Christmas 2014

I approached Christmas this year with a bit of trepidation...really our first Christmas alone.  Last year we had Lucy and her family but this year it was just us.  

I had no need to be worried.  We had a wonderful Christmas with just us.  Yummy turkey dinner and all the fixings, lots of Christmas carols and wrong notes on the piano, inspirational Christmas stories, Luke 2, presents, lots of "made for TV movies", a little basketball, a few naps, and no snow.

Practically perfect in every way🎄

Turkey dinner

Family selfie

The boys didn't need pj's so they got something else for sleep-memory foam mattress toppers.

Grandma and Grandpa surprised both boys with rolls of money...it just kept coming.

Tanner wanted a black and white sweatshirt.  He told us this wasn't what he meant😉

Joe got a warm new robe 🔥

Starr got a new bed

Merry Christmas and on to 2015!

Grass

It hadn't been easy, and it isn't over yet, but we have grass.  As we speak, Tanner and Joe are playing catch on our new lawn.  Starr is lounging.  I am smiling.

Grass.  Still need to add edging, bury the sprinklers, and extend the wall on the far side.

Just a few days ago.  Not a lot of work to throw sod (Joe did it all) but a HUGE difference.

Wall drama.  Yikes, it collapsed!

The beginning...a loooong time ago.

A lot of dirt (over 100 yards, one wheel barrow at a time), one dozen palettes of 55-lb blocks, several truck loads of gravel, hours and hours of sweat and work, lots of HOA discussions and now we have a backyard.

Yippee!

Loose Change

I couldn't resist documenting Mason's first encounter with a pay-phone.  Wow I'm getting old.

Yes, his teeth are blue.  He picked a sucker after his allergy shot.  

First Day of School

What a difference a year makes...and thank goodness for that.  Tanner and Mason were eager to start school this year, anxious to see friends they hadn't seen over the summer.  Last year the anxiety was for a completely different reason.

Mason started 5th grade with Mrs. Mansour at Happy Valley Elementary. 

Tanner is a 7th grader (with a bottom locker...bummer) at Happy Valley Middle School.

Here's to a great year!

Look what I saw this morning

We start late church today so Starr and I took a long, lazy walk.  We were rewarded with some beautiful sights.

Mount St. Helens

Mount Hood

Another view of Mount Hood

Such a beautiful morning!

Starr found something as well.  I let her dig and sniff to her hearts content.  Not sure what she was looking for?!?