So, I have been debating on whether or not to post this, but I think I will just go for it. This is the story.
We have the opportunity to go to Disneyland with my sister and her family over spring break. I know, I know. You are all saying, "Hey, didn't they just go to Disneyland, and aren't they poor struggling students?" Yes to both those questions, BUT if we go with my sister we would drive to CA and stay in a house with them and we could do it for a VERY good price. About half of what we paid last year. This would be our "One Year Early Graduation Trip". We were planning on going to Disneyland or World when Dan graduates from Chiro school, but it might be nice to go now because we still don't have a kid, we have the money, it is a great deal and we aren't in the process of getting new jobs or moving.
The other dillemma is that we promised our family and friends in Utah that we would be visiting the last week in March. We didn't go at Christmas time and I know people will be disappointed if we don't go. (I'm sure some of you reading this are "the people") We haven't been home since Christmas of 2007 which is 13 months ago. We are planning on going to Utah at the end of June for 2 weeks, so maybe they could just wait a couple more months to see us?
AHHHH!!!! I have just been agonizing over this and I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to go SO SO SO bad. I was looking through our Disneyland pictures last night and it was so much fun and I would love to go with the kids and enjoy it with them. The other part of me says that I should save the money and just go to Utah for spring break.
What would you do??
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Isn't it still Christmas?
Well, I know Christmas was like 2 weeks ago, but I still have my tree up, how about you? This past week was crazy at work and I have been working non-stop. So, I finally found a few moments to post about Christmas. We had a fabulous Christmas with my sisters family. Lots of snow, ice, food, fun, kids, love and family traditions.
A few days before Christmas we made a gingerbread house. I didn't know I was married to a gingerbread-house-making-man. Dan helped the kids make the house look really great. He even made icicles! Notice how his hand is covered in icing. That was because I prepared it so well in the pastry bag!
Dan also worked really hard on this HUGE snowman. He colored the snow, dug through layers of ice to find rocks and even had time to make a sombrero from his homeland for his Feliz Navidad snowman. We also made two HUGE snowman in some vacant lots earlier in the day, but I didn't have the camera with me. This was on Christmas Eve and it actually rained a little that day so the snow was perfect for snow man making.
One of our families traditions is to eat out on Christmas Eve. Even though the roads were packed with snow and ice we were determined to go out to eat. We made it safely to Macaroni Grill and had a great dinner.
Our original plans for Christmas Eve were to attend a Hot Cocoa meet and greet with Santa at Jantzen Beach mall, but due to the bad weather it was cancelled. So, we arranged to have Santa come to the house!! We were singing Christmas carols by the piano when we heard some jingling bells and a knock on the door. It was Santa! The kids were seriously in shock. I don't think I have ever seen them so quiet!
Santa came in and took some pictures, gave them a candy cane and told them to go to sleep early so he could come back later. The second he walked out the door they were screaming and jumping up and down because they were so excited that Santa Claus had come to their house! It was so cute.
Another family tradition we have is to act out the Nativity. Dan, Dawson and I were wisemen.
Kelsey got to be Mary.
The last family tradition we have on Christmas Eve is to get Christmas jammies, not just any jammies, but.........
MATCHING JAMMIES
My sister and I used to sing a song at my brother when we were younger, "WE HAVE MATCHING JAMMIES AND YOU DON'T"
Finally it was Christmas morning and the ravenous unwrapping began!
This has become a more recent tradition since we have lived in Portland. It is Christmas french toast. It is the most delicious orange french toast with pomegranite seeds in an orange sauce. It is one of the best things in the world. We also ALWAYS have bacon wrapped water chestnuts and I bet I ate about 10 of them and I didn't care because it was Christmas!
The best part about Christmas was being with our family and watching the kids have so much fun. We were very spoiled this Christmas and at one point Kelsey asked "Why do Holly and Dan get so many presents?" (or something along those lines!) I would give all the presents back and be satisfied with all the memories we made. Dawson got a ball pit and he absolutely loves it. This video is so cute and it is really funny when he falls out the little window! I hope you all had a great holiday season.
A few days before Christmas we made a gingerbread house. I didn't know I was married to a gingerbread-house-making-man. Dan helped the kids make the house look really great. He even made icicles! Notice how his hand is covered in icing. That was because I prepared it so well in the pastry bag!
Dan also worked really hard on this HUGE snowman. He colored the snow, dug through layers of ice to find rocks and even had time to make a sombrero from his homeland for his Feliz Navidad snowman. We also made two HUGE snowman in some vacant lots earlier in the day, but I didn't have the camera with me. This was on Christmas Eve and it actually rained a little that day so the snow was perfect for snow man making.
