Playing in Portland

We usually like to take advantage of the week between Christmas and New Year's to see family, but since we had just taken big trips earlier in the month, we opted for something a little more local. Although we've lived 60 miles east of Portland for over 4 years now, we feel like we've never really taken advantage of the city. So, on the Tuesday after Christmas, over the river and through the Gorge we went!

Our first stops were admittedly not unique to Portland. We wanted to spend some of the cash that had been gifted to us on Christmas, so we stopped at an outlet mall and Target.

The real fun began after lunch when we went ice skating at the Lloyd Center. This is the same place we went for Adah's birthday. She returned for another friend's party earlier in December, so Adah was feeling like quite a pro on this third trip to the rink.

Maggie is also getting pretty confident on the ice. In the picture below Damon and Maggie hadn't been skating for very long, but by the end of the session she was getting around without holding onto anyone else's hands or to the wall!

Gunnar even gave it a try...and did quite well. (Who knew they made skates that small?) He had a fun time and several times skated a short distance solo, although each time he did he got scared and applied a death grip for the next several minutes. (Oh, and I did skate, too. I just didn't make it into any of the good pictures.)

Tuesday afternoon it began snowing in Portland. They don't get much of the white stuff, so it caused quite a slow down on the city streets. We, of course, left the ice skating rink right around rush hour and took over 30 minutes to drive just a couple miles to our hotel. By bedtime it had begun raining, and by morning the snow was gone. (Not at home, though. We had to shovel when we got back Wednesday night.)

We spent the night at the downtown Embassy Suites, enjoying a tasty Thai dinner just a few blocks away. In the morning we ate the yummy hotel breakfast and then took advantage of the heated indoor pool, which we practically had to ourselves for 30-45 minutes before the late breakfasters started trickling in. We actually had tremendous luck on this trip, seeming to get in line for something just before everyone else showed up--whether it was at a restaurant, the pool, or the zoo (see below).

After checking out of the hotel, we visited a Portland toy store and found some lunch downtown. Then it was onto the Portland Aerial Tram. It travels 3300 linear feet between terminals at two OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) locations. Primarily used to transport OHSU staff and patients, we rode the tram as tourists and then got a treat in the hospital cafeteria before descending!

Our final adventure in the city was attending Zoo Lights at the Oregon Zoo. This is an annual holiday lights display that begins at dusk. We arrived just before dark and were able to visit a few of the zoo animals that are on display--not many are due to the cold weather--before the lights started coming on. They were really quite amazing and included several animated vignettes, such as a giraffe putting a heart atop a Christmas tree and a bird flying from one tree to another.

A peacock:

This shot of an elephant spraying water was actually the last bit of a whole series that made it look like a group of elephants was at the waterhole and bent their trunks down to get the water.

Finally, we rode on the zoo's train to see even more lights. It was a great night that the whole family really enjoyed.

When all was said and done, we felt like we had really done what the city had to offer us. (Portland is suprisingly low on points of interest, seriously.) There are a few things we want to be sure to see and do when the weather warms up, but we no longer feel like we have neglected the big city.

We were also tremendously grateful for the GPS navigator from Damon's parents. We never would have found that tram terminal--or several other places--without it.

Christmas Day--and more

We had a very Merry--and messy--Christmas this year. Knowing the inquisitive nature of our two-year-old, we waited until all the children had gone to bed on Christmas Eve before putting any gifts under the tree. It was a good thing.

Once the unwrapping began, Gunnar really went for it. It was all we could do to keep him from opening every package. I don't think he thought all the presents were his; I think he just had fun tearing off the wrapping paper. So, whereas I enjoy opening the gifts one-by-one and taking a moment to admire them before moving onto the next, we seemed to just open in quick succession as we snatched a gift from Gunnar's hands and gave it to the true recipient, or as we held him back and urged someone to quickly unwrap so Gunnar could have the next one.

I think I'm making it sound worse than it actually was. Truly, we had a fun time and enjoyed the bounty. We really are blessed to be able to provide such a nice Christmas for our kids and to have such generous family members on top of that.

Here's Gunnar grinning with the Christmas mess behind and around him:

Santa Claus brought the family a wannabe air hockey game. I say "wannabe" because there's no air involved. The whole thing goes on the floor and uses elastic bands for bouncing the puck around. It's loads of fun.

