Baby, its cold outside...

Here are some pictures from our snowy days. We are loving this weather...

Pop's field after doing a quick sledding behind the "beast"

Frozen booties after sledding. This was a quick little jaunt before heading into Tacoma. We didn't have our snowsuits on, but we didn't care...it was fun and worth the cold booties!

Can't wait to be back for more!

Cool guy in the snow

Going about zero miles an hour in Tacoma on I-5. Both Heath and I had Dr's appointments with Dr. Andy in Tacoma. We should have left for home right afterwards but were starving. This is what we got to deal with for 3+ hours on the way to Yelm. I-5 was a skating rink because the slow moving cars melted the ice...and then it froze again because it was about 27 degrees. It wasn't so bad until we got to a spot where the road was banked....then cars just slid down all the lanes. We got through it ok, but we were sure that it was going to cause all sorts of problems. Once we got off the freeway, it was smooth sailing (at 30 mph) until we hit the casino. Traffic through Yelm was backed all the way up to there and was not moving a bit. So, we made an executive decision, turned around and went another way to Pop's house. Thankfully we weren't in any kind of hurry so we weren't too stressed about things.

Starry ladies: I kind of like how this photo turned out

Corbin and I went out for a midnight snow walk...one of my favorite things to do! It is so peaceful, quiet and light out.

The moon making its bold appearance over the lake. I did some funky stuff with these pictures.

Lights over the lake

Snow walk: in front of our house...experimenting with lights

Sledding while Daddy pulls Grayson and gets his exercise

Grayson called this "swimming"

Contorted fig at Judy and Tim's house...for their Christmas gathering

Me and Judy having a good time

Yum!

Singing Rudolph

Kellie, LeeAnne and Judy showing off their "tribal" necklaces that Heath and I put together. These lovely ladies are great friends and get together weekly to drink wine, eat food and chat. Its their wine-y therapy group!

"Opa!" Judy broke out the old Greek records

Heath sporting the flying-nun look

Amy, Judy and Jess

Looking like Christmas...

Well, we finally got our tree all finished (I guess I finished it in the wee hours of the night last night). This year our tree came from Eastern Washington near Sun Mountain Lodge. Dad got it for us when he was over there this past weekend. We are totally spoiled because for most of my life we have always had Noble Firs for our Christmas tree. Gary was always able to go up past Weyerhauser in the "hills" and get them for all of us. However, this year marked the end of that tradition. So, dad got some forest service permits and went out looking with Alicia. I'm really liking our Noble...which is a different type than the Nobles we are used to. Its a little more lacy, full of little branches and more alpine-y. It smells like the alpine as well. Because the branches are more petite and plentiful....it was kind of pain to put the lights on. But...I think it looks really nice all lit up!

Grayson putting up an ornament from his first Christmas. I really like how the lights look here!

This photo doesn't do it justice...the lights are barely showing. But thats as good as it will get!

Watching the train go around the tree.

"Cheese"

The day we chose to put up the outdoor lights....brr! Typical.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

• We are truly grateful for all of the friends and family we have (or have had) in our lives. Each person has made an impression...whether it be great or small. We love you all and thank you for being a part of our journey on earth!
• We are grateful for our health.
• We are grateful for our home and vehicles (even if they are falling apart!)
• We are grateful to live in a country where we don't have to worry about: having enough to eat, finding drinkable water, genocide, rampant disease, being able to speak our minds, not being able to vote, education for our children, being bombed or shot at on a daily basis, our child being taken from us and turned into a slave or brainwashed soldier, and wondering whether or not we will live to see tomorrow.
• We are grateful for change and transformation, awareness and consciousness; because without it our minds would be closed minded and life would become stagnant.
• We are grateful for the gift of Life every day.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John F. Kennedy

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

"Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." ~ Denis Waitley

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." ~ Buddha

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melodie Beattie

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Can you believe these were taken in November...in Washington??

These pictures are from our Long Beach visit (see below post for more info). They uploaded with most current first. So...the top ones are from Saturday, the summer-like day.

"Papa, beach, beach, beach"

Stompin' the foam

A cute little toddler foot


Bubbles!

A nice little spot for reading or napping...too bad its time to go!

