Ornament Exchange

My girlfriends from college get together and instead of buying presents for each other we do an ornament exchange. However, I think most of our husbands would agree it is generally a chat fest and the ornaments are exchanged at the very last minute...it's the best. It was great to see Lindsay (flew in from Denver), Jaime, Tara, Stacey (who just moved back to Portland - YEA) and we missed Shannon who couldn't come this year as she lives in Connecticut. It's so great to catch up and it always feels like we have never been apart.

Here's a photo of us as we had to set up the automatic setting as it was well past 11:00 pm.

Merry Christmas!

Yes, it was a white Christmas in Portland. So exciting! The girls put sleeping bags in their room and slept on the floor on Christmas eve. Olivia tried to get up at 3:00 am to open presents, then 5:00 am and finally 6:30 am we gave in to her excitement. I'm pretty sure she had already been down stairs because she was very knowledgeable about all the new presents under the tree.



Trying to catch snowflakes!


The girls were excited with their new presents.



Then in the afternoon Grandma and Papa Laverdure, Aunt Jill, Ian & cousin Taeya, Heather (Adrienne's sister), Nana, Papa & Uncle Alex Christian came over to celebrate. The girls enjoyed the company and all the gifts.

My aunt always buys the girls the cutest dresses...


My sister said she was trying to find the girls matching gymnastic outfits and found these. Mia was so excited to match Olivia.





Funny story...David had always wanted a drum set when he was younger so instead of buying it for him they got him hit sticks...which he said was a HUGE disappointment. Another year and another pair of hit sticks - Adrienne thought she was so funny! However, these actually hook up to your Ipod so I'm going to try and catch David in action...ha ha.

Snow, snow and more snow...

This crazy weather has been fun. The girls have enjoyed no school all of last week and now are excited for Christmas. I have learned how to put chains on and take them off because it's a little challenging getting out of our street. I was real proud of myself with that task. However, when David was out doing it in the elements yesterday I didn't bother to get out of the car and help. This Monday David did have to drive my truck to work as the snow is pretty deep at our house. I love it as it feels like we are living in Sunriver which is one of my favorite winter places to visit. Here's some fun pictures from the week. Hope you are all staying warm!

Sunday, December 14th - First day of snow.






Making our gingerbread house on Tuesday. David picked this up for us so we had something fun to do at home.


Wednesday, more snow and making a snow man. He's little but the girls had so much fun.


Saturday night our backyard getting lots more snow. My parents took the girls for the night. David and I had a party to go too but it was canceled so we ended up going to Sinju (our favorite Sushi place) and going to a movie. We were pretty much the only people at the restaurant and theater so it was fun.


Look at the icicles on our house.


Monday morning, the view from our front porch.


We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Santa & Mrs. Clause

I took the girls with my mom, sister and Taeya to breakfast with Santa at ClubSport. Everyone enjoyed eating breakfast and then of course we got to sit and chat with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Mia was really ready to see Santa. Last year she cried and she was really determined this year to tell him she wanted a doll & stroller. She did great, no tears and just repeated over and over what she wanted. Olivia couldn't decide what she wanted to tell him but ended up saying a doll. Taeya didn't want anything to do with them. She was on the run as soon as you got her close. Here are some pictures from our visit.

Hanging out waiting for our breakfast.


Mia was so excited for the candy cane too!


One good group picture.

Santa's real...right???

So, Olivia came home last week to tell me that one boy at school told the ENTIRE class that Santa wasn't real. Olivia's teacher quickly told the class that Santa was real. I then asked "well, what do you think Olivia?".

Olivia replied "he just has to be real. The reindeer can't go down the chimney or put presents under the tree! The elves are too busy and so Santa has to be real."

I just loved her thought process and how there just couldn't be any other answers. It's definitely more fun when they believe.

HEART BREAKER!!!

The Civil War was a Rose Bowl heart breaker. If you've followed the Beavs at all this season you knew this was a HUGE game. If it was hard to watch on TV it was even harder to be there. I have some pictures I'll post of us before the game enjoying the great weather and trying to hold back our excitement in anticipation of the game. However, that soon changed once the game started and I have no pictures taken during or after the game. After the game we tried to focus on the positive of how great the season was and the excitement it brought to all of us. My husband yelling every 5 minutes at the pizza place that he was now cheering for UCLA this week because if they beat USC we still get to go to the Rose Bowl...a LONG SHOT! You have to love him though for trying to find the positive. Well as tough as the game was it was sure a fun ride this season...GO BEAVS!!!

David and Tim dishing up some chili. Alex made an awesome black bean chili with turkey!


Chelsea, Sonia and Alex.

Happy Thanksgiving

We'd like to wish you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day!

We had a great day. We spent the day relaxing and then went to dinner at the University Club just the 4 of us. It was a great meal and great company. We all went around to say what we were thankful for and Mia said she was "thankful for her sis" (she calls Olivia sis now, it's so cute). Anyways I just thought it was so honest and sweet.



We headed after dinner to where my parents and sister were and played games and had dessert. It was a great day! Taeya was so excited to see her cousins.

Just checking in...

