Diamond Lake Shred Session

Eliana received a snowboard for Christmas and we headed up to Diamond Lake to give it a try. We tried to get her to ride up at the lodge, but she was more interested in drinking hot cocoa, standing by the fire, hanging out with Grandpa Steve and being pulled in her sled. But, on our way back down to Roseburg, she announced that she wanted to snowboard. Luckily, we were still in the snow zone. Greg turned the car around and we headed back to a small forest road. This is resulting awesomeness.

A Visit with Santa

Eliana really understood Santa this year. We went to Bridgeport Village with Nana and Pops where we waited outside in the cold for close to two hours. There were a few tense moments as we stood there - wondering if we would have to wait an extra hour while he went to "feed the reindeer". Thankfully, we were the second to last family to get in before his break. Whew.

As we entered the little Santa house and I put Eliana down, she raced to Santa and jumped in his lap. He sang a couple of Christmas carols to her and she snuggled with him as though he were a long lost friend. The only thing she asked for was a candy cane. It was really sweet. For all of her rambunctiousness, she has a very tender heart.

Christmas

Nana and Pops came out from Maine to join us in the Christmas festivities. My mom arrived later in the week. We all enjoyed pupus on Christmas Eve with family and friends. My brother, Jannaeah and Megan came for Christmas dinner. There were enough gifts for 20 people and even more food. We are blessed.

Eliana and our tree
Making cookies
Yum!
Our cookies
Gingerbread house
Eliana, Sive and Archer on Christmas Eve
Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of six people?
Christmas loot
Reading a Richard Scarry book from Grammy Pam
Bug puzzle book from Nana and Pops
The roast
Mashed potatoes with no less than one pound of butter
Brussel sprouts with bacon
More food...

August - September - October - November

Four months: Condensed

We came back from Maine and enjoyed the last few weeks of summer vacation at home. Finished up summer on Labor Day weekend with a camping trip to Lake Takhalakh. Incredible setting and perfect weather. It was just the right way to say goodbye to summer.

September flew by in a flash. Every year when school starts, life seems to go into a blur and I finish out the month wondering what happened. Except for our camping trip on Labor Day weekend, we took ZERO pictures during the month of September. What a couple of slackers.

October was filled with bike racing and Halloween. Greg made Eliana an amazing homemade robot costume that she still enjoys putting on. She's really into robots and space shuttles right now. I'm excited about encouraging our budding engineer!

November was mellow. We spent Thanksgiving with my mom and then started counting the days until Christmas.

Eliana, Mt. Adams and Lake Takhalakh

Bored at yet another bike race
Bike racer Greg
Future cyclist
Choosing a pumpkin
Eliana with her friends Parker and Taylor
My girls, me and our kiddos at Thanksgiving weekend brunch