My Teenager

No, she isn't really MY teenager but I love this teenager so much. On Christmas morning she gave me a cute little photo album full of pictures of us since she was a baby. I was so touched by her sweet gift that I cried and it was definitely my favorite Christmas present. I was there when she was born and started crawling and talking. They moved to Oregon when she was around 2 (I think) and we didn't get to see her as much, but when we moved to Oregon 6.5 years ago we have had so much fun watching her play soccer, dance, piano recitals and school plays. She is a great big sister and an amazing cousin to Luke. Luke loves his "deh dey" so much. The second he sees her his arms are up for her to hold him. She runs with him and chases him and it makes my heart so happy. I've been feeling quite nostalgic lately about her growing up and I can't imagine her leaving us in a few years to go to college, go on a mission, get married and one day have her own children. Oh, look at me getting all mooshy! I just love her and can't believe she is so grown up. 

On New Year's Eve she went to her first Stake Dance. She looked so beautiful and all of us girls wanted to take a picture with her! 

Star Wars New Year

I've noticed that 2012 was not so great for many people, but I feel so blessed to say that 2012 was pretty awesome for us. We moved to Sherwood, got our first non-apartment (even though we still share walls with people our condo is SO much better than apartment living), I made new friends and join MOPS, we traveled to Utah a few times and I got to go on my first vacation alone, Dan's practice is doing great and we are blessed with an amazing little boy. 

Our New Years Party theme was Star Wars this year! We made these little star wars character crafts adn made our own light sabers our ot pipe insulation and duct tape. 

We used the force to keep the balloons off the toxic floor. 

Spider Man made an appearance. 

Poppy and Dawson dueled to the death.

This had to be the coolest part of the night. I was at Winco buying some food for New Years Eve and I saw these cool sky lanters for sale. It was about $7 so I decided to only buy one in case it didn't work. We went out and did a little pre midnight festivities around 9 pm and lit this lantern. 

You light it and let it fill with the hot air until it starts to pull away from your hands. 

Then you ask your wife if you can let it go.

Then you let it float away.

Then it floats up into the sky. And it goes up and up and up...

And up...We must have watched it for like 3-5 minutes until it became a tiny little spec and we couldn't see it anymore. Next year we want to buy one for everyone and let them off at midnight with a wish. They were seriously awesome!! 

We watched some of the festivities on TV and waited for midnight. I must be getting old because midnight is too late for me nowadays. 

Goodbye 2012 and hello 2013. 

Portland LDS temple

We went to the new Visitor Center at the Portland LDS Temple while my parents were here. If you don't know about LDS Temples or about Mormons this is great place to find out more! There are lots of interactive exhibits and some great new technology that is fun for kids and grown ups. There is also a great spirit of love and peace in the visitor center and temple grounds. Here are a few pictures from our visit. 

I stole this picture from a different site, but I didn't get a picture of the outside of the temple that day and I wanted to make sure there was one in this post. I love this temple so much. Before Luke was born I had the opportunity to serve as an ordinance worker in the temple. It was only for six months because I started getting too sick and pregnant, but it was a great place to spend my Saturday evenings for six months. Temple are a sacred place for the LDS people. The work we do here is sacred and not secret. We make promises with God and in turn are promised blessings from Him. This is His house and it is beautiful and peaceful and totally separate from the world. 

Christmas Time Is Here!

I was awakened Christmas morning by Dawson jumping on me! We didn't sleep great on Christmas Eve because Luke always takes a few days to adjust to sleeping somewhere new. Dan ended up sleeping in Jenna's bed with Luke most of the night. Merry Christmas Daddy! 

Luke started by opening his stocking. Yogurt melts...yummmmm!

A little blinded by the flash...I'm sure he wanted us to open these M&M's for him. 

Luke was a good little boy so Santa brought him a gift! Luke honestly wasn't too sure about wrapping paper and the whole gift thing. He hasn't really had any gifts since his birthday and we had to do a lot of coaxing to get him to open his gifts. 

 Yay! A Fisher Price Little Wheelie Ramp! He actually loves this toy and I think it will be a good toy for several years to come. 

 These people got a Wii U from Santa. We played it a lot over Christmas break and it is really awesome. 

Dawson was just decorating his leg while we prepared breakfast.  

 I identically bought Dan the same shirt twice....I'm pretty awesome like that. 

 Luke got some awesome Usborne books from Nana and Poppy. 

 He also got this amazing Melissa and Doug Pound and Roll toy from Nana and Poppy. He plays with it all the time. 

 Some more forced unwrapping. He seriously did not like unwrapping the presents. 

Jenna gave Dan one of his favorite things in the world...gummy vitamins...seriously, he loves them. 

 

The kids gave Luke bubbles and now we have to do bubbles every day. He is obsessed! 

A little Christmas love! 

This kid is obsessed with Ninjago! He got like 6 Ninjago lego sets and he was in HEAVEN!

 Daddy got a hand print from his baby! 

We got a Wii! Yay!! Now we play Harry Potter Lego every day! We love it!

 Luke was happiest when his cousins were playing Just Dance on the Wii. They would dance to Call Me Maybe and he was the happiest toddler in the world! 

It was a great Christmas! Luke loved all the festivities leading up to Christmas and even thought he wasn't too excited about the gift opening he loves all his new toys and it has been so nice to get rid of a lot of the baby toys and move into the toddler/big boy toys. 

Christmas Eve

We were so happy to have our Nan and Poppy with us for Christmas this year. Since Dan owns his own business we don't get paid vacation and I also refuse to drive to Utah at Christmas so we have convinced my parents to come here every other year. 

We started off the evening with a new tradtion. We did R.A.C.K.: Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. We all pitched in little mullah and put $5 in ziploc bags with a little note abou RACK. We went to the mall and some of us walked up to strangers and gave it to them, some we gave to workers at the stores, some we left in random places and Dawson even decided to give his to Santa Claus! It was actually really fun and the kids said it was their favorite part of the day. We will be doing it every year from now on and maybe start saving up some extra money throughout the year to make it bigger and better! 

Then we made our way over to the always fabulous WUNDERLAND! The land of wonder, lights, tickets, nickels and fancy machinery! As you can imagine the nickel arcade is pretty deserted on Christmas Eve and we love playing all the games and getting some fun prizes. 

A little Skee Ball with the pro! My Dad is great at Skee Ball!

My Mom is the biggest fan of Wunderland, but she indulges us in our fun and even smiled for this picture!

Beautiful ladies!

TONS O TICKETS!

Luke was happy to just run around and we were happy to trade Luke duty with others. He like pushing all the buttons and climbing on and off of the driving games.

We ate a VERY delicious dinner at Outback. No groceries to buy, no meal to plan, no dishes to do. Perfect!

Now, onto the Nativity portrayal. 

Three Wise Men

 Mary and her hubby.

Our manger scene, complete with a teenage donkey! 

MATCHING JAMMIES!

Dan got the Wario Jammies this year. Last year Dawson was accidentally given this costume on Christmas Eve and he thought they were Wario jammies and it was one of the most hilarious things that has ever happened...you had to be there. 

I didn't get a picture of the little boys :( They were whisked off to bed after jammy time.