"Now I sing my song to make the snow come down…"

Heikki Lunta made it snow!

The snow arrived on Thursday midday. 

Schools were dismissed early and Harlan's work closed as well.

 It's been awhile since we've seen any real sticking snow. It is so pretty.

I took a picture through one of the holes in the screen door and then another one after night fell. It is so quiet when it snows. 

No school or work on Friday either

 Ry came in around 8 a.m. He was out enjoying the snow and having breakfast at Denny's. It looks as though he stopped at a Starbuck's on his way home too.

 Har and I bundled up and walked down to Lloyd Center. We stopped for coffee on the way and walked around inside the mall getting warmed up for the walk home. Thank you to every neighbor along the way who shoveled the sidewalks in front of their homes. It's easier to walk on the cement than in the snow.

 More fun on Saturday

We don't have nearly as many little birds on our porch as Cherise has on her deck! 

It's so fun to try to figure out who's been here?

 This one is hard to see but I made a snow angel in the yard.

 And I got to shovel the sidewalk. I'm thinking those pedestrians that are braving the weather will appreciate it.

 The FAM sure appreciated me breaking out the Cracker Barrel muffin mix to go with my homemade  lean turkey chili! Perfect combination for a cold snowy day.

 Our tarp garage periodically shed some of the snow accumulation when the wind came in and shook it loose. But the snow still was coming down.

The poor little daffodil that bloomed over a week ago was leaning down and frozen stiff. I rescued it and it's now gracing the mantle as a sign that this snow is temporary and the rain will be arriving  before long.

We're in for a bit more before it's over though

Sunday services all over the Portland area have been cancelled for tomorrow.

I posted the picture of myself shoveling on FaceBook and commented that I may be able to trade my shovel for a hockey stick and my boots for skates as freezing rain is in the forecast.

I hope it melts quickly and travel conditions improve because I want to be there when that newest little grandson is born! I'll be there as soon as I can Quinn :0) 

A day off from school = an outing with the kids

Introduction to...

It was a teacher's inservice day in both of our school districts. I wanted to treat the kids to lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory but the one closest to their house isn't open for lunch. So we drove around a bit and ended up at FIVE GUYS. They had never been there before so everything was fun and new.

At FIVE GUYS you place your order and they pack everything into large brown paper bags that have the receipt taped to the outside. Each burger or hot dog is listed by number so you can tell whose they are by the number tag on the wrapper. Danika was pretty pleased that her hot dog was number six, the same as her age :0)

While I was walking around taking pictures Genevieve noticed that Garrett's burger was in the shape of a heart. He's an artist when he's eating.

I have a habit of taking pictures of people when they are eating. You'd never have guessed that Cam and Joylynn are doing just that by looking at them.

SAY AHHHHH

This cell phone photo was the perfect addition to this post.

Cutie Anabelle is sharing her Cheerio with us. She looks happy in spite of that bonk she got on her eye.

Riding in the front seat

Our truck has a feature to turn off the passenger airbag which is nice since car seats don't fit on the jump seats as well as Joylynn and I do.

Garrett and Grampa got to be in the front during a recent appointment day.

Let me entertain you...

After spending the night with Charles and Courtney, Danika and Garrett spent the day at our place. He took over my kitchen tv and she put a movie going on Grampa's computer in the music room. I need to do a lot of clearing stuff out in the way of kids clothes and toys around here. I want to have a few quality toys to keep for all of the grands to use when they visit.

I have some wooden puzzles, a puppet stage and puppets, a playhouse and just added these stacking/nesting blocks. 

I'm trying to figure out how people move on into life without children in the home? 

We spent such an extended time in the preschool/homeschool years that I'm struggling now.

I have had to learn to cook small for the first time in years. 

Harlan used to comment on my cooking for a crowd when we were first married as I went from living with my Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters to just the two of us. We're entering into that newly wed mentality again. 

Just the two of us.

It actually sounds kinda nice!

News from around the fam

All the news that is the news :0)

Snow in the Copper Country

Goodbye to a trusty companion

My brother, Dave and his family, lost their dog Lilly, the golden in the above photo.

She was a great dog!

School Pictures :D

I haven't seen Wyatt's pics yet but the girls' turned out cute.

Trip to Georgia

Alyssa took a road trip to visit friends in Georgia while Logan is working down there. She sent me pictures of the kids fishing.  FUN!

At their home in Virginia they have had snow and are getting ready for Valentine's Day.

Good clean living

Courtney had Garrett overnight recently and sent me this bath-boy picture from her phone.

Anabelle and her Momma

Big sisterhood is fast approaching so this Momma's girl is hanging on to the "baby of the family" status  a little tighter these days.

Deputy Kangas gets a K-9

http://kbkw.com/local-news/102577

Check out the above news link and read about our nephew and his new partner.

Way to go, Justin...we are so proud of you!

More "local" pride

Did you see the game? The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII?

Henry was looking forward to the big game and the girls were sporting their blue and green.

We had our traditional Super Bowl party with our friends, the Zwicki's. It's always great to have these guys over. Garrett and Vinny enjoyed getting reacquainted. They kept referring to each other as "friends". We had six of our 8 kids here along with Courtney's Charlie and Krystle's friend, John. Tom and Kim had two of their 4 here along with Katie's boyfriend, AJ. Joylynn's kids and Sarah Z's Vinny rounded out the group. There was so much food!!!!

The Seahawk fans in the crowd were SUPER happy with their team's performance. I did feel a little sorry for the Broncos but congratulations to the Hawks! They showed up and got the job done. First time in their franchise history that they got a championship. I'm afraid I'm going to have NFL withdrawals now.

Does that mean I have to start rooting for the Portland Trailblazers next?

 I hear they've been playing pretty good basketball this season.

Hodge podge of an update

Here are just a few more photos of our January happenings.

Harlan's project

Harlan took on a project to assemble a coat bin and cubby for the school at our church. We picked up the already cut pieces from a gentleman who made one but didn't have the time to finish a second one. My design making and perfectionist hubby had to take some deep breaths and "Just Do It". I think it turned out amazing in spite of all of the flaws that Har can point out. 

I'm sure the little kids that will be using it will not notice that the top cubbies are a tad taller than the lower ones. It was the official first thing hauled in our new truck.

Thanks to our niece, Ronda, 

I can enjoy my coffee in New York

Ronda and her sisters spent a sister's weekend in New York City to celebrate the 50th birthday of our niece, Kristen. Through FaceBook messaging I contacted Ronda to see if she could pick up a mug to add to my "You Are Here" collection. She did!!!

We were able to meet recently for me to pick it up and pay her for it. Thank you again, Ronda!

I love these stackable fun coffee mugs!

My new recliner

I saved some Christmas money and spent it on a recliner for myself. It looked like a regular armchair and was very comfy but, voila, it had a foot rest that popped out. Har and I now have his and hers chairs just like Edith and Archie :0)

New waters...

Cam is only a sophomore but he's being wooed by schools far and wide. The first was U of O and then a passel of others. He's definitely thinking of college but hasn't narrowed anything down yet. Ry is wondering where the OSU letter is! I think Cam is waiting for the MIT one ;0)

Michigan Tech maybe?

He doesn't look much like a Tech TOOT these days. 

Perhaps if we got him a chook and some swampers.