Christmas in Portland

We had a wonderful time spending Christmas in Portland with the VanDeWalle side of our family. Sophie actually understood Christmas this year and LOVED it. We are so thankful that with modern technology Eric was able to watch Sophie open her stocking and gifts on Christmas morning. On Christmas afternoon Audri flew in from Boise and Eric's sister Sara and her family picked her up at the airport on their way over. We had a very nice Christmas dinner and then opened gifts with the extended family. Sophie really enjoyed playing with the boys and of course with her big sis. She seemed to jump right in and play with her cousins and their new toys! They came over another day before we left and she really enjoyed playing Legos with them, having them read to her, and playing the piano. We were also able to attend the annual VanDeWalle family Christmas potluck/party. It was fun for Sophie to play with some of her second and third cousins that are her age.

Thanks to Dan and Paula (Grandpa and Grandma) for having us stay for 10 days! The meals were wonderful and it was nice to have some extra help with Sophie (so mommy go go to Target!). We are now looking forward to next Christmas. It will definitely be very special to have daddy back with us.

Zoo Lights

A couple of days before Christmas we went to Zoo Lights in Portland with Grandpa Dan, Grandma Paula, and the Golsan family (minus Uncle Ken because he had to work). We got there right when it opened and didn't have to wait to get in. However, our hopes of riding the Zoo Train were crushed when we saw the hour long line for it. So, instead we just walked around and looked at the beautiful light display. Cousin Charlie (or Chawie as Sophie calls him) was such a big help with pushing Sophie's stroller. Sophie loved the attention from all her cousins....William, Henry, Charlie and of course from Auntie Sara! The weather was amazingly dry and fairly warm. We chose the right day to go because the next 7 days were rainy and cold. As we left the zoo there was a brass quartet playing Christmas music. The kids really enjoyed listening to it and Sophie even wanted to dance! We noticed after Sophie got her baby and stroller for Christmas she would push the baby around the house and say "Zoo Lights baby." She was taking her baby to see the Zoo Lights as well! :)

Christmas at home with mommy

Before going to Portland Sophie got to open a couple of gifts at home. I let her open her Little People Nativity Set a couple of weeks early so that she could learn about the story of Baby Jesus and get to play with it before we left. She also got to open her Handy Manny tool box. Sophie LOVES her tools and I'm sure she will soon be helping Grandpa Dan in his workshop! Sophie got to open her gifts from Grandpa Ron and Grandma Betty. She got a CD player and Bunny Rabbit stuffed animal and blanket. They are both so very soft and she loves to cuddle them. Oh and of course Sophie got to "open" her basketball hoop. That gift was one that daddy requested we get her. He already has hoop dreams for her!

Living Nativity

The Seventh Day Adventist Church here in La Grande does an AMAZING living nativity each year. We went last year but Sophie was still a little too small to really enjoy it. This year was a different story! It stopped snowing just minutes before we headed out so I bundled Sophie up. We met up with some family there (Aunt Kathy, Uncle Merrill, Kevin, Angie, and Wes). The kids LOVED all the real animals that were there. Unfortunately Clyde the camel was injured getting into his trailer so he couldn't make it. The indoor Bethlehem shops were amazing and the kiddos each got a piece of wool to carry around! We had a great time again this year. Thanks to the Gorhams and Graysons for meeting up with us for this fun event. :)

Christmas at Grammy and Papa's

Before we left for Portland we went over to Wallowa to have Christmas with Greaty (my grandma Shirley) and Grammy and Papa. Sophie of course got spoiled! We figured out that everyone got her a Pillow Pet! So, a couple of us had to return them so she just has two...one to keep at Grammy's and one that daddy got her for our house. We had a nice visit with my family and enjoyed our early Christmas with them.

Christmas Part 1

Last weekend we went to the Dearingers house to have an early Christmas with them before they had to leave town. The girls had a great time exchanging gifts and jumping on the bed! Sophie loves her Disney princess beauty kit and knows exactly what to do with the blow dryer and flat iron (she's been watching mommy!). Taylor loved her Rapunzel doll from the movie Tangled. It was the first movie she ever went to! Maybe next year at Christmas time Sophie will be old enough for us to take to a movie. :) We even took some pics of the girls in their Utah and BSU cheerleading outfits since "our" two teams will be playing each other in the Las Vegas Bowl next week. Again, we are so thankful to have such great friends here in LG. :)

Christmas Decorating!

We had originally planned to just have a little fake 3 ft. Christmas tree this year since we will be spending Christmas in Portland. We put it up around Thanksgiving time. Mommy's patience was running a little thin after Sophie pulled the tree over 4 or 5 times but she was FINALLY learning to leave it alone. About a week ago the armory here in La Grande delivered to our door a real tree. They were giving trees to the families of deployed soldiers. I decided that I couldn't say no to a free tree delivered to our house! It's beautiful and smells AMAZING! Sophie now gets the small tree in her room to do with as she pleases! She doesn't seem to touch the real tree in the living room and even if she did I decided that shatterproof ornaments are the only way to go. Thanks to the Dearingers for letting us borrow their nice tree stand that makes it impossible to tip over the tree. And thanks to Jessica for coming over and helping me put the tree in the stand. It's definitely a two person job! The tree is beautiful and we just wish daddy was here to see it and smell it. :( He loves real Christmas trees.

Sophie got to see Santa the weekend after Thanksgiving at the Festival of Trees at the armory here. She was a bit scared (to say the least!). But in her defense his is a big fat strange man in a red suit with white hair all over his face...I can understand how that would be a little scary! The picture is priceless! Thanks to the Dearingers for helping get pics while I tried to get her to sit on Santa's lap. :)