One of our families traditions is to eat out on Christmas Eve. Even though the roads were packed with snow and ice we were determined to go out to eat. We made it safely to Macaroni Grill and had a great dinner.
Our original plans for Christmas Eve were to attend a Hot Cocoa meet and greet with Santa at Jantzen Beach mall, but due to the bad weather it was cancelled. So, we arranged to have Santa come to the house!! We were singing Christmas carols by the piano when we heard some jingling bells and a knock on the door. It was Santa! The kids were seriously in shock. I don't think I have ever seen them so quiet!
Santa came in and took some pictures, gave them a candy cane and told them to go to sleep early so he could come back later. The second he walked out the door they were screaming and jumping up and down because they were so excited that Santa Claus had come to their house! It was so cute.
Another family tradition we have is to act out the Nativity. Dan, Dawson and I were wisemen.
Kelsey got to be Mary.
The last family tradition we have on Christmas Eve is to get Christmas jammies, not just any jammies, but.........
MATCHING JAMMIES
My sister and I used to sing a song at my brother when we were younger, "WE HAVE MATCHING JAMMIES AND YOU DON'T"
Finally it was Christmas morning and the ravenous unwrapping began!
This has become a more recent tradition since we have lived in Portland. It is Christmas french toast. It is the most delicious orange french toast with pomegranite seeds in an orange sauce. It is one of the best things in the world. We also ALWAYS have bacon wrapped water chestnuts and I bet I ate about 10 of them and I didn't care because it was Christmas!
The best part about Christmas was being with our family and watching the kids have so much fun. We were very spoiled this Christmas and at one point Kelsey asked "Why do Holly and Dan get so many presents?" (or something along those lines!) I would give all the presents back and be satisfied with all the memories we made. Dawson got a ball pit and he absolutely loves it. This video is so cute and it is really funny when he falls out the little window! I hope you all had a great holiday season.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Let It Snow, Let it Ice, Let it Snow!
So we are experiencing the ARCTIC BLAST here in Oregon. This is the worst weather many Oregonian have ever seen. It has seriously been snowing for a week! School and work were closed much of last week and church has been cancelled the last two Sundays! Now the problem is that we don't have the plows to take care of the snow and ice is the other big problem. We made it out to my sisters house on Saturday morning and we were stuck inside until we finally braved the roads today. We put our chains on (they are required on all roads) and we were going 20 mph and we still did a 180. The roads are just packed with snow and then there is a nice layer of ice on the top. It is INSANE!! We have had a good time playing in the snow but it is a little hard to get out to do all the last minute Christmas shopping. I LOVE the snow and we might even get more snow on Christmas!
This was taken on Saturday night. Eight inches. We probably have at least 10 inches now.
This slab was taken off the top of our car on Sunday morning. We had some freezing rain after all the snow.
Jenna collected ice slabs and has a beautiful ice gallery on the front porch.
This was taken on Saturday night. Eight inches. We probably have at least 10 inches now.
This slab was taken off the top of our car on Sunday morning. We had some freezing rain after all the snow.
Jenna collected ice slabs and has a beautiful ice gallery on the front porch.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Happy Birthday to Us!
Sixteen years ago I became an Aunt, got my drivers license and started dating. Ten years later I am an aunt to ten, I got my Oregon drivers license a couple days ago and I have been married 4 1/2 years. Crazy! This weekend we celebrated Kelsey's (My 10 year old niece. I can't believe she is 10!) birthday and my birthday. Don't we look fabulous blowing out the candles on our cakes?
My sister had a crazy week AND we had Kelsey's birthday part earlier in the day AND we went to Forgotten Carols in the afternoon, but we still had a little bit of energy to have a little party for me. I got some fantastic gifts and the best part was being with my family.
I LOVE juvenile literature and one of my favorite authors is Mo Willems. He has written Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny Too, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, Leonardo the Terrible Monster and several others. So, this picture is of me opening Knuffle Bunny. That reaction is completely genuine. I LOVE Knuffle Bunny and I have been wanting a plush Knuffle Bunny to show the kids at school! She also gave me a plush Pigeon and he says "Let me drive the Bus!". They are so cute and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
Holly, Knuffle Bunny and The Pigeon
Dawson was a very good present helper. He is going to LOVE Christmas!
It is becoming a very nice tradition that Jenna likes to get me cute socks! I love socks with designs or holiday themes so I look forward to the socks that Jenna gets me.
Here is the other birthday girl! Did I mention I can't believe how old she is? I had the privilege of being there when she was born and it was truly the most miraculous event I have ever witnessed. She was the first niece and she is so special to me. She is so smart and she just got a part in her school play.
