Snowy snowshoeing

A snowshoe with Ryan and Nikki was the perfect way to kick off Christmas week. Gorgeous soft flakes fell on us during the entire journey, but nobody minded. We were all much too busy enjoying the adventure- and a few snowball fights. Even the long journey home along snowy, busy roads was a hoot with Ryan sitting in the "way back" between the girls and singing Christmas carols with them.

Nikki claimed favorite auntie status as she pulled the sled for two tired girls. 

Snow angel smiles. 

Family shot. Immediately after this was taken, Mary knocked me off balance and I tipped backward, Lucy fell into Curtis, and we all collapsed into a snowy heap. Poor little Ryan took the brunt of the fall. Glad this is the happy image we can show Ryan when he grows up. 

If you hit Ryan with a snowball, there will be retribution. Here, Ryan sacks Mary into the snow. 

Mary and her super fabulous, very fun, amazing godparents. 

"All I want for Christmas is...

a puppy," Lucy told Santa. "A girl weimaraner puppy."

To which Santa replied, "Do your parents know about this request?"

"Yes, they know this is what I want," she truthfully confirmed.

Santa grimly shook his head. "Hmm. You'd better double-check on that."

Sniffles

After a week of clingy, cranky, non-sleeping sick baby, I'll do anything to have my happy boy back. Poor guy. 

I know I shouldn't complain. He is a healthy babe, with only one small fever in his whole life. Comparatively, the girls were so sick their first few years of life, courtesy of those prolific daycare germs. That has paid off in spades, of course, with nary a sick day between them in their entire elementary school careers (aside from Mary having her appendix removed).  

Ryan has been miraculously healthy thus far. But now a crummy cold has walloped this little fellow. We've had five miserable, sleepless nights of coughing and sniffling. 

I'm determined this will be his only cold of the winter. If you see me next with a large tub of hand sanitizer strapped over my shoulders like a Camelbak, just nod and understand. Or, pretend you understand. I'll be too tired to notice.

Swimming (and gene) pool

Mary participated in an 8-week swim team this winter. It ended with a swim meet on Sunday where they competed against other teams in the area. Mary was a rock star, getting second place in her heat for both of her events, freestyle and backstroke.

While watching her today, it became apparent to me that Mary is naturally athletic-- something this clumsy mama has never been able to claim. It's that other half of the gene pool working for her. (Thanks, Curtis.)  It's amazing to watch her grow in skill, enthusiasm, and confidence.

Mary (third lane from end) finishing the backstroke in 2nd place.

Mary on the block. (Shortly after, there was a belly flop into the water, as she is still perfecting this technique. But, she's up there, and that's saying a lot!) 

Emily, Olivia, and Mary-- in a swim cap for the first time! 

And...

one more script for the Portlandia folk.

While stirring a steamy pot of minestrone soup last night, I heard a knock at the door. I discovered a large box on the doorstep. The delivery woman was already making her way down the porch steps as I called out, "thank you!" and hefted the box into my arms to carry it inside.

But I did a double-take. There was no UPS truck in front of our house. No loud idling motor. Just a bicycle with a flatbed-style trailer full of boxes behind it. That's right, this box, the size of our sunroom chair, was delivered with pedal power.

Once again, Portlandia at its finest. UPS deliveries via bicycle!

Over the mountain and through the woods...

to Amy & Tom's house we went! Once again, Thanksgiving was the most delicious feast. And a feast not only of the best morsels of food, but also of family and togetherness and love. We had a wonderful visit. In fact, we were so busy having fun that the only photograph I took was this winter wonderland we experienced on the drive over Mt. Hood. But, lucky for me, Tom took some great snapshots, which you can see here.