Week in Photos: November 12-17

On Monday, 11/12, we drove to Helena for FHE with Nana, Papa, Aby, Marshall, Postums and Lehmans because Drews were passing through on their move to Vancouver, WA. There was a terrible windstorm that day (and it hasn't let up much--70 mph gusts almost daily). So as we pulled on to I-90, there was this over turned semi-truck. On our way home, the highway was completely closed because there were a couple more blow-overs! We arrived at Postums and the cousins and Nana rejoiced!
James got into mischief right away... (under Jake & Sam's table)
...and soon got his buddy, Cousin Sam involved.
Heidi and Jake are always thrilled to see eachother!

Matt & Amie got babysitters so we could all go out to dinner at Macaroni Grill, and then we all went swimming at the Hampton Inn pool.
Rich with Heidi and James
Amie with Jake and Sam
Laura and Darrin watching Jared

Rich with Sam & James, and Addie & Jake in the background
Water Babies!

We had a great time, but were so tired the next day!


Jennifer Claar made this darling shadow box for James' birthday...
I LOVE IT!


On Saturday, 11/17 we took off for Vancouver via Spokane, Washington. We had to stop in Butte to take insurance photos of this cool restaurant and pick up my nephew, Gabriel Lehman.
We loved our hotel in Spokane, especially at the employee rate!
Heidi, Addie, adn James loved it, too!
Watching Animal Planet, waiting to swim...

This was our "living area" where Gabriel slept on the hide-a-bed...

We had a really nice time there!
Here is a blurry-yet-so-adorable picture of Heidi, Addie, and Abby taking Sydnie for a walk in the rain on Nana's new street.
Cutie James Ole at Nana's

Addie got this great scooter for her birthday...
She loved it!
She raced with Gabriel and Abby...
But didn't try the neighbor's ramp!

Tragic (staged) Scooter Accident! This is why we wear helmets, people.
Heidi made Nana draw her some elephants to color (of course).
Abby invited Addie to her room for a slumber party

Thanksgiving Day...time for Heidi to washup for the feast!
Here's the spread (click to enlarge)
Papa carved the turkey--yum!

We brought our Pilgrim with us!

(He usually stands in our food storage room to remind us to be thankful for abundance.)

The Gang, feasting.
You already saw out beach photos, which is what we did after dinner (we left at 2pm). On the way home, we drove around the Portland Temple--beautiful!

PHEW! That's it for catching up in November! Now on to the crazy Christmas Pix!

PS: Now Addie's sick and James is almost done...shucks. I don't want a turn!

Recent Photos

For some reason it's been hard for me to sit down and post pictures lately, but I am going to try to get them up in the next 12 hours, including some retro Thanksgiving trip pix, so after Monday night, scroll back and have a gander. For now, here are some pictures of our weekend.

Friday, 11/30: Just Chillin' at home and Christmafying the house... Heidi has moved from playing with/ lining up three-dimensional toy elephants to printing out elephants from the computer, coloring them cutting them out, and lining them up.
Last week I put Christmas trees in each room of our house excpet James' and ours. James crawled into the girls' room early Friday morning--it was dark except for the tree--and I found him just chillin' with Christmas Bear.

Saturday, 12/01: Mom & Addie's Tea Party Date!
Addie and I attended the Nutcracker Tea Party at Livingston Bar & Grille. We were seated adn Addie chose Sugarplum Spice Tea, and I chose Candy Cane Tea. We got plates of tea sandwiches, cheese, crackers, cookies and fruit...
Here's Addie in front of the buffet table.

Later we traded tea because I liked the Sugarplum and Addie liked the candy cane...
Here she is sipping her tea.

Later, we got a sneak preview of scenes from the upcoming Nutcracker performance.
Here are Clara & Fritz fighting over the Nutcracker.
Here all all the dancers from the preview.

Addie with Clara (who is also the assistant teacher in her ballet class).
Here's Addie as we left the tea party, in front of the Bar & Grille on Main Street.
It was 9 degrees, but not windy, so it felt great!

Later that night, Heidi was having a tantrum, as usual...
And then she took this picture of Dad & James--so cute!
After bedtime prayers, James tried to climb up to Addie's bed--he LOVES her!
That little stinker won't walk, but he climbs EVERYWHERE!

Here's Heidi in her dirty sweatshirt, getting ready for bed.

After the girls were all settled down, James was crawling around and found these lights...



Sweet Christmas Boy!

Sunday is voided because Heidi started throwing up at 6am and we did nothing but lay around, eat popsicles, (well, Rich and Addie went to church) and clean up barf until 6pm. Now it's Monday and James just had his first barf...here we go again! I guess my baking day is called off! It would NOT be a nice gift to share these germs!) Which brings us to TODAY...

What did Heidi beg for as her first solid food after yesterday's Barfies? Spinach with ranch and bacon bits. I told her yogurt woudl be better, or toast, but NO! She wanted Spinach! She ate two bowls like this!

Jill asked for some decor pictures, so here you go. These are just of the front great room. There are decorations in every room--so fun!

Heidi & the tree with lights off--the basket of Christmas books is behind her, growing each year!
I put most of the Santas here near the kitchen...
...and here are those cool giant bulbs from Target. This picture makes me want to clean my kitchen--I need more cabinets cuz I hate all those appliances and utensils out!

So...I gotta go be on barf patrol. Rich just got James out of the tub and has to go back to work. How are your Christmas plans going?

A Good Prayer

May our eyes remain open even in the face of tragedy.

May we not become disheartened.

May we find in the dissolution

of our apathy and denial,

the cup of the broken heart.

May we discover the gift of the fire burning

in the inner chamber of our being

–burning great and bright enough

to transform any poison.

May we offer the power of our sorrow to the service

of something greater than ourselves.

May our guilt not rise up to form

yet another defensive wall.

May the suffering purify and not paralyze us.

May we realize the greatness of our sorrow

and not run from its touch or flame.

May clarity be our ally and wisdom our support.

May our wrath be cleansing, cutting through

the confusion of denial and greed.

May we not be afraid to see or speak our truth.

May the bleakness of the wasteland be dispelled.

May the soul’s journey be revealed

and the true hunger fed.

May we be forgiven for what we have forgotten

and blessed with the remembranceof who we really are.

~ The Terma Collective

PS: Happy Birthday, Kelli Melin!

For the Beauty of the Earth...

I have a ZILLION pictures to post and no time, but I couldn't wait any longer to post our beach pix. I have to hit the hay soon, but here's a look at what we did after Thanksgiving dinner...

We drove 90 miles out to Canon Beach on the Oregon Coast to play and watch the sun set (at like 4:40pm!!!) Here is our family at the Beach...

(our nephew, Gabriel was sleeping in the van)

I think this is my favorite picture of the day--my girls at sunset.
Addie collecting shells
James facing the sun set with the moon rising behind him
My cute boys

Me & my 15 chins, my hubby, and my darlin' son
Addie walking with her "kid-uncle" Marshall
Good night, sun...



"For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise."

Beautiful ending to a beautiful day.
Hope y'all had a wonderful holiday!

PS: Yes, that IS the beach from Goonies, which was filmed in Astoria (30 miles north of Canon) and at Canon Beach! Good eye! I didn't even notice, but I haven't seen Goonies since I was 13! Laura, there is a 30% chance of snow on 12/7 and 0% on 12/8, so maybe you can caravan with Posties for safety, then go home in the clear! Both highways are pretty major, so I imagine they'll be clear. Anyway, thanks for all the comments--luv U guys!