We also have a newish tradition of doing Christmas Crackers on my birthday! If you don't know what a Christmas Cracker is then you must not be watching enough British television. A cracker is a cardboard tube that has a small prize, a crown and a joke inside. Two people hold on to each end and then you pull. There is a loud crack and then you get to see the prizes inside. People in the UK have them at Christmas and other special occasions (I'm pretty sure! Like I know what I'm about!) They sell them at costco and I love them!
The Dans checking out their super cool prizes. They ranged from corkscrew, pocket mirror, yo-yo and lipstick case!
Me and my honey in our cracker crowns!! We were going to make Marzipan fruits and vegetables, but we were all really tired so we watched The Polar Express. It was a great day and I love my family so so much! Thanks everyone!
My sister had a crazy week AND we had Kelsey's birthday part earlier in the day AND we went to Forgotten Carols in the afternoon, but we still had a little bit of energy to have a little party for me. I got some fantastic gifts and the best part was being with my family.
I LOVE juvenile literature and one of my favorite authors is Mo Willems. He has written Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny Too, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, Leonardo the Terrible Monster and several others. So, this picture is of me opening Knuffle Bunny. That reaction is completely genuine. I LOVE Knuffle Bunny and I have been wanting a plush Knuffle Bunny to show the kids at school! She also gave me a plush Pigeon and he says "Let me drive the Bus!". They are so cute and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
Holly, Knuffle Bunny and The Pigeon
Dawson was a very good present helper. He is going to LOVE Christmas!
It is becoming a very nice tradition that Jenna likes to get me cute socks! I love socks with designs or holiday themes so I look forward to the socks that Jenna gets me.
Here is the other birthday girl! Did I mention I can't believe how old she is? I had the privilege of being there when she was born and it was truly the most miraculous event I have ever witnessed. She was the first niece and she is so special to me. She is so smart and she just got a part in her school play.
We also have a newish tradition of doing Christmas Crackers on my birthday! If you don't know what a Christmas Cracker is then you must not be watching enough British television. A cracker is a cardboard tube that has a small prize, a crown and a joke inside. Two people hold on to each end and then you pull. There is a loud crack and then you get to see the prizes inside. People in the UK have them at Christmas and other special occasions (I'm pretty sure! Like I know what I'm about!) They sell them at costco and I love them!
The Dans checking out their super cool prizes. They ranged from corkscrew, pocket mirror, yo-yo and lipstick case!
Me and my honey in our cracker crowns!! We were going to make Marzipan fruits and vegetables, but we were all really tired so we watched The Polar Express. It was a great day and I love my family so so much! Thanks everyone!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Kindred Spirits
My best friend is moving tomorrow morning. I feel like a little piece of me is dying. I know she is still alive and we will talk, but it will never be the same. I didn't realize how sad I would be. I'm glad I have a husband to hold me when I cry. On the way home from her house I was thinking about the song "For Good" from Wicked and some of the lyrics just fit perfectly to how I am feeling:
(Glinda):
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
(Glinda):
Because I knew you
(Both):
I have been changed for good
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
(Glinda):
Because I knew you
(Both):
I have been changed for good
I have definitely been changed for the good because I knew Lindsey. Thank you for changing my life for the better. Thank you for listening, talking, laughing and crying with me. I am so grateful that we moved to Oregon and landed in the Columbia River Ward. We are blessed with many wonderful friends and I have learned and grown so much over the past 2 years. This has been a wonderful time in my life and I would not change a thing. Lindsey, I will miss you, but we will always be friends and when I get sick of the rain in Oregon I will just have to come to visit you! I love you.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
I heart Fred Ferkel
My brother-in-law just went on a business trip to London and Greece and he had a stop at the Frankfurt airport. I was at his house when he was leaving and he was taking requests for treats from Europe. I remembered a few years ago I received some pink piggie gummies from Germany and they were DELICIOUS. So, I requested the pink piggie gummies. I got a text message from him on Wednesday night that said he did find the pink piggies, but it wasn't easy. He gave me the pink piggies tonight and they are even better than I remember. I also know now that they are called Fred Ferkel. He is a plump little pig who seems to enjoy lemonade. I wish I had enough to share, but I only have one package and I have already had to share a couple with Dan. It's funny because if they were sold in the US I probably wouldn't even like them, but since I have only had them like twice in my life I love them and I don't want to share them. Dan said he was only going to have 2, but he just stole another one. I better find a good hiding place for them so I can eat them all! BWA HA HA!!
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