Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve this year was one of the less-thrilling Christmas Eve's we've had.  Spencer and Alan were both still a little under-the-weather, but we decided that we didn't want to spend Christmas Eve sitting around at home.  We visited the Santa Land Memorial Room at Macy's in downtown Portland with Alan's parents and Alicia, but were quite unimpressed.  The place was packed when we went on Christmas Eve two years ago, but I guess everyone realized how lame it is because there were only a handful of other people there.  Spencer was still feeling sick and tired and wanted nothing to do with the bored Santa Claus and his elf.  He did like the model train though, and had fun running back and forth following it.

Alan and Alicia both have good memories of riding the real train that used to run on a track around the ceiling of Meier & Frank.  This dismantled car is all that's left of the original.  Sad.

Did we drive all the way here for this?!

Next, we stopped by Pioneer Courthouse Square to see Portland's Christmas tree and then had a yummy dinner at Macaroni Grill.  We drove by one cool street of lights on the way home then put Spencer to bed an hour early after our sleepless night the night before.  Santa set up his loot while Alan and I watched The Nativity Story (check that one out if you haven't seen it yet) and then we hit the sack completely exhausted too.  Even though it wasn't a terribly exciting night, we were so happy to have Darwin, Debbie and Alicia to spend it with.  Thanks guys!

How to get a free shirt from Winco

::Warning::  

This post is pretty disgusting.  If you get sick easily, don't keep reading.

We were running a few errands together last Friday.  The last place I needed to stop was Winco (my favorite grocery store.  Sorry if you don't have one near you!) for just a few things.  We didn't even get a cart and Alan was just carrying Spencer.  After picking up my 5 items, we were walking to the checkout when Spencer threw-up ALL over Alan's shirt.  The front of Alan's shirt was completely covered along with most of Spencer's jacket and both of their pants.  Alan kept asking for a bag, but since I don't usually carry barf bags in my purse, there was nothing I could do except quickly flag down a store employee.  The guy took one look at Alan and offered to bring him a Winco shirt.  Alan stripped down in the middle of the store to put on his lovely, new polo then took Spencer to the car while I cleaned up and paid.  Even though it was cold, we left the window down the whole 30 minutes home.  It was a long, stinky ride.

Spencer continued to throw up every 20 minutes for the next 12 hours and Alan wound up feeling rotten for a day too.  Thankfully, they were both feeling almost back to normal for Christmas day.  The Winco shirt is now in the trunk of my car ready for the next disgusting disaster.

Old & New Favorite Things

Alan had a few days off work before Christmas and he's had a little break from races, so we did one of my favorite traditions from my childhood and started a new tradition that I think we'll keep.

As a kid, we always decorated gingerbread houses just before Christmas.  I'm not sure why it's so much fun, but it was obvious that Spencer loved it as much as I did this year.  Alan made a big house out of real gingerbread this year and I glued graham crackers onto a small milk carton for Spencer's.  I think Spencer ate a lot more candy than he put on his house.  When he was finished, he was a little sad that he only had a few gummy bears on his house because he ate all the rest.  He had fun making patterns with the M&M's and kept saying, "This is the coolest house!"  Alan was pretty proud of his too even though the roof is about to cave in now. :)

Later that evening, we went to Zoo Lights for the first time.  I think Alan had gone as a kid, but didn't remember much.  Alan was smart, though and got us there a little before the lights started.  We got in the line for the train as soon as we got there, but still had to wait for about 45 minutes.  (The line was twice as long when we got off so we were really glad we got in line when we did.)  It was a long, cold wait, but it was worth it because Spencer LOVED the train.  It went past all kinds of moving animal light displays.  I had never seen anything like it.  We walked around the zoo for a little while after the train, but Spencer was cold and hungry by that time and was ready to leave.  I think this is something we'll save our money for every year (as long as it's not too rainy or cold!).

Magic

On the years we don't travel for Christmas, we get a real tree from one of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of tree farms in our neck of the woods.  Alan wanted a big tree this year so he and Spencer decided on this 9-footer.  Actually, Spencer was tired and grouchy and was insisting on a 2-foot tree until I told him they were the baby trees and weren't for sale.  This tree is beautiful, but we had to cut it down quite a bit and move a lot of furniture to get it in the house.