The one thing that Adah and Maggie both consistently asked for this Christmas was an American Girl doll. Those babies cost $100, so I found more affordable substitutes at Target (love that store) that were just as happily received by the girls. Here they are (in new slippers and Maggie in a new Tinkerbell nightgown) with their dolls, Eva and Mary:

We received lots of books this Christmas and a couple of movies that we enjoyed reading and watching in between playing with all the new toys. Damon and I also got some much-needed naptime after staying up way too late wrapping presents on Christmas Eve.

Our Christmas was extended a bit by a package arriving after the official day. If you thought Christmas morning sounded hectic, you should have seen this. The package came in the house just a few moments before some guests--old college friend & spouse--came for a quick visit. The kids couldn't wait and they tore into the presents while we tried in vain to referee. In the melee, Gunnar removed several of the labels and we weren't even sure which gifts were for whom. Nevertheless, we've enjoyed all the fun puzzles and science experiments from Grandma and Grandpa.

Maggie loves her new fairy dress-up:

This remote control flying saucer is the family favorite--even though it's gotten tangled in the girls' hair at least twice. Grandpa always sends great gadgets!

Beeswax Christmas Candles

Early in the Christmas season, Adah announced that she wanted to make something, sell it, and then use the money to buy toys for kids who didn't have any. What a charitable kid! However, being the realist and skeptic that my husband has taught me to be (sorry, dear; it's true), I wasn't sure what a 7-year-old could make that would actually sell for enough money to make the whole venture worthwhile. I mean, we'd done lemonade stands before, but that never really yielded enough to go out buying toys to donate.

After scouring the Internet, asking crafty friends, and looking in magazines, we settled on making stacked cookie cutter beeswax candles. Acquiring the supplies was a little bit tricky, as most candle suppliers discourage you from shipping beeswax in the cold winter months and no local stores were selling sheets of beeswax. Eventually we just went for it with the shipping option and everything arrived in one piece.

We spent a Saturday mass-producing the candles by cutting layers with cookie cutters and then sandwiching a wick in between them. Damon and I were both impressed at how well the girls did. They really contributed to this project--it wasn't just something they tried for a few minutes and then left Mom & Dad to finish.

Here's Adah with a finished Christmas tree candle:

Here are many of the finished candles: stars, trees, gingerbread men, reindeer and sleighs. We also made some mittens.

We made several sets to look like a reindeer pulling a sleigh, which we packaged together:

By the time the supplies arrived--and by the time we'd returned from our VA/UT trips--it was kind of late in the season and we didn't have much sale-time left. Still, after all day making candles, Damon & the kids went through the neighborhood at dusk making a sale at every door!! (Damon said he'd like to see if people would buy them when they're not being sold by cute little girls.)

We still have a supply of candles (and more beeswax), so we'll have a jump on next year's holiday bazaar circuit for earning that money for donations.

This Year's Holiday Travel

Earlier this month, all five of us went to the airport and got on two separate planes. Gunnar and I flew to Salt Lake City to visit my parents while Damon & the girls flew to Virginia. Damon's brother dances in the Richmond Ballet, so they went to see him in "The Nutcracker." Justin plans to retire after this season, so this was a last-chance opportunity for Adah and Maggie to see their uncle dance.

Gunnar and I lolled about my parents' condo, enjoying my dad's cooking and my mom's dish washing--along with their company. The highlight of my trip was attending the Christmas concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. The guest artists were singer Natalie Cole and historian David McCullough. I am a huge McCullough fan and we were surprised to learn that there was a book signing after the concert. My parents and I rushed through the post-concert and Temple Square holiday crowds and lined up to buy books and meet this great American historian and author. It was a thrill.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family enjoyed a jam-packed time touring Richmond and Washington, D.C. Damon's parents were also there from California, which only added to the fun of the Richmond Science Museum, ice skating, monuments, and the Smithsonian.

Maggie and Adah backstage with Uncle Justin (as the Spanish Dancer) after the performance

Damon and the girls outside the Washington, D.C. Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Justin, Adah, and Maggie outside the halls of the Supreme Court

Maggie, Justin, Joanna (Damon's mom), and Adah stroll along with the Capitol Building behind them.

Adah and Maggie look over the Mall from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

More Yuletide Cheer

As if seeing Santa Claus and getting our Christmas tree weren't enough holiday activity for one day, on Saturday afternoon we headed out for the annual "I'm Dreaming of a White Salmon Christmas" event downtown.

The local library was having its annual holiday open house and we got there in time for a final song by a bell choir and then, afer a few goodies, went to the children's area for crafts. Adah and Maggie decorated ornaments and strung beaded necklaces.

Maggie got her face painted with Christmas trees.

