Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

I love how our family is growing.  A rare family picture when the kids are all together.  Matthew and Carlie came home from North Carolina for Christmas.  Taylor was home from Alaska and Jalen and Nathan were home from Everett, Washington.  Such a special holiday to have our family complete.

The only way to make the above picture better is to add both sets of Grandparents, my sister and Tyler.  Gosh, I love these people!  

As tradition serves, we found a $15 tree this year.  We couldn't find a $10 tree that we liked, but hey...$15 dollars for a HUGE tree isn't too shabby! 

We got a new couch for Christmas!  Thanks, Santa!

Bill and Jalen are busy little elves wrapping presents and getting ready for Christmas morning. 

Merry Christmas from Maverick!

Auntie Allie and Maverick

It was so great to see Matthew and Carlie and our new grand puppy, Lola

Taylor is home from Alaska after being away for over a year!

My oldest baby!  Home for the holidays

Nana and Taylor

I love the times that we can all sit around the table and catch up with each other.  I love how close our family is.

Matthew and Courtney

Maverick's new Tigger Toy and Olaf chair

The Ryan Family opening their gift from us

Carlie, Matthew and Bill

Kaela, Courtney and Kyle

The Bratton Family

Happy 40th to my sister!

Happy 40th Birthday Stacy!  

My darling sister turned 40 last weekend!  We started the weekend at my nephew Tyler's football game.  Tyler was also nominated for Homecoming Prince so he wasn't able to participate in the homecoming walk during the half time of the football game.  Instead, Stacy had to walk down on the football field with a head shot of Tyler!  It was so sweet! 

 

Happy Birthday Sister!  (She looks so proud in this picture!)

Maverick wants everyone to know how much he loves his cousin, Tyler! 

We were so lucky to have my Step mom, Linda come up from California to help us celebrate.  My Dad would have been there, but he was out of town at a conference.  We made a necessary stop at the famous Portland landmark, VooDoo Doughnuts.  This place is delicious and a little dangerous!  Haha

Birthday Agenda:  McMenamins Grand Lodge to catch the limo to go wine tasting with a great group of girls!  (Plus, Bill and my step dad) :)
After wine tasting, we went back to the lodge to have dinner and listen to a live band until we closed the place down!  What a fun day it was!

CHEERS! 

Our favorite stop was at Ardiri Winery.  What a beautiful place with a great area to sit around the fire, or enjoy a picnic.

Bill is my favorite!  My forever! 

Summer in Portland 2013

There is NOTHING like summer in Portland! 

What an incredible summer we have had in Portland this year!  It's been in the mid 80's almost every day!  Living on the river with our boat has made it so very easy to get out and enjoy the summer.  We have taken the boat out for little tootles, down to Island Cafe for lunch, down the Portland Waterfront to watch the Dragon Boat Races, and out for many afternoons just to hang out and enjoy our time together.  

This is the Marina where we live.  We are the 4th house on the left.  We are so blessed to live in such an amazing area!

This was taken at the Waterfront in Portland. The Dragon Boats were going on and they were blast to watch!

Mt. Hood was so clear as we headed to lunch at Island Cafe

Out for a little boat ride in the early morning.  The weather was a little iffy.  It didn't rain on us at all...in fact within 1 hour it was clear and blue skies.  Gotta love Oregon!

A great deal of my summer was spent on our back deck, drinking pink lemonade and reading a good book!

Time to put the boat in the water for summer!

This little guy was lost and looking for his family.  He was really friendly and came right up to the boat and climbed on board.  We found his family and reunited him!  I named him Henry.  Haha

Matthew's Marine Graduation

Matthew's Marine Graduation

November 20-21, 2012

OUR NEW MARINE!  CONGRATULATIONS MATTHEW!

 Matthew DID IT!  He made it through Marine Boot Camp!  (There was never ANY doubt!)
What a blessing it was for us to be able to go to San Diego and watch his graduation. We drove down with Allie and Kaela.  The weather in San Diego was so amazing!  Blue skies and temperatures in the 80's!  

This is one of the first times that we saw Matthew.  His Drill Instructor is in the yellow shirt....YIKES, He looks TOUGH!!

Tuesday was family day.  Matthew was able to have about 6 hours of liberty with us.  We had a nice lunch at a restaurant on base.  We did some shopping, we hung out, Matthew ate 4 protein bars, and we took lots of pictures!  It was great  to hear all about boot camp and how hard they push the new marines!  Marines are NO JOKE! 

Matthew, Bumpa and Grammy -  So happy that they were able to make the trip down too!

Matthew and Daddy...Bill is so very proud of his son! 

Carlie and Matthew - They were so thrilled to see each other.  She wrote Matthew 75 letters during the 3 months that we had been gone!  That's true love!

Graduation was on Wednesday and again the weather was gorgeous!  We all piled into the grandstands and watched with great pride as 6 platoons of new Marines marched out on the parade deck.  It was so impressive to watch and a little surreal to be there! 

Fox Company, Platoon 2131

Bill, Matthew and Me.  We are proud parents!

I love this picture of Daddy and Matthew! 

Kisses for Grammy!

Matthew will be home until January 1st.  At that time, he will go back to Camp Pendleton in San Diego for about 3 months for school.  After that it's Missouri for another round of school.  By then we should know where he will be stationed.  

We love you, Matthew!  Congratulations!  We are so proud of you!

Matthew, Our Marine, Our Hero!

Matthew - Our Marine, Our Hero! 

It is with great pride that we are announcing that our son Matthew, have joined the United States Marine Corp and will be leaving for boot camp this week!  He will be gone in San Diego and Camp Pendleton for 3 months.  

We had a going away party for him to send him off with the best wishes and love from his family and friends.  

Matthew, you are an inspiration to our family.  We love you and may God be with you during this difficult journey!  See you a few months, son! GOD SPEED!

My Dad passed down my Grandfather's Marine money clip.  What a special gift for Matthew!

Matthew and Aunt Stacy

Papa Jeff, Matthew and Linda

Daddy and Matthew

Me, Matthew, Bill and Kaela

Matthew and Kaela

Allie and Matthew

Silly Allie and Nathan

Matthew and Papa Jeff

Matthew gives THE best hugs in the entire world.