Christmas in Oregon!

We had a great time in Oregon for Christmas!

December 24th

After some delay on Shasta getting over the pass, we finally made it late on Christmas Eve. The girls were so excited to be there, we had to let them wind down a little. Then we reminded them that we "barely beat Santa there" and they had better get to bed...

On the way through town, we saw many lights. This is one we found later on while driving around after dinner one night. We joked that the house should be spinning, not the electric meter! It was cool to drive around the town and follow the "trail of lights", different businesses had light displays, ranging from the manger scene to deer, ducks, fly fishing you know, "typical Oregon stuff" :) ... I really should have taken more pictures, but I had misplaced my camera before we left, and had to rely on my iPhone, which actually didn't do too bad. Wouldn't you know it, Kris and I were straightening our room up this week, and he found my camera, though!

December 25th CHRISTMAS!!!

The girls were so excited to open all of their gifts! They were especially excited to get the Pixos

and Troy and Ryan dolls (High School Musical)...

and new scooters! Thanks sooo sooo much Grandma Carol and Grandpa John! I have to post some pictures of them riding them for you...

They also had a great time opening gifts that I bought with the money that Grandma Judy sent them! I had a great time seeing how much I could get with the money, and she will be amazed when I take pictures of them modeling their pajamas, slippers, jeans, sweaters, and two pair of shoes EACH (Yes- three of my favorite stores- Target, Famous Footwear, and Payless were all having sales!!!). And before you say "booooorring", just know that they are starting to get in to clothes and shopping. You will see when they model them for you, they absolutely love them, and will be sending you their Grandma Judy a thank you on this blog and in the regular mail too! We were also excited to get a web cam from Grandpa Dennis, and figured out how to use it when we got home! Now we can talk to everyone who has a web cam that way. That was truly a great gift that will definitely keep giving every time we get to see and hear all of you! Thanks so much!

We spent the rest of the day playing with the girls' new toys, eating a yummy dinner, and watching A Christmas Story...

December 26th
The day after Christmas, we played in the snow, both at the park and around my parents' house.

The first thing they wanted to do was attack each other with the snow, then they both got mad at each other, and had to make up. They made angels and started to get along better, though. I had bought them new snow pants, so they just wanted to live in those the whole time, and they pretty much did! After eating lunch at a delicious Barbeque place called "Wubba's", we went sledding. They had a great time with the sled that Santa left for any grandkids who happen to come visit. This hill doesn't look steep, but it was a good one, with just enough incline at the beginning to get some speed and a long ride. Mom and I also made cookies and peppermint bark candy that day. Yum!

This is the view down my parents' street! After we left, it rained several days in a row, and some of the snow left. It snowed a lot while we were there, though!

Here are the "Snow Chicks" again, having a great time!

That evening, we had fun staying up till the wee hours on the computer giggling getting my mom set up on blogger and myspace! I hope she keeps up with both of them!

December 27th

The next day, Saturday December 27th, was our 18th wedding anniversary! It is so hard to believe it has been that long. We went to a special dinner at a restaurant by the golf course called "Nibbley's on the Green". It was very nice, and I am sad that I forgot to take pictures. I don't think my parents or Kris remembered to either. The food was OUTSTANDING!- Kris got a ribeye steak with coconut shrimp, potatoes, and vegetables, and the girls and I shared the biggest and most delicious plate of chicken alfredo ever!. My dad let me taste his plank salmon, and it was so tender and delicious. Before the meal, they gave us some soup that had vegetables and spicy italian sausage, and that was good too! Since we weren't holding back, we had to share an order of the italian cream cake- out of control good!! The girls shared a huge red velvet cupcake with white buttercream frosting, and now Becca has decided that is the best kind of cake ever, and she wants one for her birthday cake.

December 28th

We packed, enjoyed the coziness of parents' house, and loaded up. We went out for pizza, then headed home. It was a fun-filled few days! We didn't end up leaving until 2 p.m., but the drive home was so smooth, we were home at exactly 10:00! Kris did an awesome job of getting us there and home safely!

WE MISS YOU GRANDMA CAROL AND GRANDPA JOHN! Can't wait till you come see us in April!