SNOW!

It is not supposed to stick around for long, so we have to enjoy it.

We are off to go outside and play!

Christmas 2009

We are once again reminded of how blessed we are as a family. We had such a great Christmas with friends and family.

It is sad to see the season come to an end.

Addy and I Christmas Eve at Aunt Wendy's house.

Addy is pretty happy with her new kitchen from Santa!

Gabby looking festive.

A Christmas hug for Papa.

Addy checking out the presents under the tree.

A family photo at Mom and Dad's house.

Addy admiring her new doll from Nana and Oompa.

"I love Christmas!"

Weekend of Festivities

On Friday night we celebrated this happy couple on their recent engagement. Congrats Chad and Jessi we can't wait to celebrate your big day and thank you Drew and Em for hosting the gathering.

Saturday morning Matt and I spent a couple hours with Leslie and Caroline. We celebrated Christmas a little early since they will not be able to join us this year.

On Saturday night we attended our annual Christmas cocktail party.

(Thanks to Jamie for putting it all together this year.)

We started this tradition back in 2001 when we were roommates senior year in college.

Group shot of most of the girls.

Christmas Party 2009

Then on Sunday we had our annual girls gift exchange/breakfast.

(Thanks Ruthie for hosting this year.)

The gift game always gets very intense especially when it is time for the lighting round!

Wow... such a fun weekend packed full of holiday/fun events. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family. We hope we never get to busy to keep our holiday traditions alive.

Merry Christmas!

(Bye Bye) Birthmark

Most of you know that Addy has a birthmark called an hemangioma on her left eye. (You can really see how it hangs over her eye in this picture. It doesn't always look this bad.) When she was five months old an ophthalmologist gave her a steroid shot to shrink it but unfortunately by the time she was one we could tell it was growing back. At her most recent eye doctor appointment, they determined it was getting in the way of her vision and that we needed to treat it again. She sent us to an eye lid specialist down at OHSU to determine the treatment. We had our appointment yesterday and the doctor wants to try putting Addy on blood pressure medicine. Strange... I know... but I guess they have found that it reduces the hemangiomas with less side effects than the steroids and it is less invasive than surgery. We have an appointment with her pediatrician on Friday because he wants to monitor her blood pressure while she is on this medication. We are excited about this new option and are hoping it works without any hitches. We will keep you posted on her progress.

Bake Off '09

Several of my college friends came down for a Christmas baking/crafting/girl time weekend. This is the fifth year we have got together and it has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. We always do it the first weekend of December; that way it kind of kicks off the month and puts everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Diggy and I are the founders. We started this tradition back in 2004!
(It is mandatory that everyone wears Christmas PJ's all weekend.)

Krissy and Cabe making chocolate peppermint cookies.

Jamie and her ice-skate ornaments.

Spry and her needlepoint. Did you finish it yet?
(She has been working on it since 2002).

The sugar cookie crew.
Thank you girls for such a fun weekend.
I can't wait to do it again next year.

Somersaults Already?

I have got to get this girl into gymnastics.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Matt and I decorated the Christmas tree last night after Addy went to bed. She woke up to quite a surprise! It was fun to watch her explore and wonder about the tree in our living room. She doesn't even know about what goes under the tree!
It is fun to have a little one around during the holidays...
it helps to appreciate the excitement of the season.

First Turkey...

... equals best turkey! Matt had never made a turkey before so he went online to food network.com and found Alton Brown's recipe for roasted turkey. He had a feeling it was going to be good when he saw the 2000 positive reviews all giving the recipe five stars. I always love turkey but this bird was over the top good. I know most of you are sick of turkey right now, but hold onto this recipe. You won't be disappointed.