Sunriver

We're having a super relaxing week in Sunriver, despite a crappy day skiing today--actually the worst weather I've ever skied in with winds up to 65 mph on top.  It was so bad they shut all the lifts down at noon (no refunds, of course).  But the kids absolutely loved ski school, even with 30 mph winds at the base, which made the day worth it for me.  I cannot wait to take my first run with them (in much better weather).

Happy New Years!  Hoping 2009 brings wonderful things.

Bliss

I wish there was a way to bottle this day.

This probably won't be news to you, but I am a girl with an "anxious temperament."  A compulsive worrier.  Always have been.  Jodi and I like to call it OCD (because she shares the same genes as me) but really, it's just your garden variety anxiety.  Sometimes it's in remission, and sometimes it's with me like a fly on crap.  

When Kolby and I were engaged, I worried.  Like ya do.  Especially when I was trying to fall asleep.  He gave me a wonderful little trick.  He told me that when I was laying in bed worrying, just daydream about our first little Christmas together--all the wedding craziness behind us, our first tree, our little apartment, the music playing.  And it was perfect.  It calmed me and put me to sleep every time.

I have used  Noel Therapy every since.  I don't know why it works, but it does.  Last year was probably the most stressful Christmas of my life.  I don't care what you say,  unemployment SUCKS!!!  (Granny Coons, if you are reading this, I'm sorry and I'll take an IOU on the mouth-washing).  We had decided that if Kolby didn't have a job by Christmas, we were expanding the job search beyond Portland.  So last Christmas, all wrapped up in anxiety and assuming we'd be moving, I started daydreaming about our next Christmas in Seattle (because it's almost Portland), in a little house (because homes are so expensive here!), hunkered down with just our little family, enjoying a lovely little worry free Christmas.

And here we are.  Today has been perfect.   Tomorrow I'll post some videos and pics.

What's the opposite of doghouse?

So you know the Doghouse video that's been going around? The one with all the guys in the dungeon/doghouse for getting their wives practical gifts instead of jewelry?   I'm all about practical gifts.   Especially when they are as impressive as the Christmas gift Kolby gave me early, knowing I'd want it with all this fun we're having being snowed in.

It's this gorgeous little camcorder that I didn't know I wanted and needed:

It's smaller than my cell phone.  We have a camcorder, but it's such a process to film something and then get it to DVD, so we rarely use it.  But this little thing is so slick.  It works just like you'd hope:  I push that little red button and it starts recording.  Then I plug it into my USB port on my computer, and it uploads my videos.  Making this video took minutes.  

I'm already wondering how I survived this long without it.  

Yet another reason to love the internet

Look what my newest Facebook friend sent me last night.  

Once  Madeline recovered from seeing Grandpa without a mustache, she said, "Awwww!  Your mom is so pretty!  And your dad is so cute!"

Kelly and I were trying to decide when this photo was taken.  It was before 1977...I'm thinking that Mom might be pregnant with me or with Jodi in this photo--not that she looks pregnant, but I think the only time I've ever seen my non-mustachioed dad, it was in a photo when he was holding one of us as a newborn.

How cute are they?!  

  

Kelly just sent one more to me...this sweet one of Grandma and Grandpa.  Got me all teary...I miss them.  

Seeing these pictures with their house in the background reminds me of the times when we were all there and the cousins would be playing in the basement and we'd reach that point of gleeful hysteria that only kids can reach.    

Seriously, I'm so grateful for Facebook and family blogs!   I feel like I'm getting to know my cousins again after so many years of not seeing each other.  And these pictures have probably been buried in boxes in Kelly's mom's basement for 30 years.  I'm so glad she's unearthed them for us.

Not quite sugarplums

Last night when Kolby was wrapping up the bedside concert series with Poncho and Lefty, an old crowd favorite, Amelia mumbled very sleepily, "I was just thinking about what Poncho and Lefty looked like.  Poncho was the blue one."  

Kolby said, "Ya mean he had blue eyes?"

"No.  He was the blue fuzz ball."

"The blue fuzz ball?"

"Yeah.  And Lefty was the green fuzz ball."

I love that moment of fading into sleep when fuzzballs makes perfect sense.  

The Red Coat

"Can we go out and play?  Can we?  Can we?"

"Really?  Okay, whatever.  I'll put on my coat first."

"Yeehaw! So what if I'm wearing this stupid coat she got off the clearance rack for 99 cents at Old Navy."

"Oh my gosh. It just tastes so good on my nose.  I can't get enough of it."

"It doesn't get much better than this.  I hope it's like this all the time at this new house without a real yard." 

"I wonder if I could qualify for the Olympic dog sled team if she let me train?  I think I'm meant for something bigger." 

"I'm so exhausted.  If those kids climb on me right now, I swear I'll bite 'em." 

Judgement Day

Report cards arrived today. 

Kolby gets an A+ for patience.  I have a much lower tolerance for kids climbing all over me. (There's about 242 similar pictures before this one.)

Mia is proud of herself.  (See that shy smile?) She's doing great!  She's learning to read, good at math, making lots of friends, and getting more confident in public speaking.

Madeline is a great reader (just finished the 4th Harry Potter!), good at math even though she doesn't pay attention, gets along famously with all the kids in class, but needs to work on the paying attention part.  (Not new information.)