I don't have any new pictures to post right now. We've been just busy with life. The girls are doing well. Mia has jumped in to her role of going to preschool and it's exciting to see her take control and have her voice heard in our house. Olivia is giving us a run for our money. Not a surprise...she's challenging us on the school end and testing the waters. I am confident that she's just trying to find her place. David is crazy busy at work. He's always positive though even if he's joking that they are keeping the patio door locked in their building so none of the financial advisors jump! I'm trying to get in to my marathon training. It's going but the mileage is kicking up and I just have to get focused. It's all fun and games until you have to run 17 miles the day after Thanksgiving...it'll be fun, right?

We are doing family pictures this weekend. I realized we haven't had family pictures done since Mia was born...oops! Keep good thoughts for the Beavs this weekend. We are hoping for a big W against Arizona. Then we'll be one step closer to the Rose Bowl dream...GO BEAVS!!!

Last Soccer Game

Olivia had her last soccer game. She seemed to enjoy it however, she told us she won't be doing it next year.



Here are the fierce Dragons (this was their team name)!


I think things might have changed after she received her first trophy at the End of Season pizza party. She really enjoyed that trophy. She slept with it and took it to school the next day.

HSM 3

If you are unaware of this term then you either don't have a daughter or your daughter isn't old enough yet to join in on the hysteria. However, I'm lucky enough to have been able to watch High School Musical 1, 2 and 3. HSM 3-Senior Year was a lot more of a production since it was the first one on the big screen. We went with some of Olivia's friends from school and I think the ENTIRE theater was filled with moms and their daughters. It was fun and as you can see Olivia was very excited!!!

Hanging with Cousin Taeya

Taeya is 16 months old and has quite the personality. She hung out with me last week for the day while her cousins were at school. She loves her cousins but we had a pretty good time just the two of us. Here's some pictures...

Olivia helping entertain Taeya before school.


This is the face she makes when you talk to her and she is either being shy or doesn't want to listen. She thinks if she closes her eyes you can't see her.


Too cute!

Happy Halloween

Halloween Day was fun. We spent the day going from one class party to the next. Luckily, the girl's parties were at different times. Mia's class had an inside parade (it was pouring outside). She loved it. Then her and I stopped by David's office to bring a little Halloween cheer. He's been so busy at work I think it was a nice break.





Olivia's class did a parade as well. However, the weather cleared up and it was perfect for them.





The girls were so excited to trick or treat. We went around our neighborhood. As you can see they had a blast.



Hanging with some of the neighbor kids. Our neighbor gets in to the Halloween spirit with lots of decorations as you can see.


I think Olivia enjoyed handing out the candy to our "customers" as she called them. She even explained every type of candy to each person. Mia enjoyed eating it and clearly over did it because Saturday morning woke up with a tummy ache.

Pumpkin Patch

Olivia's class took a field trip to Lee Farms. The kids had a blast going on their tour and seeing all the different animals, trying some apple cider, learning about the different pumpkins they harvest, hay maze & of course picking out their pumpkins.

Heading out on the school bus...Olivia's favorite part of the day.


Olivia's teacher talking about the Turkeys.


The girls - Lauren, Hunter & Olivia.


Which pumpkin should I pick??? Mia is getting over a cold so she was a bit crabby today, asking her to find her pumpkin was a task in itself.


I found it!

Visitor from St. Louis

Grandma Linda visited last weekend. It was nice to catch up with her and hear about how all the family is doing in St. Louis. The girls especially enjoyed having someone here to entertain them.



Grandma Linda might be good luck though because Olivia scored her FIRST goal at the soccer game. It was very exciting. I almost missed it by taking Mia to the bathroom. I came back just in time but forgot my camera in the car to capture her excitement.

HAPPY 9 YEARS!!!

September 25th is our 9 year wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe we've been married 9 years and also to think about how much things have changed. I can definitely say though through the years our relationship has only grown stronger. To my best friend and love of my life - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

We got married old school style before digital. Here's a photo of us on our honeymoon. We look so rested...ahh the good ole' days!

GO OSU!!!

Our first home game for the Beavs was on September 13th. We played against Hawaii and won. I thought I'd post some pictures from that game. We brought kids to this game (Olivia didn't come as it was only a week after surgery and so she stayed and played at her Nana's house).

The kids relaxing and enjoying the tailgating (Anders, Mia & Evie)


Sonia very sweetly brought David and I flowers because she thought the first home game was our anniversary. It's actually the 25th (a game day).


Enjoying the game - Go Beavs!


I love this pic of Anders. He was doing the O of the OSU chant. He's so cute in his beaver gear too!


We are heading down to OSU on Thursday night to cheer them on against #1 USC. I figured any sort of positive thoughts might help against that game - YIKES!

Recovery...

Olivia's doing great. She doesn't eat very much but she is drinking. I love though when we ask how she feels she'll say "I feel a little good but my throat is a little hurt". She told us the other day she feels like she's only eating junk and she wished she could have a burrito...hilarious because of all things this is not her favorite food. I guess it probably gets old to just eat the soft stuff. Here's picture of her with her tooth. She's pretty excited about the tooth fairy coming and since it's an extra tooth she heard sometimes you get more.



THANK YOU for all the special notes. Here she is holding the book she got from her class. They took a class photo and then each kid drew her a picture. She felt pretty special!!!