Gavin Mekhi turns 18 AND graduates!

Note: this post will include some very cute photos of my adorable nephew.  

Gavin just turned 18 *AND* he graduated from high school! 

Gavin

His game plan now is to become an HVAC technician, which includes getting his certificate most likely through an apprenticeship.  

We are so very proud of him!

Baby Batman

Blurry First Christmas photo

Blowing up marshmallow experiment

Building a soccer goal

Cousin's birthday party

Goofing around during a photo shoot

Wearing goggles upside down

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...

Growing cats need bigger trees

The kitties have graduated from climbing the much smaller trees on the grounds to exploring the much larger 40+ft tree in front of our unit.  And those brave little farts are coming within a foot of the very top of it.  We've seen them up there swaying in the breeze.  How they come down is pretty smart, too.  The branches form a bit of a spiral staircase and they just walk on down.  There's maybe a six foot jump at the bottom when the branches end but that's no sweat for these cats.

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

Hat!

Purl Soho came out with this really great, easy, fun, and fast hat pattern made with their lovely cashmere yarn and I can't stop making them.  Tiny stripes, larger stripes, block colors, and one color are some of the options I've made.  I asked the kid pose in one so I could show off how cute they are. 

Celebrating turning (almost for one kid) 16!

We celebrated together since the Glynns were unable to join us for Hen's birthday dinner with the Motons back in October.

It only took me 30 frames to get one decent one.

For the longest time Mia was taller than Hen but that is no longer the case.