{Christmas Part 1: Eugene}

We were all so excited to go to Eugene for Christmas!Ryley packed enough pj's to last beyond our 5 day trip!

He was so excited to see everyone and play with his second cousin ColdenWe also enjoyed the annual cookie decorating!It was sunny and 40 degrees out and the kids couldn't have been happier! They love playing at their Grandpa's old elementary school!Chad and I were able to go on a date to look at Christmas lights, shop, and get dessert.Lemon poppy-seed cake with lemon curd... This is on my future baking list!The kids on Christmas Eve with my sister and brotherThere was little sleeping...and a whole lot of this

but we're home now and getting caught up on things!

We arrived home after midnight on Christmas Eve- or morning rather, and mustered up the energy for the rest of the holiday festivities!

{Traditions}

Maisey and friend Lexie checked gingerbread houses off the list of traditions for the year. After having a sleepover (if you can call it that with only 4 hours of sleep) we made our annual visit to Pittock Mansion (as a mommy/daughter date). The kids are always interested in finding the hidden object (this year they counted over 100 flags since the theme was Christmas around the world). (Holding their certificates after counting)

Dates with daughters are the best (loved one for that matter)Afterwards we had dessert at Bliss, a cupcake place (super cute)!These girls have tons of fun together!Enjoy the season and all your traditions!

{Story Book Lane}

Ry's class took a field trip this week to Story Book Lane in Cornelius and Chad and I went along. I tried to take pictures of him but he would not stop running around with his friends long enough. It was SO, SO cute to see him with 19 other "friends." He honestly loves everyone, and he is such a considerate friend. Lately, he keeps talking about all the Christmas gifts he wants to buy all his friends. If only we were "Santa" Ryley, we would give to everyone!This picture didn't quite capture the real scene which involved three little girls standing around talking to him. *See the rug burn on his head? It was a bad one, and he cut it open on a trampoline... Perfect for holiday pics! Ryley told all his friends this chapel was a "temple." I think he's got the missionary spirit in him!
I thought this place was cute. It is small and it is on someones property. They've been running it since 1979, and most the scenes run on simple, rusty machinery, and there is music in the background. Chad thought it was lame, but it was festive, and free, so the school enjoys going the odd years it's open.

Not pictured off the top of my head: Beauty and the Beast, many nurser Rhymes )the old woman and the shoe, humpty dumpty, the dish and the spoon, the 3 bears), 101 Dalmatians, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Cinderella, and some more I know I am missing.

{Christmas Program}

Ryley's preschool had a Christmas program this week. He sang sporadically, but we were proud he got on stage and sang at all because there were families to 40 preschoolers there. They combined the classes, which made for quite a lovely melody!Afterwards Santa was there to take wishes.

I thought this face was so cute. I guess he passed the test because he earned his candy cane!

Ryley is such a sweet, loving boy! At nearly 4, he still melts my heart!

Our friends invited us to the Christmas ships last week.
Silly Nora was teasing the kids in the car with the 3-D glasses.

Poor Chad was soooo sick with the flu, he had to miss it! I told him he didn't miss much this night, but he's been wanting to go nonetheless!In the end it didn't matter who had the glasses, it was Monday night and we don't know what was the reason, but the ships went by so fast, nobody had time to put glasses on. The fleet only had 6, although many were anchored. Regardless, we love spending time with friends and it was fun.

{2 weeks in a breeze}

The last 2 weeks have been swift to say the least. On top of our very normal typical busy lives, Chad turned 37 on Dec. 1st! To celebrate we went out to dinner and did a lot of playing (miniature golf, laser tag, and zoo lights). Here is Chad modeling his santa suit (minus the belt) that he wore for my work party (thank you Mary for the loan). It was a fun office party with many of the LDS FS employees. There were tons of kids and I'm pretty sure they had a blast eating sweets, watching the Polar Express in the theatre, and playing "white elephant." The kids at the ward party story time (The Night Before Christmas and The First Christmas Story)The day after my work party, and after a very late night, we spent 8 hours at the church setting up and executing the ward party I was asked to plan. I think the estimate of 300 was as close as a person could get!The kids listening to the symbols of Christmas
The day after the ward party we made a day trip to Hood River. My niece was Clara in the Nutcracker and couldn't have been more excited! She's almost 14 and this was an especially exciting role!
On the way home is snowed. And I dozed for 15 minutes. I am still exhausted (which is totally unlike me), but the 12 hours of baking on Thursday did me in!!!
***

This Thursday is the Girl Scout Christmas craft, Friday is the class party, and then we only have one more party we're hosting! All I really have to say is, THANKYOU Pinterest for helping me pull this all off! I failed to capture pictures as the hostess, but things were truly wonderful! Party planning is oh so fun! My only regret, not getting pictures to document the memories!

{Indecisive}

After June's donation to Locks of Love, Maisey informed me she was going "long" again. But, she has been wishy-washy, and this is how her cut turned out the other day. Did you know you can still send hair in to Locks of Love, even if it isn't long enough for wigs (10"). Shorter donations are still helpful because they sell the hair (I don't want to know what it's used for) to offset costs. So this hair is headed to LOL. I am still not use to this, but she's cute no matter how she wears her hair!