Stormy Weekend at the Beach

I know I mention this a lot, but we are so lucky have to wonderful in-laws who share their beach house with us!  Darwin and Debbie spent a few days there last weekend and invited us to join them.  We met them in Tillamook on Saturday morning so Alan and Darwin could meet with a lady about an upcoming race.  The rain poured down on us the entire drive there and got more intense the closer we got to the coast.  After lunch and ice cream at the cheese factory, we got soaked walking to our cars and drove down to Lincoln City.

It was so rainy and windy that once we got to the beach house, we didn't leave the rest of the day.  We turned on the fireplace, played lots of games, watched lots of Olympics, and ate lots of food.  It was so relaxing and fun!  We never even made it to the beach, but it was so nasty out that none of us even cared.

Spencer got a little bored on Sunday evening and started having "fruit races" with these fake fruits.

We went to Church on Sunday morning and then spent the rest of the day lounging around the house again.  I started to get a little stir-crazy by the end, but it was a really nice break.  We hadn't been anywhere as a whole family since last summer!  Alan had to work Monday morning, so he and I left that night, but Spencer got to stay one more night and have some special Grandma and Grandpa time.  I missed him on Monday, but he had too much fun to miss me much. :)  Thanks for sharing your house and your weekend with us Darwin and Debbie!

Snow Days!

Snow is such a rarity in the Portland area that we western Oregonians are pretty wimpy about it - especially when we get nine inches in two days!  It's been five years since we've had this much snow.  We haven't had more than a skiff the last few years, so this was really exciting.

The school actually cancelled Spencer's afternoon kindergarten class on Thursday morning before it even started snowing.  (The rest of the school kids got released early that day.)  Alan's office also let them out early so their employees wouldn't have to drive in super terrible conditions.  It took Alan twice as long as normal to get home, but it wasn't too bad.  

These two headed out to play in the evening right when I had to go to work. :(

Alan's office closed down completely on Friday, so I got Alan to install the pot rack I got several weeks ago.  (I love it!)

Spencer built a time machine while Alan was working.  He's really into the Magic Tree House books right now. 

Spencer was only one-year-old the last time we had any snow to speak of so this was his first experience really playing in the snow.  He LOVED it!  Thank heavens for the neighbors who gave us some snow pants they had out-grown and for Aunt Danielle for the snow gloves we somehow inherited.  He was only lacking snow boots, but his rain boots seemed to do ok.

My toes froze in my rain boots!

Trampolines in the snow are pretty awesome.

We had nine inches by Saturday morning.  Thankfully we live within walking distance of Safeway and a Redbox. :) 

We had a fun "Olympics Party" (thanks to Family Fun magazine) in between trips to play outside.  It didn't really have much to do with the Olympics, but it was still fun.

Tumbling Tower: 

Skee ball:

Javelin Blow:

"Look Mom!  I'm making fog on the widow!"

Church was even cancelled today because the parking lot was so full of snow and ice, so we had "Home Church" instead.  Alan and Spencer both told us about a scripture and I taught a primary lesson on families.  The students had to draw pictures of their families.  I missed going to real Church, but this was better than nothing.

We'll see if school is cancelled again tomorrow.  The roads are still pretty icy and Spencer has a cough now, so we may get one more snow day.  I like snow storms once a year.  The family time and delicious cinnamon rolls I made were great!

Valentine's Cards

Spencer was so excited to make Valentine's for his kindergarten class that we made them about three weeks early this year.  (With my serious lack of creativity, I don't know how I would have survived things like this without Pinterest!)  Spencer was an excellent helper this year and didn't complain once about having to write, "From: Spencer R," twenty five times.  They turned out cute and are all ready for his class party.

Sunshine and Hope

For some reason, we have a week or so of really nice weather every January.  I'll call it our Indian Spring.  Days like this are heavenly during the post-Christmas slump and we got out and enjoyed them.

Spencer got to play with his little neighbor friend for a few minutes.

I attempted to poison the moles that are tearing up the edges of my lawn.  grrrrrr.  I usually put a brick over the holes I poison to keep the cats from eating it.  I've done this several times now, but the moles are still making new holes.

My hydrangea has new buds on it!  Life has been good lately and I'm feeling a hope that I haven't felt in a long, long time.