Holla Hood River!

Last year, right after the new year, we booked our trip to Hood River given we had so much fun Christmas Break 2016. It didnt disappoint again. There was a lot less snow, but the town and the setting was magical as ever, the beer as phenomenal as usual, and the time as a family as precious as solid gold.

Christmas with Family

We then had Christmas with family. We tried to do no presents...but no one could resist small presents. My mom got all her girls the same cookbook...and then got one for herself...even though she doesn't run. Frances's boy american girl doll I had sent to their house, so she got it there. We made the BEST book for my parents -- it was pictures and stories from each grandkid about their favorite memories of grandma and papa and what they admire about them. I cried making the book and I cried watching my parents read the book. Brian managed to play an hour of shopkins with Maggie...he amazes me. It was a joyful night with an incredibly family and I am just so thankful. I adore all those kids being in one house and spending time with each one was my favorite present. The only bittersweet part was the constant tug on my heart that Andrew wasn't there. He would have loved it and those kids would have adored him.

Christmas Morning

We had Christmas morning to ourselves, which is so magical with kiddos. They are very lucky and they each got things they really wanted. We did talk about next year trying to do less presents and save money for trips and experiences. My hope is that year by year we cut it down to just 1 or 2 presents and that we do adventures instead. That said, BOOKS was the theme for all kids. For Henry and Frances.....SPORTS . For Maggie, nom nom's, LOL's, hatchamols, shopkins and other things we all don't understand.

Friends Christmas Eve

Despite the challenging weather, we all packed in our new car...which was AWESOME  in the snow and ice...and made it to Xmas eve mass and dinner with our friends. I say it every year, but it is one of my FAVORITE holiday traditions and I adore my tribe.

Hale Pele and Karoake Party at the House

Saturday we all played - it was so much fun. Katie, Brian, Jenny and me went to a really hard yoga class. Henry, Frances and Christian played every sport known to man, and everyone else went all around town.

I had made to crock pot meals early in the am so we could play all day....and then haev dinner and a Karoake party at night. SO FUN. 

BUT...before the party...the adults went to Brian's favorite spot in Portland - Hale Pele. Seeing Brian's joy and happiness in that place is worth the price of admission. We also were like a group of newly 21 year olds, examining the drinks and only picking the one with a volcano symbol with a 4...highest alcohol :)

It was a super fun night. Can you guess...from the pics...who Maggie is totally attached to when he is in town?

Nails and Papa Haydn

The Cousin Christmas started with an awesome bang! We planned a fun "girls" night with all the girls, except Frances (who went to the Blazer game with the boys), and we had a private nail session with appetizers and wine. Then we headed to Lush. Then we went to Papa Haydn for dinner and the yummy desserts. Papa Haydn is a family touchstone.We have been there for Easters, after baptisms...Mark even asked my dad for my hand in marriage there and we had a cake from there for our grooms cake. It was so much fun to see all the "grills", as my brother Andrew would say, in one place.