I've been a bad, bad blogger

Try to catch up on 6 months of posts, or just start fresh?  That is the question.

Winter Ball

 This year Fuller was asked to Winter Ball by his friend Jessica.  They both looked fabulous!  We had a little glitch with Fuller's tuxedo.  The wrong size pants arrived from the warehouse, but they were able to get us another pair the day before the dance.  Fuller and Jessica have known each other since they were about 3 years old, so it was really fun that they went to this together.  Sounded like they had a great time.

New Year's Snow

 We started 2013 with a surprise snow.  Sadly we didn't get quite enough to play in and it didn't stick around for long.  Grayson and Rowan made the most of it, but I guess Fuller is just too old to get worked up over a couple of inches.  It did make everything look beautiful , even though just briefly.

Christmas- part 2

 We continued our Christmas fun at my parents house by spending the rest of the day with them and Jim and Enid.  How lovely to spend the day in house full of people you love!  There were more gifts, delicious food, and good laughs. Perfection!

Christmas 2012- Lovin' it!

 Over the years we have developed some nice family traditions.  Christmas eve generally means new jammies and a book.  This year we went with robes instead of pj's and they were excited about being so snuggly.

 The time honored tradition of gag gifts continued.  This year Fuller was the luckiest recipient- getting a book on Taylor Swift (who he HATES).  Loved his reaction!  He later tried to sneak this priceless gift into a pile of recycling.

Buster didn't get much this year, just a bone, but he was content to just be a part of things.  He even managed to make it through the entire holiday season without destroying any ornaments.

 On Christmas morning the boys decided to make the walk downstairs as slow as possible- payback for all the years we've made them wait up there I guess.  If only they had decided to sleep in!

 The boys were genuinely pleased with all of their gifts, but I think Grayson's unicycle was the biggest hit.  He had never mentioned wanting one and didn't ask for one,but when he said he wanted "a surprise" for Christmas this was the first thing that came to mind.

 This year it struck me how calm Christmas is getting around here.  They boys are still happy and excited, but as they have gotten older it was all seemed to quiet down and go at a slower pace.

 Paul enjoyed his new weaponry.  Now the boys won't out gun him!

 Everyone liked the bearded-beanies I made!

 And it was a GREAT DAY!

 Plus I got an awesome new Santa for my collection!

Best Traditon

Christmas in Portland is my very favorite!  Even with cold, rainy weather, and food cart vendors who get your order terribly wrong- there's just something magical about it.

The best tree ever

In our family we try to alternate who gets to pick that years tree.  Sometimes we don't remember who's turn it is, and we suspect that Grayson may have had more than his fair share of turns.  This year Rowan spoke up that it was definitely HIS turn.  He found a tree that was just what he wanted in the first 5 minutes that we were at the tree farm.  His brothers were not sold on his selection.  They thought it was too small and skinny, so they talked him into looking around more, even though it was getting darker, wetter and colder.  While looking they stumbled upon a nearly complete animal skeleton, making this easily the most exciting tree hunt ever.

In the end Rowan could not be swayed to make another choice.  His brothers were forced to stop their criticizing of he tree, and it was cut down and brought home.

It was a lovely tree, and the fact that it was a little smaller than we usually get just meant that there was more room for presents!