home for the holidays

They can't stop talking about this freezing rain on the news.

We need to get chains for our tires.

Except, chains do nothing in freezing rain.

So they say.

Really wish we would have left for Utah today like we had originally planned.

Would have been ahead of that dumb rain.

Pray for us. We've heard horror stories about 'the gorge".

On Sunday. Pray for us on Sunday.

Not sure how much more I'll be bloggin' this month.

Which kind of makes me sad because I want to tell you about things.

Like how Ellery keeps saying "Absolutely NO!" instead of "no".

Adorable things like that.

But we're heading out. And I'm taking a break.

And I'm not sure when I'll be back.

But Merry Christmas.

I hope none of you have to deal with freezing rain.

not very festive but still fun

e first week in December we were missing the Festival of Trees in Utah. When we found out that Portland had one we decided to try it out. We thought for sure that since Portland is a bigger area that their festival of trees would be outstanding, even compared to Utah's.

Um, we were most definitely wrong. It was tiny. Like maybe fifty trees. But, what they lacked in trees they made up for in activities for the kids. And most of all, no crowds. None at all. We had a great time, but probably won't go back next year!

Face painting.

They loved this. Ellery walked around with a crooked neck the rest of the night because she thought her present was so beautiful and wasn't quite sure if she could move her head normally and show off it's beauty at the same time. McKay's snowman scared me a little bit, but he loved it.

Teddy bear hospital.

This was so cute. One of the local hospitals sponsored this little area where the kids could pick out a bear, give it a name, and then decide what injuries it had. Oscar and Daisy were born. They then took them from table to table getting medical care for all their ailments- bandages, diapers, hats, and even real stitches. They loved it.

Spoiled?

I thought this was a funny picture. I wanted him to smile for me in front of all the toys, but I think this turned out even better. He was not in the mood for pictures.

A tree display.

This one had a really cool dog house with a dog in it that McKay loved. That's all.

I should have gotten a picture of the $20 dinner we were forced to buy- because of starvation and no other options. A burger, some soup and a hot dog between all four of us did not satisfy anybody. Well, maybe Brian because he ate the burger.

today

pink rooster and serious eagle

I just sent my preschooler off, after spending the entire morning being a mouse/chicken getting chased around by a wild African dog/snake/eagle and a cute little rooster with a fierce growl. I just love the imaginations my two little ones have and playing with them was exactly what I needed to start off my Wednesday. Wednesday is supposed to be cleaning day. I'm not cleaning though. Instead, I'm going to try to record some of the funny things my kids have done or said lately. They keep me entertained, that's for sure, and I don't want to forget these sweet moments.

• When we were driving home from the coast on Thanksgiving Ellery told us, "I have poo poo in my cozy house." We weren't sure if this was her first use of potty talk- and if it was I just absolutely love it- or if house is a code word for diaper. Either way I can't believe my two year old baby knows that talking about poop is naughty and hilarious to her.

• McKay informed Grandma that he likes boogies, even Ellery's. I have never witnessed him snatching one of hers but I screamed when I heard that he has. What to do, what to do?

• Last Saturday night as McKay was saying his personal prayers he said, "Thank you that the cougars won. . ."

• We can always tell when McKay is up to something because he'll say, "Don't look at me for awhile," or "Don't check on me, k?"

• My kids favorite Christmas song is Jingle Bells. They want to sing it all the time. Ellery also runs around singing, "thumpity, thump, thump, thumpity, thump, thump" from Frosty the Snowman.

• McKay is already showing some pretty intense OCD traits. He is OBSESSED with brushing his teeth so he doesn't end up like Grandpa Gum without any teeth. He talks about his teeth constantly. It was a three day conversation when he found out that all his baby teeth will fall out.

• Ellery is very into complimenting people. She will notice and appreciate just about anything you have on. She'll say, "I like your sweater mom." and then I'll thank her. She waits about 1.5 seconds before digging for her own compliment, "Do you like my sweater, mom?"

• I am totally loving that McKay has a boy in his class named Bridger and he calls him Fridger. Loving it!

• Ellery has now officially welcomed baby Kate into the family. She is now baby Kate Matthews and Ellery lets us know often.

• Ellery and I have started having the following conversation every day:

E: Is Santa coming today, Momma?

S: No, not today.

E: Okay.

That may not sound very adorable, but remember she's only two, and it is just very, very adorable to have your two year old wondering if Santa's coming everyday, and politely accept when he's not, over and over again. It's become part of her daily routine to ask about Santa and she says okay, knowing that I was going to say no.

• Speaking of Santa, the other day the kids were talking about Santa just as someone knocked on our door. Brian said, "It's Santa!" and both of our kids shivered with terror. Ellery ran into the kitchen screaming, and McKay was just about to cry when we told him it was just Mailee, our friend. I guess they don't want to meet him after all.

Now I must go and make myself finish putting away the laundry. Laundry day is on Monday only and this week I have somehow managed to make it last three days.

getting ready for christmas. . .

and I've got reindeer to prove it!