Arctic Blast

Don't you just love the cheesy titles the news channels come up with when we have any weather that is outside the norm. Arctic Blast 2008 has been the headline for the past two weeks now and unfortunately it isn't over. We are warming up but that just means thaw during the day and freeze at night. Oh well it has caused our lives to slow down tremendously and sometimes that is a good thing.

We all loved seeing the snow and letting the girls play around in it. We had a white Christmas here in Scappoose, OR and it was beautiful. Some of you may know that the last Ice Storm we had in 2004 I was snowed in at my friend Kara's house in Portland and that is when John and I got to know eachother a bit and shortly after decided to start dating. Who knows how many lucky people ended up with their future spouse because of this storm:)

Arctic Blast

Eliana's Birthday

What a wonderful day to celebrate our youngest daughters 1st birthday. Eliana means, "God's answer" which is a reminder to me that God is faithful and He does hear our prayers and always answers them. Elli brings us constant smiles with her adventerous spirit and loving soul. She is full of joy and ready to share it with us at any moment. Abi and Elli spend hours playing, laughing and sometimes fighting (always hugging to make up). Elli has been walking since she was 9 and 1/2 months old so sometimes I forget she just turned 1 but she still loves to cuddle and hug which John and I love so much. Happy Birthday Eliana we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Below are a few snaps of the day. Elli watched as Abi and I made a snowman, she ate her first candy cane, mommy made her a fruit pizza for her party, and she opened some awesome gifts. She also enjoyed an early presant from Nana and Papa... thanks for the horse!!!

Eliana's Birthday

Thanksgiving

Abi could hardly contain her excitment when she learned Papa and Nana would be arriving. We had a nice quiet holiday with lots of yummy food. Eliana learned as every kid does that olives taste much better if you eat them off of your fingers.

Thanksgiving

Sorry I am having trouble adjusting the text and pictures I hope you can read it.

Halloween

Here is a shot of Abi's candy she got from trick or treating. We went with a couple of friends that have kids a little older and understand the concept. It was a blast. After every house Abi ran up to me saying, "mommy they gave me candy to." Before you tell me I'm nuts I was able to give the candy to my friend who has kids in the public school. A local dentist does a candy drive and collects all the candy and the class with the most wins a pizza party. The dentist sends the candy over seas to the troups. I thought it was a pretty good idea and Abi never missed it.

I know I didn't get any pictures of Abi and I feel horrible but for my defense I had a migrane that day and had been puking for an hour. Not that you really wanted to know that but Abi was so cute and my friend got pics to share with you at a later date.

Just for fun

It is a good thing that Abi loves Eliana so much. It's not like I don't feel Elli but for some reason Abi's food tastes better than her own. She was pretty proud of her achievement!!!

Multnomah Falls

Abi could hardly contain her excitement when we arrived at Multnomah Falls. There are so many great places in the Portland area to see but I think since we live here we forget just how beautiful they are. The idea came about when i was driving home from Costco and there was a small water feature in the median. Abi got really excited and started saying, "mommy a waterfall." I smiled and pretended to be excited with her but I was really thinking, "how pathetic." We live 45 min. away from the Gorge which is filled with amazing waterfalls and Abi thinks that water feature is one. So last Friday we had a family day and headed to our old stomping grounds.

Eliana dancing and walking Abi singing

The Latest

She is just such a cutie I had to take a picture!

Abi has so much fun at Church making new crafts every week. This particular Sunday she came home as a Lamb on a sugar high. Abi calls our building the "church house" and every time we pass it she wants to go play with her friends.





















Abi and Elli have so much fun playing together these days and one of the best spots to do that is in the bath-tub. Abi usually dumps water from a cup all over Elli and then Elli takes the cup and drinks out of it. Someday she may realize that she doesn't like Abi dumping water on her but for now its all just part of the experience.
























I am tired of people calling Abi a boy because of her short hair so I am dressing her in as much pink as I can stand.

Sand and Sea

Double trouble X 2

We were blessed to have John's sister come and visit us for 10 days in August. We got to meet Addi for the first time (she is 9 months old) and we got to see Aiden for the first time in a year and a half. Wow it was a crazy, challenging but wonderful time. We had a small taste of what parents of multiples might feel like because Lisa had a two day class in Seattle so John and I watched all 4 kids while she was gone. Addi and Elli are so close in age and accomplishing the same skills so it was fun to watch them play together. Aiden and Abi are two years apart but they had a great time hanging out and watching tons of Little Einsteins together. Here are some highlights of our time together.

We went camping at the beach and were short on sleeping space so thankfully Addi and Elli were accomodating.

Aiden met some new friends and learned all sorts of fun stuff like how much fun climbing trees can be and how cool head-lamps are.

What can I say... they are just so darn cute!!!

Elli and Addi kept us so busy I fell over from exhaustion every night but they are just so much fun. Despite the fact that Addi has bright blue eyes and blonde hair and Elli has dark brown eyes and brown hair every one thought they were twins.

Grandma Lori or Maga as Abi likes to call her came over to help while Lisa was gone, I don't know what I would have done without her.

It takes costco to keep enough supplies for these two around!!!

Nana and Papa's House

All of a sudden I can picture Abi as an old lady taking care of her grandkids. She had a great time dressing up with Nana. Abi has moved into the mothering role since she has discoverd how much fun it is to boss her little sister around. I am constantly saying, "that's mommy and daddy's job," to the point where she will boss Elli around and follow it up with, "that's mommy's job."


A girl after my own heart! Thank you Dad and Peg for the awesome chocolate on chocolate on chocolate cake. I hope you find something to do with it. I would have taken it home but I am pretty sure it wouldn't have made it through security.

There is nothing like some tickles from Papa.

Cape Meres (The Beach)

We were camping so close to the beach we just had to take a detour on the way home. Abi has been asking to go to the beach a lot because one Elmo episode they are at the beach. It was a little chilly but a great experience to take Abi and let her play in the sand and the water. I took her shoes off in the warm loose sand and she said, "ohh that feels nice." She is so funny!!!