Christmas Eve

Here you see Abigail and Norah preparing to spread the reindeer food on the lawn. Then you see the girls decorating cookies for Santa. Also Abigail and her cousin Haley have a little wrestle/hug?! Such a fun day!

Trip to the Mission Mill in Salem

Grandpa and Grandma invited us to go visit the Mission Mill in Salem with them this year. It was great fun! Everything was lit up, rooms to visit, crafts for the kids, and period demonstrations. We didn't time things right to hear the music and watch the dancing, something to look forward to for next year! The girls learned how to turn wool into yard, made silhouette's, lavender sachets, snow men of wool, and food for the reindeer! It was a fun filled evening!

STORYBOOK LAND

We took our anual trip to Storybook Land, at the fair grounds here in Albany. It's a delightful display and the kids get to sit on Santa's lap at the end of the walk through. We went on the second to last day this year and it was CROWDED! But we still had a great time. Meshaila, one of the girls favorite babysitters, joined us this year. We saw displays of all the princesses, other Disney characters, and familiar nursery rhymes. Norah wouldn't go near Santa once we got there....maybe next year?!

Halloween 2009

This was a fun year with costumes - Norah was thrilled to finally be Jasmine, her FAVORITE princess and Abigail helped make her costume as she wanted to be Anne of Green Gables. Anne is her newest favorite character, for weeks she practiced using her imagination so she would be good at being Anne. We (I have read aloud) both Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea....I am amazed at how much Abigail understands! (Anne is a hard read for me....I need to look up some of the words she uses!!!) We are preparing to read Anne of the Island. This desire to learn more about Anne began when Granpa and Grandma visited Prince Edward Island and brought the girls back an Anne doll. I am thoroughly enjoying this walk down memory lane as I can share with Abigail a series that I remember my mom reading to me.....such good literature!!

Disney on Ice

In October we drove up to the Rose Garden to watch Disney on Ice. This was our second time going and we LOVED it! We went with Grandma and Grandma Ginna and cousins, Haley and Lee Iver. It was a girls trip as Brett had conferences at school that evening. We enjoyed seeind Cars, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King in the first half. The second half was all Tinker Bell, which thrilled the girls. It was a late night, but SO fun!

Christmas 2009

We just celebrated a wonderful Christmas with Brett's family. On Christmas Eve we went to the children's service at Grandpa and Grandma's church - such fun for the girls! Then we drove around and saw the lights of Keizer - so neat. We ended the evening at Uncle Troy and Aunt Wendi's with their extended family. Delicious food, kids decorating cookies, and LOTS of noise.....a great night! When we returned to Grandpa and Grandma's the girls put out cookies and hot cocoa for Santa. Earlier they sprinkled "reindeer food" on the lawn......helps the reindeer to find you! =)

Christmas morning the girls found their stockings filled and a couple of exciting toys. We enjoyed Christmas Day service, where Brett sang two solo's, such a treat for us all! Then we took blankets, candy canes and cheese sticks to down town Salem to hand out to the homeless people. It was a great experience and helped to refocus the important of CHRISTmas. We remember the greatest gift ever given on Christmas Day - the birth of baby Jesus! His gift to us - HIS PRESENCE. So we felt this was a great way to share HIS presence with those who truly need Him. (By coincidence we eneded up on the news that evening.....they were doing a special on people giving to others!) The rest of the day was spent with Brett's family, even great-grandma Townsend made it up for dinner and gifts. We played many games and truly enjoyed eachother's company! I'll add pictures once they are down loaded!