To Christmas & Beyond

We hope all have enjoyed a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a bright new year. We are enjoying family and friends this year, with my parents for the week surrounding Christmas and P*V&A for a couple of weeks. Nothing is more fun than having little children around for Christmas, especially when its you first grandson. Here are a few pics, we have had cousins from Santa Monica and Burbank visit as well so everyone can catch up on kids. Ken & I hope to get to see more of the California cousins as we all have Disneyland passes this year so we hope to meet there some.

We walked around the block to look at the Christmas lights.

Disneyland at Christmas

The "Girls" fixing Christmas dinner

A new obstacle course

Thanksgiving - Birthdays - Light Houses

Helen, Aaron and I took a week off and spent Thanksgiving with Parker, Viki and Abner. Four days were spent enjoying a small costal town, Neskowin, OR, and the surrounding area. This region of the Oregon coast is really spectacular and we got a break with the weather as only one day (Thanksgiving day) was a rainy one. We also celebrated Abner's 1st birthday (on the 30th) and Aaron's 30th (on the 1st). This was a very nice start to the holiday season. The only thing that would've made it better is if Stephen and Marissa could have been with us.

This light house has the largest lense of any on the west coast

Several hundred sea lions - as we were leaving they all started toward the water. Quite a sight.

Abner loved the toys but the clothes were just in the way. S&M everyone else really liked the coat.

After all was said and done - it was back to the old favorites.

Christmas Train

Helen & I stumbled upon a model train store near a garden center we frequent - and knowing of the fun P,V and Ab have had on the zoo train in Portland we bought a train to circle the Christmas tree. It's nice to have a built-in rationale for buying toys. This one is the same gage Lionel as the one I had growing up but a different model - the North Pole Central (vs the Sante Fe). Special features include: high beam light, smoking locomotive, christmas carols and a nice deep whistle.

Years of fun have begun, little buddy.

Happy Anniversary

Stephen & Marissa celebrated 2 years together. Chefs Helen and Aaron tried to recreate a fish 'n chips dinner they recalled from their honeymoon. Mar showed off some pickings from her garden and we enjoyed fresh cream puffs for dessert. Throw in some pickin' and grinnin' time and some very kind words and you have a nice time all around.

They're goodin's for sure.

Grandboy Gandering Opportunities

Because we can, we are projecting his image and we fully accept, and even embrace, the moniker of increasingly absorbed and annoying grandparents.

Little guy says to stop - now

September in Seattle

Our whole crew met in Seattle for a weekend to attend niece/cousin Amy's wedding. Many from Helen's side of the family were there and it was a nice reunion for all. Our family enjoyed Parker's BD (same day as the wedding) at the Gas Works Park, in the center of Seattle. We had a picnic and the sunshine that we were lucky to have. Here are a few pics, including a small video of a laughing Abner.

Abner & Micah checking each other out.

How can you not miss this baby?!