Volley Christmas!

 Tis the season for some volleyball. The season kicked off with all the girls baking, laughing and exchanging gifts. Well, that would be more of a soccer party than volleyball. The volleyball girls had a Christmas Party and it was a HIT! That's more like it. Getting together to build community is always a great way to start the season. We love Lina's coaches and even though the semester will be fast and furious, we can't wait. May the odds be ever in their favor.

A Gospel Christmas 2015

So it's raining still, in case you were wondering. but in spite of the sour weather, we weren't gonna let a little rain stop us from celebrating Christmas and all the fun happenings of Portland. Last year we missed out on many fun December moments still trying to figure out life here, so I had my list ready this year. We did the Christmas Tree Lighting in Vancouver, Check. Now it was time for some down home Gospel music and dinner with our girls. Yeah for dressing up and going out on the town!

We sat in the very back row. Not a single row was bad in this concert venue and actually the sound resonated just fine from here.

Not sure WHY these stuffed dogs were under the tree in the lobby of the concert hall but two cute girls and two stuffed animals called for a picture to be taken.

Then there was this scene. 

Hey that's a nice backdrop. Let's get a picture there... or two or three by the time they smiled and stopped laughing. Kind of fuzzy to boot!  

I enjoyed the concert and the company! Who knows what fun event we will discover next year. Until then....

So Thankful

Thanksgiving is a time I think about preparing early. Then I actually do prepare early. Buying a big turkey, making sure we have food for the whole weekend, any special desserts, house cleaned and ready to go, all of it done as early as possible so I can be kind and well... kind. I pull out the white board and write lists. I check off list and rewrite list. Some things we just learn about ourselves through the years and one of those for me is that Early Preparation leads to a Peaceful Home.... and being kind.

What started off as a Thanksgiving with just the four of us turned into a year of just the thirteen of us. I am so happy!

We had Rob, Joanna and the sweet kiddos in first followed by Boo and a few of her friends and then one of Becca's best friends and her boyfriend. Really, so many people. So much fun!

There were games, music, laughter, staying up later than we ever do catching up, lots of food, exercise to burn off all that food, the Vancouver's Christmas Tree lighting, putting up our Christmas lights, cutting down the tree, and watching the Broncos beat the Patriots.  All this in 5 days!

Did I mention I was happy?

And Thankful. Am I ever thankful.

They're practicing their dramatic faces. 

Love, Love this picture! 

Apparently one of the ducks is named after Boo! 

Some serious tree huggers . We are in the PNW!

Love these smiles and so enjoyed our time together. 

My heart is filled with joy. So very thankful.

Boise Bound

A little time away to visit the folks was well overdue. T could work from Boise and Lina had a vacation day so we took off across 84 to Idaho. I love seeing mom and dad and enjoy getting out of dodge a bit too. We enjoyed some gorgeous scenery along the way; colorful trees and a soft glow from the sunset. The weather was perfect; no crazy storms to contend with and no icy roads to slip on. Mom and Dad treated us to breakfast, lunch and dinner. We covered all the bases visiting restaurants and diners I hadn't been to before. Luckily they have an elliptical in the loft to work off those added calories from all the delicious food we ate. We watched Hallmark movies and drank hot coffee. Mom, Lina and I shopped and well, we shopped again. It was a marvelous time away! Sometimes you just got to get away a little bit and what better place than visiting two people I'm very thankful to have in my life. 

Homecoming 2015

Believe it or not, the Homecoming dance was on October 31st this year. A bunch of students asked why Halloween of all nights? With no fantastic answer and since the school decided this was the night, we went with it. The theme was Vintage Hollywood. Pearls, lace, and just bit of 1920's fringe. My girl sparkled. 

Having a volley good time!

We love ourselves some volleyball! This year has been a fabulous year.  Lina has games Tuesdays and Thursdays each week with two tournaments thrown in the mix. So you know where to find me each week from 5-8pm. The season is about 10 weeks and it is flyin' by. Lina's school is VERY competitive and I do mean VERY; most girls play club which makes the players strong and games fun to watch. We've been cheering on our favorite player and enjoying the team wins along the way! Go Camas!