Boise Weekend

I made a quick trip to Boise for a long weekend.  They still have a ton of snow!  I loved it but Matt and Scott are getting tired of all the shoveling they have had to do.

Construction is finally happening after our flood.  I got the new built in bookcases I've always wanted for the family room. 

New carpet! 

Fun new paint colors!  Green accent wall in Scott's room, gray in bedrooms and in the bathroom, extra white trim, porcelain walls and a dark gray accent wall in the family room....  

Matt and Scott ordered their new mattresses. 

I did a lot of sorting and cleaning out.  We took 2 big loads to DI.  And I still managed to have some grandma time with Isabella.  Currently she is obsessed with Pat-a Cake. 

 As soon as I finished it one time she wanted me to do it again! 

So much fun with this cutie!  When she finally tired of 'pat-a-cake' and 'putting it in the oven for baby and me' she entertained herself with books. A girl after my own heart!
 I can hardly wait to go back in a month or so!

Blizzard Round 4

I found this sign on the 75% off table at Safeway last week so I decided I needed it on my door!  And it worked like a charm!

 I went to dinner at a friend's house last night and came home in a 'Colorado worthy' snow storm. 

Those snow covered trees are so beautiful but can also be quite dangerous. See that little branch blocking our stairs?

In a city with so many huge trees the heavy snow presents lots of problems.  Here is a tree in my friend's yard. Luckily it missed the house but her whole neighborhood is without power.

And here is another picture to show the problems this kind of snow presents to Lake Oswego.  Luckily this one didn't hit a house.

Officially in Lake Oswego they are saying we have 9 inches.  On our deck we have about 6! Portland may be closed for days! Maybe until spring! I love the hashtag one of my teacher friends used on her photos of the day - #6dayweekend. It's 1:00 p.m. and I'm still in my jammies!  Enjoying this snow day to the fullest!

The Blizzards

In Portland we don't call them blizzards we call them 'snow events' and we've had 3 so far this winter.  The first one was when we were flying home from the Galapagos Islands.  Our only worry then was whether we would make it home from the airport.  We did!

The next one was about a week later.  The predicted 2 - 3 inches of snow didn't keep me from going to the mall since I was way behind on my Christmas shopping.  When I went out to put packages in my car I realized that it was definitely snowing and that I had better go home.  The normal 20 minute trip took me 2 hours!  Luckily I didn't have to go to the bathroom!  I actually like the way people in Oregon drive in the snow - SLOW!  In Idaho and Colorado there is always someone who thinks they can zip around and that makes me nervous.  I wasn't nervous during my 2 hour drive and my car did great!  I only slipped once or twice.  I just cranked up the Christmas music and tried to relax!

This weekend we had another snow/ice storm.  Most of the time here the biggest problems come from the ice.  We didn't have church today....in fact this is the 2nd time this winter when we haven't had church because of the weather.  Our stake is very hilly and parts are rural.  There is no snow removal equipment and only a few sand trucks.  Our Stake President said that since the city governments were asking people to stay off the roads, we would cancel church throughout the stake.

Our front deck

Apartment complex sidewalks 

The street behind us is a steep hill.  This might best show why we are homebound with this small amount of snow. 

I love snow days!  I know our Boise family and friends are laughing hysterically at what constitutes a snow event here when they have more than 13 inches!  This picture is from our front door in Boise.

In Boise snow depth records that have held for 30 years have been broken and it has been super cold.  It is snowing again today.  Here's the sidewalk to our house. 

 And the driveway! 

Isabella loves it! 

As does Monica!  I don't think she has seen this much snow in her whole life!  I should clarify that she loved it the first few days....I'm not sure if 'love' is the right word now. 

Isabella, Monica and John walked to the grocery store.  I would love to know what Isabella thinks about this new white, cold world! 

I think everyone in Boise is feeling like this.... 

Holiday Movies

George and I usually go to the movie pretty regularly but the last few months there just hasn't been much we were interested in seeing.  During the holidays we saw two really fun and totally enjoyable movies.

On Christmas Eve we took the family to see Rogue One. I loved it!  It is so fun to know 'the rest of the story' about the stolen plans for the Death Star from the very first Star Wars movie which we saw as newlyweds in 1977 !

