Christmas Morning

(click image to enlarge)

Christmas Morning was everything we all had hoped for. One of the highlights was watching Finley open her "giffs." All She wanted for Christmas was a pony. Every time we asked her what she hoped for, that is the only recognizable answer she would give. As she unwrapped a recycled converse sneaker box inside were 5 My Little Pony's Santa had collected from McDonald's Happy Meals (he sure likes his fast food). Her reaction was priceless (video below). Who knew $5 could make all her dreams come true... Santa did.

December '08 LIVE

"Look! Boy, Oh boy!"
Finley unwraps her favorite Christmas gift ever... the one and only thing she wanted.

Sugar Rush (Happy Birthday Son)
Tucker tastes his first slice of sugary goodness & Christmas morning.

Mom is so last year

This boy loves his dad. When Chad got home from work last night his littlest fan made a mad crawl to the front door. Chad picked him up and then came over to give me a hug. Tuck pushed me out of the way with both arms and said, "My dad". His First Words put me right in my place.

Let it snow

It was a white, white Christmas in the Northwest this year. The first couple days of snowfall were exciting. By the 4th and 5th day I began to worry. Our plans were to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa but flights home for Christmas were postponed till New Years.

The streets were packed with snow (there are only a handful of snow plows in Oregon). Freeways were closed, towns were without power, and things were looking pretty bleak.


One of the best things to come out of the blizzard was having the Man of the House around. We loved having our "dad chad" home during the day. We watched movies, listening to the "singer" (radio), took naps and played in the snow all the while wishing it would melt so we could fly away.

A gift for you

Found these cute little gift tags on this site I love to look at. She is so creative and talented. She has made them download and print ready as a gift to her readers. Get'ya some cuteness here!

Christmas Cutbacks

Christmas Cutbacks this year included postage so my talented friend Ali sent me this holiday card to share with you all.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with peace and love.

The Party

We partied from dawn until dusk. Started the morning with a gift (new onesie) and a handful of birthday wishes. You can see the excitement written all over his face. Finley said, "Oh mom, I didn't know it was my Birthday!!!" For good reason child, it's not. I made him a short stack of banana pancakes, and then it was off to buy some helium balloons.

He spent his birthday taking long naps, making plenty of messes, and playing with his sister. He ate fistfuls of cake and was covered in blue frosting, including nose and ears by the end of the night. Thank you to everyone for all of the birthday love you sent his way. Til next year, Happy Birthday Tuck!

(Please no one remind him that he was dressed in his sisters flowered pj's on his big day)

a morning of this

an afternoon of this



and when the moon came out we celebrated like this

Number 1

happy 1st birthday darling boy

Best friends

This is "Izo" and Fin. They are best friends. And...

Best

Friends

Rock!

Tucker turns One

Since I wasn't more proactive these invitations will not arrive in your mailboxes until after his party. Which is OK seeing as how you all live so far away. This year has flown by. Happy Birthday little guy.

(click invite to enlarge)

Oh my aching back...

Chad had to work and I couldn't go treeless for one more day so I loaded up the kids, hit McD's, cranked the Christmas music and headed off in search of the Tree of My Dreams. After the 4th farm we stopped at I decided there is no such thing as the Tree of my Dreams but... The Tree of my Budget instead. Who would have guessed chopping down your own tree in the Land O' Trees could be so pricey?!?

This was the 1st farm we stopped at but the trees were all too perfect so we left.

How hard could it be to chop down a Christmas tree... on my own with the two little tykes... Well lets just say it has been 2 1/2 days and the majority of the muscles in my body are still aching.

She loved running through the forest of trees yelling, "chase me Tucka... chase me".

I can't get over (and hopefully never will) the breathtaking, rustic beauty of Oregon!!! I have friends that ask me all the time, "When is the best time of year to come up to visit?" I say any time except for maybe January-March then we'll come visit you and take a break from all the rain.

Here were some of the sites along the way.

OK back to the story. We stopped at this hidden farm owned by a really old Scandinavian couple (I'm talking really old the owner was in his late 80's, 90's...he might have even been a100). With Tuck strapped into the pack on my back we hiked down the hillside to cut our tree. Finding the Perfect Tree was a cinch here. No matter how big or small every tree was $30. We found one and I started sawing away. I kept sawing, and sawing, and sweating, and sawing. After about 10 minutes I took Tuck off my back and wedged the pack into the muddy slope and called Chad. Completely out of breath I complained, "Why did I have to get this tree today, without you, I can't cut this, it's too hard, how did the pioneers do this, I need help....." .

Ten more minutes of sawing, kicking, pushing and a loud and large Crack Crack, Crack up the middle of the tree trunk the noble was on its side. I heard a, "good job mommy" from my little 3 ft cheerleader. Now I just had to drag the once 10 ft. now 8 1/2 foot tree and 2 toddlers back up the hillside and hoist (with the help of an ancient little Scandinavian) this awkward and incredibly sticky tree onto the top of our Cruiser. Note to self: Fun tradition, but next year don't leave home without Chad.

Luckily the farm owner hooked up his tractor and came to my rescue.
We loaded it into the back and he hauled us to the barn.

***Finishing touches***

Our little girl gets carsick. As we pulled into the driveway she groaned and then lost "it" all over her car seat.

Blue eyes

This morning I took photos of these handsome fellas. Could they get any cuter! We bribed them with Swedish fish and only had about a 10 minute window of "happy time" but I think we got some really great shots! Thanks for the fun boys, those blue eyes were a great way to spend a gray winter morning.

Anyone else interested in a mini-shoot for their kids. Photos make great gifts for grandparents!!! I'm super cheap... $50 or a night of babysitting (is sufficient payment) which ever fits your budget, email me at amycannon{at}gmail{dot}com