I always try to make the most out of the holiday season with the kids.
I tried to squeeze in lots and lots of fun, but when it came right down to it, they got pneumonia, and our plans were stunted. I guess it's more important to stay home and take care of sick kids than to force enjoyment from the season. We took care of our kids.
I took the kids to the Portland Festival of Trees.
I've only ever experienced the well-known one in Utah before.... so this was a bit surprising.
I can't say there were that many trees, I didn't even spend the time to look at them up close.
I focused on what the kids would want, and that's what we did.
Too bad I didn't think we would have to wait in an hour long line to do the most adored thing.... get a teddy bear, and doctor them all up (band aids, nose & mouth covers, ace wraps, etc.) with the help of actual medical professionals. Oh, well.
The kids are standing in front of a kid's size house. Cute.
We met Mrs. Clause, and then she sat down and read Christmas stories.
Here we are trying out Mrs. Clause's chair.
We got to decorate our own cookies.
The kids even got to "make" jingle bell necklaces.
They still play with them.
That was the biggest hit from the event!
One day, my dream to pick out a tree as a family will actually come true!!!
This Christmas, we tried to, but the tree place was already closed by 5:00 pm on Saturday, and we all arrived shortly after that.
The boys and I took care of it the following Monday. No worries.
They loved it of course.
I love that I can get a nice sized 6 or 7 foot tree for $25 or $30 and that it stays fresh through January.
This is a plus of living in Oregon!
The boys helped me decorate the tree the next morning.
I let them pretty much do it how ever (trying to give them advice) and then rearranged it slowly over the next couple of days.
This is what it looked like after THEY decorated it (and I put on a couple near the top.)
This is the best picture Cohen's ever taken of me.
Just thought I should throw it in there!
Ok.... see the bulge on the side of my body above my left hand?
That's my lovely cyst of some kind. Cute huh?!
Cohen sang with the Primary at our ward Christmas party.
I played a little solo on the piano that I put together..... I don't know how well it went.
Santa came to visit at the ward Christmas party!
Hooray!
We went to the Clackamas Town Center Mall to visit Santa about a week later.
Here's the kids waiting in line to see him.
I can't believe that there were NINE DOGS also in line with us, waiting to see Santa.
They weren't all together either. Lots of people, with lots of dogs.
At least it was entertainment for the kids!
We went to see Santa, and ended up eating in the food court while Santa was taking a break.
The reason I mention this is because the very next day, something tragic happened right where we were.
A gunman came into the mall, and opened fire in the food court and killed several people.
This is right where we were.
Our Santa was on the news.
Everyone in the area (Santa is pretty close to the food court) had to run and cover.
I'm thankful we are safe, and that we missed it by a day.
Going to the mall there the next couple of times was hard for me, but we can't live our lives in fear.
Onward!
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