[recap] Thanksgiving

I just found this post in my queue and still am not sure how it never got published. But here it is.

Thanksgiving 2011.

Justins family came out for Thanksgiving this year. Which means I had to actually cook my first turkey. Yikes. Thanks to the help of Justins mom and this being her 30+ time, it turned out great! The spread was deliscious. Turkey, gravy, Sweet potato cassarole, mashed potatoes, red cabbage, fruit salad, stuffing, fresh cranberry sauce, and rolls. Yummy. This is definitely my favorite meal of the year!

WE also took this chance to get some christmas card photos in, since this is was when we were all together.

Unfortunately, Justin's brothers were all studying for med school, the GMAT, and engineering something, so we didn't get out much. (I'm not even sure James ever left the house, poor kid). We did watch a lot of movies and go play our annual soccer game (no babies were born this time). It was a great week.

Christmas.

Christmas was pefrect. This is the first time we have just been home with our little family and I loved it. That might be our new thing. It was so nice to wake up with our boys and watch the magic on their faces. I loved having my family all to myself and the focus on making it fun for the boys. This was the first year Rhys really got it and was totally into it, which made my job a lot more fun.
our poor attempt at a family photo christmas morning.

Winter Wonderland

We woke up to this:

So then we made this:

And then the entire city of Portland shut down. Unfortunatley Justin had to fly down to CA bright and early this morning for work, or else he would have enjoyed the state-wide snow day as well. I really love that this happens only once a year, but its kinda sad when 1 inch of snow cancels school, work, bus schedules, ect. and then melts away by 10am.

happy thursday!

Bringing home Beckham

We finally got to bring Becks home! After 3 weeks exactly in the hospital and a couple crazy/lazy nurses, we finally got to bring our little boy home. It was a wonderful day, and since then we have gotten very little sleep. This kid is so noisy! I dont know how long I can take him only a few feet from my bed, it sounds like we have a lamb or a Velociraptor sleeping in the room. He grunts and squeaks all day long. When I'm sleeping, I like silence. And unfortunately, I get just as freaked out when I dont hear the squeaking. It's a crappy cycle. But I wouldnt have it any other way. This is him meeting his brother for the first time, who currently has another ear infection and has yet to actually touch his brother. Its been an interesting transition with two kids who cant be near each other, but I dont want to risk Beckham ending back in the hospital cause of a cold. Hes just a little to small. our first family photo. and even though you cant see beckham, this makes me happy.

He is up to 5lb 9oz.

dahlias

Well, only 2 of our Dahlias gave us blossoms this year. We had 6 planted. But these two have been a joy.

crafts

I love fall time for crafting. I especially love Halloween decorations. And now we have this house that has all this room and space to decorate. Its perfect! Heres what I've been up to.

And even one for Christmas. I've had these signs for over a year now and finally found the perfect paper to spice them up. I cant figure out why this wont flip to the right direction....sorry

Ahh.. summer time.

yes its true. After 21 straight days of rain in May, June has proved to be so much better. And by so much I mean at least we have had 4 days of sun. I know what your thinking, believe me I'm thinking it too. Why does anyone ever live here??? It is simply because the days we actually do get sun are so beautiful! Clear blue sky's, perfect temperate climate, green everywhere, and the sun staying out till well after 9pm. Nothing is better.

rhys and i enjoying one of these said days

So last weekend, my younger brother flew up to do a triathlon with me. It was so much fun to have him here and do this activity with him. We are already trying to find another one to do in california where the water wont be nearly as cold! It was so much fun!! I love doing these!

Then, miley and Sheri came to visit us for the week. We went to Bend for a day. Justin had a hearing , so we played around the hotel and took naps with our babies until he finished. As soon as he was done, we headed out to Smith Rock to check it out. It was awesome. Its a massive out cropping of rocks in the middle of the high desert with a river carving around the base. So cool! This is a rock climbers heaven! Ill post pictures after I get them from Sheri's camera. I didnt get any pictures of all of us, or even just the kids, but they were so cute. Once they woke up, they were inseparable! So cute.

Then this weekend could not have been better. 80 degrees and a hubby all to my self. Justin let me sleep in till 9 (thank you babe!!) and I woke up to him out running my errands, stopping to get us donuts and getting the oil changed in my car! He's the best. I cleaned the house while he was gone. As soon as we got back, we mulched the front yard and pruned/ripped out the bushes in back that we don't want. Then we went to the pool and hung out. Perfect! Later, our friends came over for dinner and we finished the evening off with a few episodes of 24.

Already breeding a polo player. He would hardly leave the ball alone!

Sunday was another beautiful day. We walked Rhys over to the play gym in our neighborhood, I got my lesson ready for my Valiant 9 class (they are too cute), and we finished the day off with more 24.

yes he is still in his jammies... but arent they cute!

Summer is good. Im so glad its here!!

backyard roses

When we bought our house, we weren't thrilled about the 16 rose bushes in the backyard, mostly because they have some killer big thorns on them which isnt so condusive with kids. However, now that spring has brought out the blooms, i love them. They are gorgeous. Everyday rhys and I take a walk around a check out all the colors and look for new flowers. I guess we can keep a few of them around for now, at least until I get all my dahlia's.