Christmas Day!

We had such a relaxing and GREAT Christmas this year. Somehow the snow forced us to adjust expectations of the "perfect" meal or "perfect" gift, and things just seemed slower, simpler, and closer to home. For that we are very thankful! Here are some photos from that day.

Christmas Eve Day!!!

Julia comes from Germany via Maine and we make her WORK!!!!

Skiing through the streets

This is what the day looks like when there is so much snow that you can no longer ride your bike, but have to tie your SLED up to the bike racks.....wweeeyoooooooooooooo!!!! Alas, the folks on our street have traded in bikes and cars for skiis today. It's been a blast!

SNOW in Portland!

Today continues to be a COLD and SNOWY one here in Portland, and we're all ecstatic about it! Snow just doesn't happen that often in this city, so when it does, people go nuts....us included. The day was full of hot chocolate, snowboots, throwing snowballs, fire in the fireplace, and dinner in the oven, and oh oh oh...it feels so good to nest and finally be finding a groove in this whole parenting of 2 thing. Yet another blissful weekend....mmmm.

Santa is kinda Creepy

This is a photo of Anina on the kitchen floor "nest" as I desperately try to get a few moments to cook dinner! This worked for exactly 3 minutes before she demanded to be back in the sling....just enough time for me to shoot this photo.

Zander enjoying a novel while hanging out with Anina.

Yesterday I picked Miles up early from preschool so that we would have a little time to Christmas shop for Alexander (from Miles). He loved walking around downtown at night, seeing the streetcar, obsessing over the Salvation Army bell ringers, and begging for a chocolate milkshake (it was cold!!!!). We made it to visit Santa, and just about the time we had Miles in his lap and Anina being passed over, Miles completely freaked out, ran off and threw himself on the floor crying. No santa photo this year for our little guy, but here is one of Anina's first Santa visit. The funny thing is that I completely get it....big furry old men dressed in a Santa outfit are downright creepy. I think Miles is onto something.

The glimmering weekend

This was one of those weekends where everybody and everything just seems to be in balance and enjoying life to the utmost. It has been a weekend full of family and friends, riding the santa train, sleeping late, going for a night hike, making soup, and just enjoying....mmmm. If every weekend were this good, we'd have 10 children! Here are some photos from the Santa steam train. Miles loved sitting by his friends and looking out onto the Willamette River.

A little poem...

I found this today and it made me smile....

I am your calm face; you are my giggle.
I am your wait; you are my wiggle.
I am your hush now; you are my lyrical.I
am your peace on earth; you are my miracle.

-By M. Cusimano

What a day!

Today is one of those days when the sun is shining, I've accomplished a million things that have been on "the list," and I've been in touch with so many fabulous people in my life. The morning started with a life-changing tea date with Kate, and just continued on that track. Mmmmm....life is sooooo good. I just found this film of Miles from about 1.5 years ago, and it's so cute that I wanted to eat him right then and there! Enjoy!

Outside

Today is Zander's first day at his new job, so in celebration of him being HAPPY again, I thought I'd include this photo of him shining his shoes and being a complete goofball last night (this went on for about 5 hours!). The additional photos are from our hike this Sunday. I love this time of year when the fog hangs low, the trails are empty, and when we can just throw in the raingear and go for it.

Tea dates make me happy

So, I just wrote this huge and profound (ha)posting about how my Tuesday morning dates with Kate and Annie at the teahouse are what get me though the week without losing my mind, when.....Arrrrgh, I lost the post!!! I'm now losing my mind! No, really, here are some photos from our weekly tuesday morning ritual with Alexander included this week. The top photo is of Anina (right) and Maren (left) who are already growing up to be BFF's. They were due date buddies. The bottom photo is of Zander and I with Anina during girly teatime. I think he loved it. :)

Pink Dresses and Miles' Shopping Dance

Who knew that I would ever be this interested in pink dresses?!?!? This is Anina Blu in her littlest dress a couple of weeks ago. The video is of Miles one recent day while shopping with Jodi. He wasn't the least bit interested in the stores, but was really feeling the groove from the mall elevator music. HA.

Thanksgiving Weekend and we stayed HOME!!!

It has been so great to not travel anywhere this Thanksgiving weekend! We have stayed in town, gone on long walks, visited with friends, and just nested at home....all of which are so needed! Alexander doesn't begin his new job until next week, so these few days have been so restful, and dare I say, normal...mmmm. Miles is refusing to nap now, and I have an insane desire to feel like I've actually accomplished something today, so I'm leaving it here. We'll try and update this site with stories and photos daily. Thanks for checking in! Enjoy the new photo of Zander and Anina eating dinner a few days ago....she's perfect.