Kaitlyn...and Colin & Linnea...home for Christmas!

Kaitlyn AND Colin & Linnea both were able to come home (to Portland) during the Christmas season!  We told them that if they could travel from NYC and AUSTRIA, then we'd travel to Portland to see them. So in the days leading up to Christmas, we got in the car and started the Nat'l Lochhead-Lampoons Christmas Vacation! 

First stop, Auntie Julie's, OF COURSE. (This was a funny visit with her, because we've been secretly planning to help her go get a Nessa-puppy for her brother and the girls for Christmas.  In a few days she was coming up to us to drive to Plains, MT to bring home the pup!)

We picked up C&L from the airport at midnight (actually, we=Grace & Jeff) and stayed with them at Becky's.  The next morning we drove with Linnea to Salem, where we got to see our sweet Kaitlyn AND her family, who played Santa Claus and gave us so many gifts!

It was so wonderful to hug our Kaitlyn again. So much has changed for her in the last few years--biggest of all being her getting married!  Luis and his son, Matthias weren't able to come with her, but we got to hear all of the latests in their lives.  Next time!

The puzzle box with the $20 bill!  This had been handed down to many in Kaitlyn's family--and her dad just chuckled watching the kids try and try to get into it.

And then with C&L, we wandered downtown Portland with them one afternoon and spent the evening participating in the Christmas Edition of Cupcake Wars: Gingerbread House Wars!  Such fun had by all...

We drove through Lewis & Clark University and took pics for Abby, our future Newfoundlander (?)

All too soon we had to say goodbye.  But the icing on the cake? Running into Zach and Kate at the Taco Bell in Kennewick on our way home!!!  No way!!!

The Snow Arrived!

Snow out the window, and Nessa trying to steal Micah's spot on my lap.  This is today.  :)

 

Mr. Lochhead's Birthday

This year, Grace wanted to surprise her dad and have his classroom decorated for his birthday, which was the last day before Christmas break.  So she pulled Hailey in to assist...and they had the best time decorating Thursday. Grace didn't want to call the janitor, so Hailey did for her, and I enjoyed hearing their antics as they strung streamers and blew up balloons and giggled.

And he loved it.  :)

That night we went to see Spiderman-No Way Home down at the AMC theater, and then we met Scott and Colleen at PF Changs for dinner!

Jeff and Colleen Circle the Sun, Once Again

Love these December birthday people!!!  We had a fun time gathering at Jen & Kevin's once again...

December Things

Random pics on my phone this month: Nessa helping dad "work," Micah's amazing runny-egg eating skills, our snail on the tip-top of the water plant, Alea's Christmas Concert, and Josh's mug.

Josh's First Band Concert

This is the first of MANY concerts that we'll attend to listen to Josh's groups play.  He loves the trombone and is quite good (IMHO) for a beginner! The concert was actually more like an end-of-year concert for beginning band--Mr. Swenland said that they all picked it up so quickly that they've gotten pretty far in their first year on instruments.  It's a big group.  Josh likes this so much that he's going in for Jazz Band practice two days a week at 7AM!  Wow.

 

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...except for the lack of snow!!!

I used the greenery we cut from the tree to put in the planters this year.  And those candles!

Mom came up the first Monday in December to do some shopping with Katie and I--our tradition!--and dad sent her with a decorating mission: draw something on the dustpan for Cindy!  Fun.

 Oh, Nessa.  Naughty thing.

Flowers on December 3rd?!?

Our mild weather is confusing my plants outside!  Lenten rose and pansies blooming on DECEMBER 3RD...