It just doesn't get better than this!

Kylah & Kallie came over on Tuesday to spend the day with us while Dylona & Jason were at work. While I took down the Christmas tree, Jamie and the girls went for a walk. (I found out later that they had gone to the park without me and my camera not just for a walk.) Kylah did ask Jamie why he didn't have the camera - love that girl!

The girls had pink cheeks and noses when they got back, but said they had a great time. I made them hot chocolate and mac-n-cheese to warm them up. We had a picnic in the living room and watched Spongebob (one of Kylah's favorites, not mine).

After lunch, I was moving some things out in the garage and noticed that it was snowing. SNOWING - I couldn't believe it! I came in to tell the girls and Kylah says "Yah, Uncle Jamie already told us."

"Well why aren't we outside playing in it?!?" I asked

"Okay!" Kylah jumped up

We got dressed as quickly as we could and headed outside. (I guess I wasn't really "dressed" as I was pretty much still in my comfy pj's. I did throw on a sweatshirt tho.) How lucky are we?? Kylah and Kallie come over to play the one day that it snows! (I should add that Dylona was not happy to be working this day and not with the girls. Sorry D.)

Then Jamie got out a box, put the girls in it and pushed them down the driveway. Apparently, that's how we go "sledding" on Celebration Ct. : ) They loved it!

We ended up getting around 4 inches of snow - it was beautiful! Kallie came in with me to warm up and dry off while Kylah and Jamie played for a bit.

Love days like this!

What really happened in 1999?

Another decade is almost here...crazy!

My friend Kathy did a post entitled 1999 to 2009 and you can read about it HERE. She really knew how to bring in the year 2000! That brought me back to where I was on New Year's Eve that year... (do you hear the 'flashback' music coming?)

I know I was living with Dylona and that we had a lot of people over for a party. (I think we did that often though.)

There was wide-spread panic for Y2K. We unplugged our computer, "just to be safe". I think Dylona's parents/grandparents thought we were crazy - they had been storing food and supplies up all year. We knew where to go though if anything happened!

Thankfully, everything was fine when the ball dropped to midnight. (Well...as much as I remember anyways.) I DO remember us running out into our street to watch fireworks.

And, I remember being happy.

In 1999 and 2000 I was getting my life back together and trying to be a good single mother. I was also trying to enjoy my youth and be happy again.

Thankfully I had wonderful people to help me along the way.

Fast forward 10 years and a big WOW!

I have a wonderful boyfriend of almost 8 years that I love to wake up to every morning. (That is when he's not drooling on MY pillow.) We have a home of our own and we have our own business. We also have a teenager that almost always loves us back.

We have our shed on Walden Island . We have time to spend there.

We have a wonderful mixed family and lots of friends.

And we are happy. That is what I'm going to take with me in to the new decade.

Enjoy 2010!!!

Christmas at Home

We drove home on Christmas Eve night so that we could wake up at our house on Christmas morning.

*Hopefully you can see the pictures. I load/edit them on my laptop and everything looks fine. But, when I view them on my computer the pictures are so much darker. I have YET to figure this out. ??)

Santa brought Makena pickle bandaids

that had a little pickle toy inside

I had an Oscar the Grouch stocking hat made for Makena

She thinks Oscar is misunderstood. : )

After presents, Makena went to her dad's house and Jamie and I headed over to the Senior Center to help with the Washington County Girl Scout Christmas Breakfast for the Homeless. Things seemed to be very organized this year and we actually left early because their were so many volunteers helping. What a good thing!

Jamie and I then headed to Shari's (the only thing open) for breakfast. We went home, repacked our clothes and headed back to Garibaldi.

Good thing it was a large room with high ceilings

My mom is the second oldest of 8 children. Growing up, I always remember getting together with her family (as many of them as possible) for holidays and birthdays. Those are always special memories.

This year, several of us were able to get together at my Uncle Kent & Aunt Tami's new house in Rockaway. It has been quite a few years for me to be able to join them and I loved every second of it!

Aunt Renee, Momma, Rudy, Makena & Uncle Kent
she love socks!

Gram had a Christmas quiz made up for us. I didn't do well - Uncle Rick won. (I think he cheated.)

Rudy, Tami, Kent, Shawn, Chase, T & Chad

my beautiful Momma & Aunt Tami

Tami bought me a special beer. Why did I get "bad elf"?

The best present ever - spending time and laughing with them!

December at the Oregon Coast

What a beautiful week we had during our Christmas in Garibaldi! It didn't really feel like "Christmas" due to the weather, but we enjoyed it anyways. Jamie, Makena and I took Moxie and Packer down to the beach to play one day.

by Makena

The streets of Garibaldi

Makena and I braved the streets of Garibaldi one night to take pictures. There are approximately 900 people living in Garibaldi - maybe 10 of them were out that night.

Makena stayed inside the truck (to keep warm) and turned on/off the headlights so that I could see.

This is how we dos it

We spent Christmas week at my parent's house in Garibaldi.

Seven people and three dogs pretty much fill up my mom's little living room, but we don't mind. There are usually neighbors that stop by too, making the living room even smaller. (That I mind sometimes. And trust me, they know it.)

We opened our gifts on Wednesday night.

Thanks Mom & Rudy - hopefully we'll get rid of some of that Salmon!

A name plate for the RV.

A fairy print from Aunt Tamara

The funniest story: Chad gave Jamie a Demarini hat and shirt - size L. What Chad didn't know, or so he says, that the shirt was a Youth L. Jamie tried it on anyways - cuz he's a stud. But, Makena got a new Demarini shirt and Jamie kept the hat.

Notice Chad is the only one actually putting the cart together.

"Can I open presents now Mom??"

Love them

"Ooohhhhh...a new lens?!?"

"Did you wrap another box inside this one?"

"You did...but, it's an iTouch, so that's okay!"

Love them too

a snowman to add

"Thanks Momma"

There are usually a few games of Wii Golf during our visits too. And along with that always comes the trash-talking.

And poker games, with more trash-talking.

And football - lots of football. And even more trash-talking.

T is all geared up - Mia is ready to go home.

having fun with my new wide lens - Go Ravens!