I'm so glad I have a handsome hunk to do this job for me.  We probably would have gotten a two-foot one if I had to cut it down and haul it home by myself.

Spencer had a great time decorating the tree.  He loves to take his own three ornaments off to play with and since he has been very careful, I don't mind at all.  He loves all of the funny, little ornaments Alan has from his childhood.  Even though Christmas trees are a lot of work, there is something so magical and beautiful about them.  Traditions like decorating the tree and driving around to look at Christmas lights always bring back a little bit of the childhood excitement and mystery of Christmas for me.  It makes me happy and it's completely worth having to vacuum up pine needles almost every day.

And, it wouldn't be Christmas if Alan didn't make my Uncle Steve's amazing rocky road fudge.  I think Alan has created a fellow fudge fanatic by letting Spencer lick a very large spoon.

Christmas FHE

Our ward did a fun Christmas FHE this year.  Mrs. Claus read us a neat story called, "I Believe in Santa Claus."  Then she told us about the symbols of Christmas while we waited for Santa to arrive.  When Santa came, the kids got to give him the toys they brought for the toy drive.  We finished with cookies and hot chocolate.   It only lasted about an hour and was perfect for Spencer.

This was as close as he got to Santa this year.  He wouldn't talk to the scary man, but at least he didn't cry. :)

The best use for a snow shovel in western Oregon

The Whole Wide World

Sunday is the only day of the week we sleep in.  Our Church starts at 2 pm, so we usually don't have a reason to get up early.  Yesterday morning, I woke up with a migraine and was attempting to sleep it away when Spencer came into our room at around 8:00.  He climbed up in bed beside me and said, "Mom, I love you in the whole wide world!" I'm not exactly sure what he meant, but it made me smile despite the pounding in my head.

I'm so lucky to have such a sweet, little boy to hang out with all day.  I love you in the whole wide world too Spencer!

Thanksgiving Vacation

Our Thanksgiving was a little different than usual this year because Alan and his Dad put on a Turkeython race Thanksgiving morning.  They had about 700 runners and the rain held off for most of the race.  They gave out homemade cinnamon rolls to the finishers and whole Costco pies to the age-group winners!  It was another successful race for Uberthons, but it kept everyone except for Spencer and I busy for most of the day.  Spencer and I hung out in our jammies, watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and worked in the kitchen most of the day.

We had a nice dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Larsen, Darwin and Debbie, Alicia and a family friend.  I don't know why I never take pictures on Thanksgiving.  Everything was delicious as always.

Alan, Spencer and I decided to take a quick trip to the beach for some much-needed family time on Sunday night.  Alan has been so busy and has worked himself to the bone the last couple of months.  Uberthons is doing well and their races keep getting bigger and better.  We're all ready for a break during the next couple of months, however. 

We are SO lucky that Alan's parents have their gorgeous beach house.  It's a vacation rental and they are kind enough to let us stay there when it's not being rented.  Most of the time when we head to the coast, we have rotten weather.  We broke our bad luck streak this time though.  It was beautiful and sunny the whole time we were there.  Still a little cold, but we couldn't have asked for anything better at the end of November.

We did a little shopping and a lot of playing on the beach and playing games back at the house.  Spencer can't get enough of the games they have there and it drives Alan and I a little crazy. :)  We tried to go see some tide pools this morning, but didn't get out of the house on time and missed all of the cool stuff.  Next time.  I think going to a candy shop was the highlight for Spencer.  I loved walking on the beach and getting away from my to-do list.  Alan loved taking two days off from Farmers.

It was a lovely, relaxing little trip and a perfect way to start the Christmas season.  Thanks for letting us stay Darwin and Debbie!

2011 Family Pictures

A friend from our ward took our family pictures again this year.  We couldn't have asked for a nicer fall day.  Much better than last year when it was cold and rainy.  Although, I think I like our pictures from last year better.  Go figure.

 

Thankful Tree

I wasn't quite ready to take down our Halloween tree after trick-or-treating so I decided to turn it into a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving.  I cut out a bunch of fall-colored leaves and tied a ribbon on each one.  Now, we each write down something we're thankful for every evening.  It's a good way to teach Spencer about gratitude and a good way to remind myself of just how much I really do have so I don't focus too much on the few things that aren't going so well right now.