Our neighbor led library-goers in some Christmas carols. She is a remarkable piano player.

After leaving the library, we walked up the street where the girls roasted some marshmallows for s'mores before the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

It was such delightful, Norman Rockwell kind of day. What a way to kick off our Christmas season.

O Christmas Tree

After seeing Santa Claus on Saturday morning, we took a drive up one of the nearby winding, forested roads to the small town of Mill A and Leighton's U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm. We've gone there for our last two Christmas trees and happily returned to this friendly, small-town spot for this year's.

The owners greet you outside the little log cabin office, handing candy canes to the kids, and inviting you to warm yourself by the small bonfire.

Then you take a saw off a hook and tramp up the hill to find your perfect tree (at the perfect price: $20 for Noble Firs and anything over 10 feet; $15 for anything else!). Last year we tramped through several inches of snow and I was glad that this year we had sunny skies.

When we found our tree, Gunnar and Maggie (that's her white-coated arm) helped Damon cut it down. Gunnar was actually quite upset that he didn't get to hold the saw the entire time.

Back down the hill to pay and heat up by the fire again:

On Sunday evening we decorated the tree, which has always been one of my favorite family Christmas traditions. Our tree is covered with a varied set of ornaments that each have a story. They are souvenirs from places we've visited (a wooden buffalo from Yellowstone, a lobster from our first anniversary trip to Maine, a Tudor rose from England), homemade bits from the children, and even one made from the cut-off trunk of our very first Christmas tree.

Gunnar wasn't too interested in hanging up ornaments, but he was pretty interested in looking at them. The cutest thing was when he discovered a small silver horn and tried to play it! Adorable.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I've never been one to pull out the Christmas decorations the day after Christmas. Maybe it's because my birthday is in late November and I've always felt like the whole late-fall/Thanksgiving part of the season has been skipped over by the retail industry. Maybe it's just because I want to go shopping on Black Friday. Either way, I usually wait until December to jump into Christmas.

This year, for some reason, I was raring to go--really looking forward to it (even before Thanksgiving). Mind you, I still waited...at least until November 30. That night we decorated gingerbread houses, kits given to us as a joint birthday present. I worked with Adah, and Maggie worked with Damon. Gunnar discovered them the next morning, and although they suffered some damage, they are still mostly intact.

On December 1 I started pulling out the Christmas decorations, and then throughout all last week I continued to add and rearrange. On Friday, Maggie, Gunnar, and I spent time outside putting lights on our fence.

By Saturday, with the stereo playing carols and the house smelling of cloves & cinnamon, we were in the full Christmas spirit and ready to go visit Santa Claus at the local middle school.

Well....some of us were more ready than others. Adah did just fine. Gunnar approached cautiously, accepted a candy cane, but went no further.

Notice that there's no photo of Maggie with Mr. Kringle. She gracefully declined to visit with him.

Belated Late November

After several weeks of blog silence, I figured it was time to get back into it.

Damon and I have birthdays a week apart, so this year we decided to have a large joint birthday party. It was the day after my birthday and the week before his. We had about 50 people (including nearly 20 children) at our house for a soup buffet and birthday cake.

"Twenty children?!" you ask. "How did you possibly have a good time with so many kids running around?" Enter the Kids' Movie Theater:

Moving our TV out to our garage-turned-utility/guestroom was Damon's idea, but Adah really ran with it by creating tickets and the sign. After the kids ate in the kitchen it was out to the "theater," a little Monsters, Inc., and they were content and occupied for the duration of the party.

For Thanksgiving, we celebrated with several other friends who didn't have family nearby. After a last-minute addition to the group, we moved dinner to our house because we had a bigger table than the previous hosts--but they still took care of the turkey. We didn't get any photos of the feast or the guests, but I have several shots of some pre-dinner preparations:

Adah helps Dad peel apples for the pie.

Maggie & Gunnar wash the living room window.

Damon fixes the sink after we discovered it leaking just before guests arrived! (My family has a history of Thanksgiving Day plumbing problems, so this just felt traditional to me.)

We are grateful for a clean house, good helpers, and working plumbing--among all the other wonderful blessings of friends, family, health, a job, and all that usual stuff.

Growing-Up Gunnar

In the weeks since Gunnar turned two, he has gone through a couple of transitions. First, he left his highchair to join us at the table in a booster seat. He seemed pretty dissatisfied during meals and being right with the rest of the family seems to have helped.

