Christmas tree + sick kid

Henry missed two days of school last week and has had a yo-yoing fever that goes down after a dose of DayQuil/NyQuil but back up as soon as it starts to wear off. It's awful. Poor kid. What better thing to do than get dressed, go outside, and select a Christmas tree to make yourself feel better, amirite? Was this the best parenting decision? No. But it only took about half an hour and we got a great tree and he did get to breathe some fresh air for a tiny fraction of his day so it all turned out okay. Our little tree is lit and decorated and has presents under it and as soon as it is daytime again I'll update this post with a second pic of what it looks like all finished. For now you can see what our rather tall child looks like standing by our 4-5 foot Christmas tree.

Oregon Zoo Lights

Face of a teenager who does not wish to stop so his mama can take a cute picture, represents compliance while being noncompliant

Octopus!

Obligatory cousin shot

DANG.  Oregon Zoo knows climate change is real and isn't afraid to add it to their Christmas lights display.

Selfie of me and the kid

Just a cool bird

Just a dodo bird

What it looks like when the person tasked with putting up this display doesn't try hard.

Snowman at the zoo!

Loving the lights

Someone at Portland Parks and Rec is killing it at their job.  Whoever came up with the idea to put up twinkly lights on several park trees and buildings is a genius.  These things make me happy every time I drive by them. There is just something about tiny twinkly lights that is magical, especially when you come upon them unexpectedly.  The picture doesn't do it justice but it gives you an idea. It's adorable.  

Hood River Outing

 We joined the Neitzel-Platt clan in Hood River for a few hours of window shopping, shop exploring, coffee drinking, and dinner at the Full Sail Brewing pub.  Of course, there were pictures...

Christmas tree time

Having learned our lesson last year we did not wait until a few days before Christmas to try and find a tree.  We waited for a few weeks.  There is a much better selection when you have weeks instead of days before the holiday.  Our scrappy tree is just perfect.  And, yes, in case you are wondering the kittens did climb the tree, and knock the tree over (multiple times), and mistook the ornaments for their toys.  

before

after

Pi Day 2022

I am woefully behind in updating the blog.  I haven't even posted pics of Christmas yet!  But I happen to have a few minutes and I did snap a quick pic of our Pi Day dinner last night.  We started with Cook's Illustrated Skillet Chicken Pot Pie and and ended with Cook's Illustrated Chocolate Cream Pie (their version with the Oreo cookie crust).  Since Darren is out of town - hanging out with his ski friends at Mammoth Lakes, CA - we had Lynn over for dinner.  Hen, in typical teenager fashion, left the table as quickly as he could and resumed playing video games while Lynn and I chatted until she had to head back to the cabin.  A good time was had by all.  

Project: Arbor Blanket

This picture was taken a couple months ago near the start of the Arbor Blanket project.  It took me three months working intermittently to finish.  There was only the one cone of organic cotton fiber and I got to watch it s l o w l y reduce in size, but there's a surprising amount left.  Perhaps I can make a cotton hand towel for the kitchen?  Anyway, the final stitch count is 96,782.  It is by far the highest stitch count of any project to date.  

Rejected

 Photos I did not use on this year's Christmas cards.

Christmas cards

I'm sending out 48 Christmas cards.  I find it interesting and want to note where they are headed.  Here's the breakdown:

Out of the country:
1 to Germany
3 to Canada

Out of state:
1 to Louisiana
1 to Florida
1 to Colorado
1 to Tennessee
1 to Illinois
1 to California
2 to Washington
1 to Texas
2 to Montana

In state:
19 to Portland
1 to Gresham
1 to Wilsonville
1 to Tualatin
3 to Tigard
1 to Oregon City
2 to Newberg
3 to Sherwood
1 to Welches
1 to Elgin

I have a few extras just in case a card comes in from someone who isn't currently on my list.  

Halloween 2021, Bob Ross Edition

Our plans to host a party got nixed when a party invitee accidentally double booked the evening.  Since our invite list at that point was down to two, Hen and his friend, Elliot were absorbed into the larger party.  There wasn't much trick-or-treating but there was an overnighter event that allowed Henry to play - and win! - a video game for three and a half others (after some partygoers had fallen asleep, he assures me).  The next morning when I picked him up he fell asleep in the car, woke long enough to drag his tired butt to bed, and fell back asleep.

Happy Father's Day

Some father-son photos to make you go, "Awwww...."

More Christmas News

We've been quarantining so we can see family over the holidays.  And by family I mean Nick, Megan, and Mia because they are the only local family members who are able to quarantine in the same manner.  Jim's staying with a friend since moving back from Salem, and Jyla and Bobby are busy preparing for the move to their new house shortly after the new year.  

The holidays won't feel the same this year but we're still trying to make them as fun and entertaining as possible.  The second season of The Mandalorian helped.  But so did the virtual Santa visit (see pic below).  In years past, I took Henry to see Santa at Bridgeport Village.  This location goes all out - a tiny, cozy cabin is built in the middle of the outdoor space, everything is decked out in all the Christmas trimmings, holiday music is played on loudspeakers outdoors for everyone to enjoy, etc.  It's awesome and wondrous and all things fantastical.  But no reasonable person would even consider an in-person Santa visit this year - are they even happening? - so we went the virtual route. 

It was totally worth the $25 bucks.  You simply book your appointment and fill out a form and then on your scheduled date and time you Zoom with Santa.  Heck, yeah!  The form had space for you to add some notes on your kid.  And, yes, Hen is 13 and that is a bit older than the typical kid visiting Santa, but I desperately wanted a photo of Hen and Santa to commemorate the Pandemic Christmas of 2020.  I also wanted an ornament to add to the tree that would remind me of this year and I found the perfect one on Etsy by Albright Illustration (see pic of ornament below).  

Most of the presents are wrapped, most of the shipped packages should arrive in time to be under the trees come Christmas morning, Christmas cards went out late last week, I have three more curbside pickups to do - yule log deliciousness from The Cakery, a book from Annie Bloom's Books, and groceries, and we have ingredients on hand to continue baking.  

Shrinky Dink Christmas Ornaments

Featuring characters from some of our favorite picture books

(from left to right) Hippos Go Berserk, The Duckling Gets a Cookie, and The Adventures of Beekle

 

Pandemic Christmas Tree Shopping

There is a Christmas tree lot in our neighborhood that magically appears after Thanksgiving that we've been going to for the past few years.  The older gentleman who runs it lives in a trailer on the lot to keep watch over the trees.  He's gruff but kind.  

Hen looks for smaller trees.  He loves that hat on his head.  

Today, Henry found our perfect tree in record time.  The pandemic makes shopping a speedy enterprise. We very much arrived at the lot with a get-in, get-out action plan.  

By nightfall, our tree was decorated with a few gifts for family and friends underneath. 

Happy Father's Day!

Kid and Papa

Pobody's nerfect.

My Muddy Valentine!

First Place Finisher!
Unofficial time - just under 10 minutes to complete the obstacle course.
(photo credit - Pat via Terrapin Events)

Happy Chinese New Year's Eve!

Google's Year of the Rat is too cute not to share.

Christmas 2019 Pictorial