Sunday, December 13, 2009

A Christmasy weekend in Leavenworth

This weekend we drove 5+ hours to Leavenworth, Washington - a little Bavarian Christmas village with a world famous Christmas Lighting festival. We stayed in a great little log cabin with the Larson's and had a wonderfully relaxing and super fun time.

We cooked some great meals, played games, watched a Christmas movie, hot tubbed, and built some roaring fires. Wii also bowled, boxed, and Chris and Eric were even able to go deer hunting....all in the comfort of our cabin!

Standing in front of a Bavarian bakery and pretzel shop downtown.

While the babies napped, and Chris and Eric shot deer (Wii game) and went hot tubbing, Nicole and I drove into the village and did some ornament shopping and also got to stop at an awesome candy shop that had Chocolate covered oreos. mmmm. So good, I came back with the boys to get more! There were droves of people that came in for the Lighting Festival, and it was SUPER DUPER cold. Some people were in the Whoville spirit and wore Whoville style hats and lots of little kids were sledding down an icy slope. The smell of roasting chestnuts and bratwurst were in the air. When our boys and our precious bundles arrived we made a beeline for some hot chocolate and took in all the lights and gingerbread-style buildings.


Getting ready to go into the Kris Kringl shop to find our family ornament for 2009.

Eric, Nicole, and Victoria all bundled up for a night time stroll through the lit up village.
It was such a festive little village....We loved all the live Christmas music and seeing all the little kids bundled in their snow suits.


Cade was fascinated by the Christmas lights.
It was so fun to see our kids start to play together.

Here are Cade and Victoria on the loveseat :)


Victoria wasn't thrilled when Cade put his arm around her (with mom's assistance ;) But, they eventually warmed up to eachother and were playing famously by the end. Cade enjoyed playing hide and go seek with Victoria saying "where baby??" with hand gestures and would take a lap around the cabin till he found her and said "THERE baby!!" Here is Cade after he "found" Victoria.

Because we are the cheezy dorks that we are, I made Chris wear MATCHING pajamas to show solidarity as we bowled against the Larsons. The last time we were in Leavenworth, some of our good friends showed up in matching pajamas and the thought of it always makes me laugh. I'd always wanted to do the same and Chris begrudgling gave in to my dorkiness.



On Sunday, Chris, Cade and I had a very relaxing stroll through the village. We stopped at Starbucks and hung out at a bookstore. One of my favorite family moments was taking a stroll down the Riverfront promenade. Cade loves being outside so despite the cold weather he thoroughly enjoyed looking out on the river and watching the duck bob in and out.

Here's a little video clip of the view from the waterfront promenade and Cade's fascination with the lone duck in the river.





With the Nutcrackers at the Nutcracker Museum.

With the bear at the Renaissance Cafe - a great little breakfast spot.

In front of Das Sweet Shoppe.

It was a long drive back home so we stopped for dinner in Hood River to have some pizza! Cade enjoyed the drive for the most part. Its a beautiful drive with lots of horses and other animals to point at along the way. But once the sun set, and after pulling a new toy out of my tote every 15 minutes he was ready to get out of the car. There was an arcade at the pizza place, so Cade and Chris played their first video game together. Here is Cade "driving" in this car race game.


Now we're back and its home sweet home :) Ahhhhh. I hope this season is finding you merry and bright, and that the true spirit of Christmas is filling your homes with His light and His hope.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Fall Fun Picture Round Up 2009

Fall. My favorite time of year. I love everything about it. Sweaters, honeycrisp apples, soups, staying in, being domestic...speaking of which, those of you that know me, know that I DONT bake. So when I baked my first peach pie, it was photo-worthy event in my life!

And with Fall, comes Football! Cade LOVES watching football with dad.

True beaver fans.

We have loved watching the leaves turn colors...here we are heading for the park and stopping often to stare at leaves...

Cade and Dad take a break from swings and slides to let me take a picture.Here we are on a family hike through Silver Falls. Cade walked alot of it so here he is rehydrating.




After our hike we decided to drive into Mt Angel for some Oktoberfest brats and beer. Here is a little video we shot of Cade:



At the Pumpkin Patch

Here are Cade, Olivia, and Wes hanging in the patch.
Our sweet little pumpkins :)


Here is Wesley, feeling a little introspective.

Ava telling Cade secrets. Ava just turned 1 and we had a fun time celebrating her birthday at the pumpkin patch.


Cade was obsessed with the super slide at Lee Farms.

FALL HARVEST PARTY


We had so much fun hosting a fall harvest kids costume party that we just might have to make it a tradition! Here is Ava, aka Snow White.

All the kids were so cute in their costumes. Props to Sarah for making Parker's Charlie Brown costume. It was just a cuteness parade.

Great shot of sweet victoria's baby lady bug wings.



Ava, Galit and her boy Abie, and me.

Cade had a great time playing with his best bud Evan. They hid out in the game room together for much of the party. These boys are going to be trouble (wait a sec... they already are!)

Here is my good friend Ashley's son Reed, giving me his "flirty" look...so cute.



Chris trying to corral these little pals.

And finally some of the party details (all taken after the party, so all very much disheveled :)

The menu:

Lil Pumpkin's mini menu:
Cupcakes and stuff.


Ati Pam's Birthday Party


We had a fun birthday dinner for my sister Pam at one of her favorite restaurants, the Alexis.

As the birthday celebrant, she wore the pirate hat of honor. We each decorated a birthday stick for her and she read them aloud as we waited for our Greek deliciousness to arrive.

Apu and Cade.

Finally, one of our new traditions that we started this fall, is going out for sushi train every Friday. Cade is really getting into sushi. Here he is enjoying a house tuna roll.

Hope your fall is happy and filled with fun!