Suprise family extravaganza!

The day begins with taking the girls ice skating for their first time :) This is the ambitious group who has not stepped on the ice yet!

Here is Annabelle having a fabulous time ice skating, with many falls and all, she loved it!

Chris and Annabelle skated for about 2 hours together!

So here are Ella and I, about 45 minutes in, off the ice, as I fell pretty badly on my knee, and Ella bumped her head on the ice. We became the official picture takers.

The girls of course chose McDonalds for lunch, and Ella found a very clever way to
hold her drink :)

And our last stop was the $3 movie theater to watch "Despicable Me". I was happy to put my leg up, and the girls laughed quite a bit. Great family movie! We ended the lovely day with pizza making and yet another movie (Toy Story 3), and then we put two very tired girls to bed :)

Rainy fun

We spent some time in downtown Portland, rain, cold and all, with Chris' dad and stepmom and sister. It was kinda crowded, and cold for us old people, but the girls had a BLAST, skipping down the street in puddles, walking with umbrella's, riding the MAX train, and being with their family! Oh how I need their perspective more in my life. Thank goodness it is a new year! :)

Christmas 2010

This Christmas was different for me than ever before. I hosted Christmas this year, and usually when I host, I am completely preoccupied with the details so as to make everyone's Christmas experience a relaxing and fun one, and in the process I lose perspective, and forget that Christmas is time for reflection on Christ's birth, not to mention end up using credit cards so that everything is just perfect! This year, I chose not to do that, and I just let everyone help out with the meal, and details, and it was such a joyful Christmas. Plus, I had my mom and dad and brothers here, we were definately missing my baby sister, but it is not that often that we all get together, and it was in my home. My dad's snoring and all....I wouldn't trade it for the world :-)

Ella and Uncle Ian (my younger brother)

Ella and Tata (Chris' sister)

The girls singing happy birthday to Jesus! A tradition from my childhood :)

My family at my church for Christmas Eve service

The whole family :) I love these people and feel extremely blessed!

decking the halls

I am really into the Christmas spirit this year, and am loving all the decor and music around me, thus had a pretty fun time sprucing up the house this year! We even put lights on the outside of our house this year...first time ever!

belle my ballerina!

Annabelle performed in a Christmas, end of the year, ballet performance last Sunday night. It was so much fun to see her out there, perfecting each move. She does everything she attempts so well, and I am incredibly proud to be her mama!

Partying like it's 1975!

Chris and I went to a friends 40th birthday party 70's style on Friday night, and had a whole lot of fun getting outfits together, and growing special facial hair, etc. Chris still has his mustache and sideburns. I did notice a few looks in the store the other day....although I will not worry unless he starts to drive a windowless van.