Right on the heels of departing his highchair, Gunnar left his crib. (Well, he'd actually been leaving his crib for quite some time. That was the problem!) I took apart his crib and moved in the toddler bed. He looks quite happy in this photo, but I think the bed kind of scared him the first few nights. Maybe he felt more secure with those crib bars surrounding him. We're all still adjusting to the new bed and sleeping routine, but are slowly seeing progress and hoping to get a full night's sleep soon. At least the new bed makes the picket fence look great.

Halloween Spookers, Stingers, and Spellers

Here are our scary Trick-or-Treaters before venturing out Saturday night:

Adah went as a vampire, Gunnar a bee, and Maggie a witch. In the post title I was thinking “spellers” as in, Maggie’s a witch; witches cast spells. But, since Gunnar was a bee, I guess it could apply to him, too!

After a few false starts at other Halloween events I was unsure about how Gunnar would do, but he happily put on his costume and enjoyed walking from house to house with his sisters. He even said, "Trick-or-Treat!" (Or, maybe it was "thank you." They sound a lot alike.) At one house Gunnar even appropriately stopped to smell the flowers.

This year, instead of handing out candy, I decided to give out glow-in-the-dark bouncy balls. Damon didn't think it was a good idea, but all the Trick-or-Treaters exclaiming "cool!" let me know that I'd made a good choice. I ordered 144 balls and we RAN OUT! Luckily, we had anticipated that and bought some candy Saturday morning. I bet we had 175 Trick-or-Treaters.

Once our kids were finished, we left the house and headed up to "Pumpkin Lane" where some people from our church carve about 100 intricate Jack-o-lanterns. We didn't take our camera this year, so sadly have no record of the funny Dwight Schrute, John Wayne, Hannah Montana, or other impressive pumpkins.

This year even Damon and I dressed up. We went to a party the week before Halloween. Damon went as swine flu and I was a battery. A wise young man told me a made a good AA. I told him he was smart to not call me a size D. I got lots of mileage out of my costume at all the events for the kids (storytime, school parade, etc.). I even wore it Trick-or-Treating. It didn't get me much candy, but I know where the kids' bags are. ha ha

We had a fun Halloween and were very grateful that the rainy weather dried up in time for Trick-or-Treating.

Adah Dusts Off Her Acting Shoes

Adah again participated in her school's annual Missoula Children's Theater production. This year the elementary and middle school kids put on "The Princess and the Pea." Adah was cast as a dust bunny and enjoyed hopping around stage and getting to know her fellow actors and actresses. "I really love those silly leprechauns," she said. "I liked it when they danced and said Riverdom wrong. (They said Riverdance and started dancing.)"

Auditions were Monday afternoon, and after a couple of rehearsals the cast was ready to perform twice on Friday to their schoolmates and once on Saturday for parents and the community. Adah spent much of her birthday afternoon at rehearsal, but didn't mind a bit. She can't wait for the MCT truck to return for next year's play.

Lucky Seven

Adah had a birthday on Thursday. She is seven now! (I can hardly believe she's that old.) She had a busy, fun-filled birthday that started with opening presents before she even ate breakfast.

Mom & Dad gave her Snap Circuits Jr., an electronic circuit board kit with a workbook for creating all kinds of projects. Adah had asked for "something science-y" for her birthday. (Whose child is she, anyway? Oh, right. Her dad's.) The first project she put together played music and the preset song was, appropriately, "Happy Birthday!"

Adah enjoyed lots of attention at school. At the end of the day, Maggie, Gunnar, and I showed up with treats for her to hand out to her classmates. The lollipop cookies were a hit.

Immediately after school, I took Adah to a local beauty salon for her to get her EARS PIERCED! Several months ago she began asking to have them pierced and we decided her birthday would be a good time. Here she is, pre-piercing, with the earrings she chose (and her new birthday sweatshirt from Nana & Gumpin). She was excited, but also a little nervous and kept asking the ear piercer to pinch her and show her how much it would hurt.

1-2-3, go!

As soon as they were pierced, Adah opened her eyes and said, "That wasn't so bad." Then the shock of her stinging ears set in and she covered both ears with her hands. Still, she didn't cry!

Ta-da!

After a full afternoon at play rehearsal (see future post), Adah came home for a birthday dinner and piano cake with the family. And there were more presents to open from Grandma & Grandpa (after my trip to the post office after school).

Adah completed her birthday festivities on Friday afternoon by going ice skating in Portland. We brought along one of her friends and had a great time. Her favorite part: "playing with my new toy and getting my ears pierced and going ice skating!"