Alpenrose

For Grammy's birthday on the 15th, Grandpa organized a trip to Alpenrose. We kept hearing great things about it and finally went this year. Although the weather was cold and rainy, we had a great time and could keep warm in all the buildings. I was really impressed with how the whole thing was set up and it was free. It's the only surviving dairy farm in the area and was built in the mid 1900's. They've displayed old things in false front shops which was really neat to see. They had an old school room, an ice cream parlor, an old kitchen, a huge train set displayed in two rooms, and a lot more. It always amazes me to see how things were done back then. The kids even got to make "reindeer food" and a candy cane card.

These were taken in the "story book lane". They had a huge room all decorated with trees, a little stream and animal displays for Christmas. Their donkey was even there give us a loud hello! I guess he chases all the coyotes off the property... never knew a donkey was used for that!

Grammy's Birthday

We took Grammy to Skamania Lodge for her birthday this year. She had never been, so she was very excited for their Sunday brunch. We decided to get all dressed up and take some Christmas pictures beforehand. The lodge was beautifully decorated. Isaiah was being a stinker for pictures, so we had to bribe him with a candy cane and stickers, but when he decided to cooperate we got some really cute ones. After breakfast they brought out a birthday treat for Grammy and we all sang to her. Grandpa had a flight that day, so they headed to the airport and we took hwy 35 back home thinking we would check out Cooper Spur and maybe go sledding. It rained the whole way and the kids ended up falling asleep, so we didn't do either, but it was a beautiful drive.

Ashley's Ballet Recital

Ashley did a great job at her recital this year. She took another session at the community center and this was a recital they do at the end of the 3 months. She's really doing well following the teacher and practicing at home. We signed her up for a 5-8 yo class that she'll start in January and I think that will help her advance (no distraction from the younger kids) and then we'll look into getting her into a studio if she still wants to continue. We love watching her and hope she does!

After the recital we had Grammy and grandpa over for dinner and decorated cookies. This guy had a good time piling on the frosting and gobbling it all up and soon as we were done.

Christmas Decorations

We started decorating for Christmas right away this year. We were listening to Christmas music a few weeks before Thanksgiving, but we did wait until after Thanksgiving to get the decorations up. I LOVE this time of year. I love the smell of the Christmas tree, I love getting out decorations that have meaning and stories behind them to share with the kids, I love setting up the nativity scene and watching the kids tell the story of Jesus as they play with it, I love driving home each night looking at the houses all lit up, I love the smiles on the kids faces as they open each drawer on the advent calendar bringing them one day closer to Christmas and most of all I love shopping for gifts. We have had a very blessed year and have a lot to celebrate.

Christmas Elves getting their rest

These munchkins found a comfy spot while Papa brought the Christmas tree in

Ashley putting the angel on top of the tree. I remember Dan and I used to take turns doing this. We tired with Isaiah this year but nearly knocked the tree down. Maybe next year will be his year. We got our tree for the 2nd year in a row from the boy scouts and it smells great! We made a sop at Calamity Janes for milk shakes too!

Sing Along with Santa

Isaiah got to have a special date with Grammy! She took him to a sing along with Santa that Broadway Rose put on while Ashley was at her ballet class. He got all dressed up and had a great time! He got a little treat bag at the show and listened to Santa read stories and sing songs with his elves. The kids had the option of sitting on Santa's lap at the end, but by the time they got to the line it was way too long, so they went out to lunch and were back for nap time! I'd say that was a pretty good date!

Cute pic of the two of them before the show.

Thanksgiving

Brian had the weekend of Thanksgiving off, so we went to Pendleton to spend the holiday with his parents. We left on Thursday (smart move because traffic was horrible Wed night) and got there around lunch time. Steph made a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with our favorite smoked turkey and pecan pie! We went around the table saying what we were thankful for and the kids got really into it this year thinking for weeks what they were going to say. They were thankful for family, listing each one by name. Friday morning we got all ready to go have breakfast with Santa only to find an empty parking lot. It was actually scheduled for Saturday morning, which worked out better because Brian had a car to take Brody hunting with (Grams battery was dead that morning), Ashley was in much better spirits on Sat and Gramps could go. The breakfast was really nice, we got a group picture with Santa this year which was kind of fun and the kids got to make an art project and get their face painted. We decorated our gingerbread house Sat night and headed back home Sunday morning so Ashley could go to her friends birthday party. That night we celebrated another Thanksgiving with my parents. Dad cooked a fried turkey for the fist time and it turned out great. We certainly had our share of turkey that weekend!

The kids masterpiece, Isaiah's is the one on the right that collapsed. He kept piling on the candy until we finally had to tell him it was enough!

Up close of our house

back

Steve and Steph's house

Oh, what a weekend of technology will do to a kid!