Hiding in the beach grass

Love this view! Nice beach grass, beautiful sky!

Gotcha....just in time!

Ahhh....don't fall now!

We are barefoot...in the middle of November...in Washington...at the ocean!

Just a little wet!

The kites were a flyin'

"Mama, beach, beach, beach"

Just two explorers at the beach

Lovin' this sun!!

Namaste!

Friday @ the Cape Disappointment lighthouse

A little time on the beach during Pop's lunch on Friday

We're wearing our boots...too cold this day for barefeet. Partialy sunny, but chilly too.

Waiting for the sunset...in a zone

Thursday sunset

Finally, an update!

I know its been too long since I've last posted, but the past couple of weeks have been pretty intense. I was pretty pre-occupied on Election Day with the awesome historical event that we witnessed. Sorry to those who supported McCain...but I was elated! Anyway, the following day was the 5 year anniversary of mom and grandma's death....something that I have grown to accept and understand that through their passing, awesome gifts were given to us. Although I would definitely enjoy their human presence, I know they are with us in spirit...and we will continue to learn and grow in their love. The night of this anniversary we were informed of the passing of my mom's cousin, Gail (and a very close member of the family) from a long battle of cancer. Although we knew that the end of her time was nearing it was interesting that it happend on November 5th. I don't believe in coincidences and know this happened for a reason. Dad even had a vision a month prior about this exact timing.

The following day I spent gathering all of Justin and dad's glass art up and took it to the Lodge to set up for the annual Holiday bazaar. Friday and Saturday I spent all day working the event. We had never done this before....and it was quite the learning experience. I think it was fairly slow for most of the vendors, but it was especially slow for me...and draining. Because dad had made prior plans before he knew bazaar was on the same weekend, I was left to repack all the glass afterwards by myself. I was wiped out! Anyway, if we do it again...I definitely know what to do different!

Last week seemed to fly by as well as the previous week. Tuesday (Veteran's Day) was the day of Gail's memorial service at the Lodge. Again....another timing thing...5 years prior, we buried my mom and grandma on the same day. I think by this point my emotions were all over the place because it was tough to keep dry eyes. I joined back up with the community choir along with my recruits of Cara and Amy...singing one of my favorite songs, An Irish Blessing. I got through about the first line before I choked up...then gathered myself up (with a little divine help) and finished the song. This song was sang by at our wedding by my cousin's...that included Gail. We also had this song sung by the choir at mom and grandma's service. Gail's service was beautiful and touching...and it was packed too. That evening some of us went over to the Ol' Homestead to visit with wine and snacks. I ended up singing at the piano with Gail's daughter, Cindy for much of the time (something I never dared to do before!)

So....on Thursday, I was due for a little break from the norm. Grayson and I went to Heath's work to have lunch with him for their annual "Thanksgiving" meal. Following that, Grayson and I traveled to Long Beach, WA to spend a couple days with dad. Dad was working for his buddy and vet school classmate while they were on vacation. We stayed at their lovely house on the bay...and made ourselves at home! It was very relaxing! We had some terrific food....stuff we found in their house (smoked oysters, smoked salmon, wild prawns, etc) and our meal at this fantastic restaraunt called The Depot (halibut w/parmessan mashed potatoes, veggies topped with a wild mushroom gravy; salad; beautiful clam chowder; pumpkin pie flan; apple cobbler w/ icecream and wine of course). Needless to say, we were stuffed...and happy as clams! We were blessed with some of the most incredible weather we've ever seen for the middle of November. Saturday was virtually a summer day! We were bummed that we had to leave that little piece of Heaven...but also glad to get home as well. We drove home just in time to meet up with Heath in Olympia....and then Heath and I took off for Seattle. We attended a "class" event by don Jose Ruiz called the Night of Transformation. Jose is the son of don Miguel Ruiz who is the author of the bestselling book, The Four Agreements. If you haven't read this book...its a must read. Everyone that we give it to or recommend it to...just loves it. Anyway, the event was very nice and relaxing with a small but highly energized group of people.

Ok...well, I think that pretty much sums up the past couple weeks. Now I will post some pictures!

This is the first spaghetti picture I've gotten. Hard to believe....but I guess I waited for the best one!

Hanging with Lily in his fort