CHRISTMAS 2009

We've made the decision the past couple years to stay home for Christmas, and then maybe travel afterwards to visit family. It's been kind-of weird for me and very quiet just having our little family opening presents. But we've enjoyed it and have started doing little Christmas things here and there.

Jeremy started our family on the tradition of doing a Gingerbread House every year. Andra loves being right along side him, his #1 helper!

(Let the madness begin...)

Drisan, of course, just wanted to eat the candy...

"crazy eyes" "Andra looks like she's concentrating really hard on where to put that gumdrop. Maybe if I concentrate really hard, and reach, maybe....I....can.....

"...WHEW! They're not looking! My plan worked perfectly!"

(We also had a Mickey Mouse Christmas cartoon on.)

TA-DAAAA!!!

We have also kept the tradition of going to the Macy's in Downtown Portland to see Santa. They've got a pretty cool set-up there & the kids love it!

Sitting on the train after pictures with Santa

Drisan checking out all of Santa's reindeer--making sure they're all there. (They actually move!)

After Macy's, we go to Macaroni Grill for lunch. Drisan's having a hard time deciding which entree he wants this year.

Andra posing in her new Christmas dress just before church. She LOVES that it makes "big twirls"!

Christmas morning Santa and his elves had this "marble maze" all set up on the coffee table, which, after playing with the marbles for a long time, Drisan had to let each of his new cars go for a ride!

Andra was excited about EVERYTHING, but loved shaking the new marraccas!

Our Christmas was extended with a trip to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl (next post).

And now I have updated you all on happenings of last year.

Halloween and Thanksgiving

Andra enjoyed carving pumpkins with Jeremy....

concentrating very hard

happy with the outcome...

...not so happy

There...this is a better, happier picture. Pretty sure he had a piece of candy in his mouth.

After telling me throughout the year that she wanted to be a purple carebear and a last-minute trip to the Disney store (hence the Ariel jewelry & Nemo costume), Andra decided to be a mermaid for Halloween.

And Jeremy & I went as the "Black-Eyed Peas" (Thanks Stacey & Nate for the idea!)

One of our "switch drivers" stops on our way to Idaho for Thanksgiving

One of my sisters got all the neices shirts & sunglasses

which they love(d)!!! They paraded through-out Grandma & Grandpa's house, and divided into "families" (colors) and said, "No boys allowed in THIS family!" :)

Our family pictures at Thanksgiving

ketchup!!!

I've been meaning to catch up on our blog, and kept getting busy with stuff and, obviously didn't make this a priority (thanks, Facebook!). Now I'm paying for it, because now I have over 6 months of big events to catch up on. :) I will mostly be posting pictures & trying to keep the words to a minimum. Looking back at pictures from September 'til now, I'm amazed at how much my kids have grown up, and how at one point, my hair was actually kinda long! (I wish I realized it before I decided I couldn't stand it anymore.)

These are pics from the pumpkin patch that we have come to know & love. It's called Bi-Zi Farms, and we live pretty close to it now--just a couple miles away (far enough that we don't smell the animals). :)

In the following video, Jeremy & Drisan were on cloud 9! Andra kept carrying the bucket & tried making a "corn sandcastle". Unfortunately, it didn't turn out. ;)

I'm still finding corn just inside our laundry room & in the garage!