I knew I was going to enjoy Fantastic Beasts as soon as I heard the Harry Potter theme music.  It made me smile.  The whole thing was just pure fun!  I'm glad that it is pretty obviously set up for a sequel starring Johnny Depp.

I love when George takes me out to the movies!!!!

Christmas Craft

I started a tradition a few years ago of making a tree ornament each year.  Matt, Scott and Johnny have cheerfully (well mostly cheerfully) been willing participants.  This year Monica asked to be in charge of the 'Craft Night'.

Next year Matt and Scott say that they want to be in charge of the ornament making.  Mmmm....I wonder how that will work out!  They are both quite artistic and I think it would be interesting!

Actually they all have been good sports and made very unique and beautiful ornaments over the years.  We had many over achievers this year.  

Johnny was very supportive and helpful to his wonderful wife!

George made an elaborate unique ornament.

Mark looked for inspiration with the glue gun!

Mary worked hard and came up with a wonderful addition to their ornament collection.

Aren't they pretty?

Bonfires on the Beach

Another Lewis Christmas tradition - A bonfire on the beach

Matt built a wonderful teepee fire!

 What is it about fires, boys and sticks?

 Perhaps we should have gotten Mary a hat in Ecuador too!  I'm glad her brothers agreed to share for the evening.  Mark didn't ask to wear one!

Sisters-in-laws

Isabella was enchanted by the fire!

Isabella - Christmas 2016

I remember last Christmas holding a two month old Isabella on the beach in Lincoln City and thinking ahead to how much she was going to love being on this beach in 2016!  Boy was I right! She absolutely loved it!

She reminded me so much of her Dad at this age.  I always said that I could be on a huge parking lot with little Johnny and if there was one puddle anywhere he would manage to find it and splash in it.  Isabella was exactly the same.  She wanted to be IN the water! Dad and Mom had to keep a close eye on her so that she didn't succeed!

Her favorite thing was to walk towards the ocean and then let her Dad scoop her up and run away from the waves.  I think she would have done this all afternoon and giggled the whole time!

She had no fear! And if left to her own devices she would have taken the 'polar plunge'! This little girl is very independent!

We were able to slow her down enough to take a couple of photos.  One with Mom and Dad.....

One with Grandma and Grandpa! Now I'm dreaming of a family holiday in Hawaii where running into the ocean is allowed!

She loved everything about Christmas.  Lots of attention from doting grandparents, aunt and uncles and of course her parents!  She also liked the front door of the house since she could see her reflection and she is enamored by any kind of mirror.  In this photo I think she was sad because she wanted to go 'with' Grandma and not be left behind!

The present Santa brought was a big hit.  Now I just hope all the music won't drive her Mom and Dad crazy!  I wonder how long the batteries will last!

She certainly gave us some extra joy and love on this my favorite holiday!

Hats off to Christmas Morning!

Until I looked back at the pictures I hadn't realized that we had a hats theme!

First Miss Isabella with her "Christmas themed" head gear!

In fact, Christmas themed head gear for all the girls!

A Stetson for Scott!

I think he looked handsome but I ruined it when I told him the hat reminded me of LBJ!

Matt's hat helped us remember to be healthy and socially conscious.  Drink more water but not water out of single use plastic bottles!

Mary looked cute in her hat from Ecuador! Did you know 'Panama hats' are actually made in Ecuador?

For years I have tried to bring the boys ski hats from the countries we've visited - from Nepal to Chile - and I've never gotten it right.  They never like them.  In Ecuador I found these great hats and thought they would make a great joke Christmas gift.  I was surprised that they really liked them.  I don't expect to see them actually wear them but they appreciated the humor!

Hats off to Mark for buying a Christmas gift for himself!  He pronounced them a perfect fit, the right color and just what he wanted!  And hats off to Mark who doesn't enjoy traveling but was willing to fly across the country to be with us!

Tipping our hats to Monica for adapting so easily to our American Christmas traditions!  Having her in our family is a true blessing! She puts up with us with grace and good spirits.

Hats of to George for making all this fun possible with his hours of hard work and dedication and love!  We are a lucky family to have him as husband, dad, father-in-law and Grandpa!!