate. If you looked at a baby picture of me, you would think this was me.


These two have been buds since the day Isaiah was born. Evelyn came first and then two weeks later Isaiah. We all lived in the same house together their first year on this earth and it was a sad day when Dallin took them away to Idaho:) It just makes these times when we get together even more special though!

Thank you to the Heiner's for a great Thanksgiving, even if it was way too short of a visit. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

Crater Lake

We were very pleased to see that Crater Lake was still as beautiful as we had remembered!





We did however find that our favorite campsite was full. We like Lost Creek campsite. It only has 16 sites but it is so quiet and secluded. We usually wait to go to Crater Lake until the season is closed. This year due to Daniel's new job we had to go earlier, meaning more crowded. We went up to Mazama Village which houses tents and RV's. Daniel and I were irritated because we were both looking forward to our campsite.

We even had traffic this year getting around Crater Lake!

We vacationed this year with my little sister Monica and her hubby Daniel. They just got married in May. Daniel (Monica's husband), is such a ham and makes me laugh all the time, so does Daniel (my husband:). Monica and I have resorted to just saying my husband or your husband, or my Dan or your Dan.

Isaiah was super excited to use his new pocket knife. He started sharpening sticks as soon as we got there.

He's so proud of his sharpened stick.

I like to go hiking. Daniel does as well but never on the marked paths. The first year we went to Crater Lake we all went hiking down the side of the mountain. Daniel and Isaiah went again this year. I opted out. The first year was enough for me!

I was happy when they were back. I'm a worrier:)

The view behind our campsite.

We knew some people were leaving Lost Creek the next day so we convinced Monica and Daniel to get up the next day and move. We were able to get our same spot that we loved last year so it was worth it.

After breakfast we headed down to the Lake to fish. Daniel saw all the cars in the parking lot and was convinced our secret spot was taken.

Pictures on our way down.

Daniel and Isaiah were both in a hurry to start fishing so they don't look too thrilled here:)

Just a few more yards to go.

Our spot wasn't taken! I always tease Daniel that he is the only one that ever catches fish because he hogs the best spot every year.

Monica fishing.

Her Daniel fishing.

Isaiah fishing.

Stephanie fishing.

Guess who caught the fish? Yep, my Daniel:)

After a long day of fishing we got cleaned up and warmed up and ate some yummy fish.

Isaiah all tucked in.

He was so tired every night he was asking to go in the tent so he could go to sleep! He never would do that at home.