Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Happy Holidays!














This year, we had a great time spending the holidays in Bellevue with Dad, Sonja, Chris, Jess and baby Seren. On Christmas Eve, we hunted down the Marination Mobile, which is a food truck that specializes in Hawaiian/Korean fast food including Spam Sliders (yum!) and was voted the best Food Cart in America. Delish.

Seren and Stella were cuddled and played with, naturally, and of course dressed in their Christmas outfits. Dad concocted a delicious mexican breakfast of potatoes, sauteed sausages, nopalitos with eggs, tortillas and my favorite... mimosas!

We sat around being lazy all day and opened gifts in the evening after many rounds of mimosas, spiked apple cider and red wine. Dad gave the grandgirls matching necklaces (see pic) and spoiled me with the most beautiful turquoise earrings - probably because I'm always stealing Jessica's :) Jess overdid herself by stuffing my stocking with ridiculous amounts of chemical free and organic body products and topped it off with a delicious honeycrisp apple tucked in to the toe of my stocking - just like Grandma used to do.

Nick and I are thankful that we were able to spend our holidays with our fantastic family and look forward to the new year with our new addition.

Cousins





I really hope Stella and Seren grow up enjoying having their pictures taken together, wearing matching outfits and all other sorts of weird things that Jess and I plan on making them do until they are old enough to move out...

Visit with Grandma & Grandpa Evans





Rhonda and Tommy were beside themselves when they found out I was pregnant, and even more so when they found out it was a girl. Even though they aren't technically Stella's Grandparents, they will always love her as if she were their own.

Rhonda made Stella about 10 different handmade things for my baby shower from booties with matching hats (seriously, 6 sets...). quilts, blankets, onesies... I'm sure I'm missing quite a few things...

Stella and I went to hang out with them and open her Christmas gifts. We had almost as much fun as they did and can't wait to see them again :)

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Jess and Seren visit pdx





It's hard to believe that it's already been 6 weeks since my niece was born. It's even harder to believe that 4 months has passed since Stella was born! Jess and I have been through the most exciting, trying, happy and amazing moments in our lives together and it's fitting that our daughters will have the chance to spend their lives growing and learning from each other, too.

Hunting for a Christmas tree






We couldn't have picked a more perfect day to go find and cut our Christmas tree. We woke up to a crisp clear day, so we bundled up Stella, packed ourselves in to the car and drove out to Oregon City to find our first Christmas tree. Now it's home and lighted, but I guess we should find some ornaments...

A day to give thanks







This year, there are many things that we are thankful for: our health, our happiness, our beautiful daughter, our loving family, a comfortable home, our generous friends and all of the many memories and experiences both in the past and to come.

Thanksgiving this year was spent at Nick's parent's house in Vancouver, Washington. Nick's brother (Jeff) and his wife (Misty) were in town from Marysville along with their three kids (Matthew, William and Elizabeth). We had a great time!

Stella got to wear an adorable Holiday dress from her Auntie Tiffy, too :)

Girls night dinners




Every Wednesday night, the girls (and our children) get together. One person cooks and everyone else chats and plays with the kids. It's a tradition that goes back to Sunday night dinners up at the commune. I hope we can always find time to keep this tradition going. It's so nice to see all my girls.