Wishing you lots of happy this Christmas!

Doesn't the birth of Jesus make you happy?  It makes me happy, as do these kids. 

It won't be long until this face turns 5 years old...

Piano, Snow and the Symphony...

Sierra had her first piano recital and she played Jingle Bells with only a small amount of nerves.  It felt like a strange dream from my past when I had my own piano recitals.  I hope Sierra has a lot more than I did.  She plays better than me already.

She also had a date with Dad to the symphony and got to be the "flower girl," going on stage to give the bouquets to the guest pianist and trumpet player.  When she and Eric got home, very late on a school night, she was lucky enough to make the first snowball from the first snowfall of the year. 

This little girl is growing up.

Maybe....

Santa is not coming this year.  He definitely would not have come on Sunday.

This wasn't funny Sunday but these pictures make me laugh every time I look at them.



If you are an Oregonian..

You should dress like one.  Mason 's little buddy Maria was over and what do you know? They were both wearing their tie dye shirts.  They are having a dance party to some rockin' Christmas tunes.  It appears that they can both dance not only with their arms and feet but their tongues as well. 

Be our guest...

My new friend Martha asked me to do a post on her Interior Design Blog.  If she lived closer I am pretty sure we would have a lot of fun carrying out ideas that are in our heads.  I have a lot of ideas swimming around up there.

I am DIY Day 7, Whimsical Sweater Stockings.  Check out her business, my post and other fun holiday/decorating ideas here. 

And why the vanity?  I was having a good hair day when this picture was taken. Having bangs is not always easy, so here's to a good hair day.

Night Riders...

Eric, JC, Krista and John/Garrett.  Amber will get to be in the picture soon, Christmas is coming!  JC and Krista are not the size of small children, they are on the bottom step and Eric's siblings can't seem to take a regular sort of picture. 



Thanksgiving brings family and family brings night mountain bike rides and forest running.  I am thankful I got to run the morning of Thanksgiving, right from my house into the forest.  Wasn't The Enchanted Way glorious Krista and Meg? 

Sierra got to go out with the big kids on another night ride adventure, maybe she is one of the big kids now?  She was freezing but very tough. (Can you see how proud Eric is?) She didn't get her bike genes from me, that's for sure.

Let the holidays begin!

Give Thanks...

We have a lot to be thankful for.

family

healthy kids

friends

warm house

food

love

smiles

working car

books

laughs

bikes

snowflakes

loving parents

music

Trader Joes

trails

sun

trees

chocolate

Eric

and more...

A Winter Day...

You don't need a lot of snow to have school cancelled in Oregon.  Snow, sledding, hot chocolate, no school and nowhere we had to go.  It made for a perfect winter day. 

I spy...

I love Mason's dresser, it's a boy's dresser.  Legos, toys, T-ball and soccer pictures, silly bands, money, sunglasses, you know things a boy needs.  He is not a little boy anymore.  He is growing up and I am reminded this is all part of the plan and there are good things to come but sometimes I miss this. My first baby boy.

DO NOT...

Mason made a sign and Garrett can't read.  

It looks like he is reaching for the Legos but he is really reaching for some nickels and dimes.  I am sure the Legos were next in line.  

Should I be in here right now?

One goal down...

I finished my first trail half marathon
 at Silver Falls State Park

I trained with my motivator and friend Megan, thanks. I wouldn't have signed up for this race if she hadn't said "Let's do it." And I wouldn't have had the time to train without Eric's Mom and Eric giving me time and watching the kids for the 9+ mile days.  Thank you!

I used Mason's Superman watch for good luck and it worked!  I met my goal and felt good doing it.  I think there will be more of these races in my future.

I should thank AC/DC too.  There isn't a better way to put some speed into your running legs.

Scary skeletons...

I got one picture of the scary skeletons where everyone was almost looking at the camera.  Allie couldn't keep her eyes open and Garrett looks like he doesn't feel so well.  He didn't.  About 20 minutes after this picture he threw up all over his skeleton.  He felt much better after, can you tell?  I didn't and neither did the carpet in the hotel room.  

Garrett is watching...

National Geographic live in the backyard.  Allie was interested in the fact that the deer fight and the prize to the winner is a wife.  She had quite a few questions about the fighting/wife process.

Rough and Ready...

We got to take a drive to good old Rough and Ready, yes you heard right, my home town Rough and Ready.  The kids got to see Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles, new cousin Liberty, the cows, dogs, chickens, Crackers the miniature horse, swing in the yard, visit the pumpkin patch, have a spooky house Halloween party, watch new movies, kick the soccer ball with Grandpa, wrestle Uncle Nic, visit Kyle and Jenny's first home, play trains with Kyle, decorate sugar cookies from Aunt Krisha, trick-or-treat G. Alice and skype with the Utah cousins.  I think it was a full trip!

Thanks for the Spooktacular time Grandma and Grandpa!

I don't think I got a picture of all of the kids in their costumes, why?  I got a stomach bug and was puking.  I didn't add that to the list of fun because it wasn't fun.

While Eric was away doing this...

I did this....

Eric had quite an adventure in Southern Utah with his brothers and sister Krista.  They headed to Robbers Roost and all I can say is I am glad the rattlesnake didn't bite, the quicksand was avoided and the rain stayed away.  He may have to do his own post and elaborate.

Eric's Dad helped me repaint the kitchen while Eric was away.  It feels much more serene, blaring yellow was a little much for my taste.  The pictures don't do the whole room justice so you might have to come see it in person!