Tree finding

I can't believe how quickly the perfect tree was found. See how huge that tree is!!! The kids had a great time here. They said this was one of the favorite things they did this weekend. I hope we have just as much fun when we go cut our tree down next weekend.

After we found the perfect tree (which took 20 minutes!!! haleluja) we sat outside and had the best doughnuts you have ever tasted. They were hot and dense and just crumbled in your hand as you devoured them. They were so good. Daniel said it right when he said they looked like doughnuts you see in the movies.

This place was heaven for Sam. He enjoyed the tractors, throwing rocks into a pond, eating doughnuts, watching the bunnies, and poking the mud with a stick.
One thing I love about Sam is that he will only wear shorts, no matter how cold it is. He is just like his dad!

Other things we did this weekend: cleaned up the Wilson's backyard a little (with the Oregon natural backyard, you could never clean it all), and we went to an IMAX dome theater showing of The Polar Express. The kids liked that even though it was a little scary. Olivia and I had to go out of the theater for a while!

Visiting John

We are lucky to have Daniel's brother's family also living in Portland. That way we can also visit his family! For Christmas John got a guitar. He was showing Olivia how to play it. We had a nice time. I spoke with Mercedes and Claribel (in Spanish) while John and Daniel talked. The kids colored and watched a movie.

Thanksgiving day

Thanksgiving day started as it should, with a Turkey Bowl. Daniel lives for this part of Thanksgiving, it is just as good as homemade pumpkin pie and whip cream.

Drew, Seth and Daniel had a great time playing in the foggy weather on the wet field. Daniel played quarterback some of the time and caught a few touchdown passes. I did not get the low down on Drew and Seth, but Daniel says they are great players.

After the game and a warm shower for the boys, we hung out at the house. Mike made a wonderful meal and 2 turkeys. We had a great time doing nothing.

Val and Mom made sure the snack plates were always full. We had 2 kinds of turkey, green beans, grilled onions with apples, yams with brown sugar and pecans(to die for and requested by Seth), stuffing, cranberry sauce with pomagranate, mashed potatoes, and I am sure there was more...Barbie help!

This is what was left of the fried turkey after Grandpa Mike stood in the rain and cold weather to watched it fry. It was really good.

Thanksgiving in Portland

We finally made it to Portland after delays at the Apple store in Palo Alto and traffic in Oregon. The kids were so excited to see their cousins. After Poppie Mike treated everyone to a great dinner, the Wilson boys made a bonfire and we roasted marshmallows for s'mores. The we just talked while the boys threw around a glow in the dark football. I really enjoyed tonight.

I would like to thank Barbie for introducing my kids to the idea of lighting marshmallows on fire. Olivia loved blowing them out, but who doesn't?? It didn't take Sam long to figure out how far a gooey marshmallow can fly when flug off his roasting fork!!

Chloë was so content to sit in her camp chair and point her marshmallow stick at the fire and then eat them.

Tony

I think one thing will never change with Daniel and his brothers. They always like to compare muscles.

I love you Daniel, but I think Tony wins.... this time!

Chase's baptism

Here is Sam with the boys. He was very excited to be in this picture.
Barbie has more pictures I will post in the future.

Here we ALL are!

I did it

I told the kids if they could keep the fish alive we could get a dog SOME DAY. Well, the kids were doing a great job feeding the fish when I decided to change Rosie's water. Well, the shock of the new water killed the fish!

So I told the kids, mostly Sam, we could get new fish. They picked out two fish. One is just a regular goldfish with a black tale and then there is this guy. We call him One eyed Jack! Yes, he only has one eye and it is on the other side of this body!

Train ride

Here we are waiting for our train ride.

Chloë was loving every part of the train and everything outside of the train!

Olivia would hop from Barbie's lap to Poppie's but Sam wanted to sit all by himself.

After a yummy and high fatty lunch we had to wait for 50 minutes to catch the train back home.




Poppie decided to catch a quick cat nap on the train ride home.

Here I am showing off my new orthodic on my lower teeth. Let's hope this appliance will change my bite an eventually get rid of my headaches to I am always having. This picture really shows how off balance my face is. You can see how the left side of my jaw (when looking at the photo it's the right side) is much bigger than the right side of my jaw. The right side of my cheek looks sunken in! Maybe this don't look like much to the average viewer, but I have had a few dentists and my sisters make this comment,

Family Night

Dad really wanted to get the kids these rubber band airplanes. So he had to figure out how to tie them into FHE. So after an hour of putting them together and flying them he made some connection with all the part on the plane and all the parts of each of our testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus that make us whole. At least I think that was his message. Anyway, the kids had a great time!....obviously!!

Light, Green

A few weeks ago I heard Chloë say, "light, green" when the stop light turned from red to green. I was very excited to hear her say this. She has been a little slow to speak to us. A few months ago I took her to an audiologist to make sure everything was ok. She passed the hearing test. So it seems that we will just have to be patient. I can understand most of what she says when asking or showing me something, but it you are on the phone and try to talk to her she will begin ranting about who knows what! On a different note, she is almost potty trained!

Ezra's blessing

We always love spending the day with our friends. Zion and Olivia are great friends even though they only see each other every now and again.

Daniel and I enjoying talking to Casey and Talia. I hope we are able to do something with them sooner rather than later!