And then, there was Boxing Day

So there was also the standard Boxing Day buffet type hang around and eat and drink thing… and there’re no pictures with everyone in but we swear everyone really did have a good time – particularly short people who were able to eat far more Moose Munch than anyone thought possible… gotta love the holidays. More pictures here.

Eddie vs Dave

Yes, that is Dave running around the far end of the far field, wearing shorts, playing football with Eddie – on Christmas morning.

Plenty more here.

Christmas Day rock show

Eddie got a guitar from Nana and Dave, and he decided the best way to really try it out was to go wake Nicky from his peaceful midday nap and play him some tunes. Yes really.

More here.

Breakfast with Santa

This year we went to see Santa at McMenamin’s Imbrie Hall again. Since Nana and Dave were in town, it was extra special for Eddie to show off all the cool things he could do – including con his way into a third cup of hot chocolate and convince the balloon-bending elf that he could SO make a dragon to go along with the little balloon dog he’d made for Nicky moments before.

Much more here.

Mmmmmmm pies

And so begins the annual overuse of the oven. If you want some? You’re going to have to make your way here quickly, because they’ll vanish faster than you could imagine once Russ gets home.

Delicious pie recipe here… and more mouth-watering pictures here.

TIMMMMMMMBERRRRRRRRRRRRR

This year, Eddie really did cut down our Christmas tree almost completely by himself. Apparently this was more difficult than he thought it might be, as he loudly complained “this is taking forever” and “can’t you just do it now Dad” repeatedly throughout the course of the event. Nicky thought the entire process was hilarious, for obvious reasons.

We went to Nastrom’s Needles again this year – since we’ve lived in St Helens, that’s the only place we’ve gone for our Christmas trees and we’ve got no intention of changing the habit. The place is fantastic – easy to navigate compare to a lot of other tree farms we’ve visited in NW Oregon and the customer service there really can’t be beat. Neither can their prices, I swear they haven’t changed! Plus, they have the best woodshed set up as a cashier/wreath assembly workshop… you gotta love a family business where the men do all the work and the ladies take the money.

More tree chopping here.

Wintery break in Snowkane

Since Eddie had the whole week of Thanksgiving off, Russ rearranged some things so we could go to Spokane for more than just a couple of days. On our way there, we stopped off in Richland and sold the black Range Rover Russ had fixed up for a project – and we drove through a lot of ice and snow. Eddie was thrilled when we got to Spokane and there was plenty of snow on the ground.

One of the afternoons we were there, Alisha brought Max and Samantha over to play for a while – I use the term “play” very loosely, it was much more like running/sliding/falling over and trying to hide from Russell and the massive shovel full of snow he was far more accurate at hurling than you’d think was possible. Nicky had fun exploring in the white stuff – even if he didn’t care for the cold and kept losing his boots.

Much more here.

Ugh Ugh… BONFIRE

So yesterday was November 5th – for those who haven’t been keeping track, that’s the hugely entertaining festival of fire and explosives also known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night in the UK.

Unlike the people of Lewes, who throw the definitive Bonfire Night celebration for the people of Britain each year, we didn’t have the free time, dedication or resources to construct and burn an effigy of some unloved politicians or gypsies. However, we did have the foresight to buy a flipton of fireworks from the various stands around St Helens back when they were closing up shop for the year on July 5th and 6th… you have no idea how hard it is to leave a flipton of fireworks unused on a high shelf for four whole months. Much, much more here.

And yes, that is a wheelbarrow you see holding the fireworks.