The Zoo Lights December 2012

Waiting in line to get on a bus to go to the zoo lights.

Stacie and Nicole waiting in line for the bus to take us to the Zoo for the Zoo lights.

This year as we headed to the zoo lights it was so busy that they had a second parking lot open and they bused people to the Zoo.  We only have a few pictures of us standing in line, by the time we got there we were rushing along elbow to elbow with all the other people who decided to come on the same night.  It was still fun and I know that the kids (especially Emma, Roc and Porter) had a great time riding on a school bus.  I am not sure what was better, going when it was raining and nobody else was there or going when everyone else was there.

Portland Zoo December 2012

Roc coming out of the tunnel at the Portland Zoo.

Emma following Roc out of the tunnel at the Portland Zoo.

Porter deciding to blaze his own trail rather then following Roc and Emma through the tunnel.

Roc getting up close and personal with the alligator!

As we were preparing to leave Porter started to jump over cracks and drains.  I am not sure where he learned it from but it was entertaining to watch.

 

 

 

Between Christmas and the New Year we went to Portland to go to the Zoo and to the Zoo lights.  Nicole and Brian were again great hosts to allow us and our 4 kids to come and stay with them.  We had a great time walking around the Zoo and seeing all of the animals.  One of the bonuses this year is we got some popcorn and warm milk to help keep us warm during our exploration of the zoo.  After the zoo we went to Chuck e Cheese and had pizza and played some games (no pictures from Chuck e Cheeses, I guess we were too busy playing and eating).  It was a great way to spend a few days of the Christmas Break.

Christmas 2012

Roc showing one use for his newly acquired candy cane filled with M&Ms.

Porter was so excited about his candy canes that he did not wait to even take off the wrapper, he just bit right through it.

Christmas morning was a whirl wind of presents, candy and wrapping paper.  Ryan had to work Christmas Eve night, and the kids were required to stay in their rooms until he got home and guess what, they did.  But once Ryan was home the present opening began.  For those of you that are worried that our kids are not spoiled enough, let me reassure you that this is only a fraction of the pictures taken of them opening their gifts.  There was plenty of presents for everyone. 

Christmas Eve December 2012

 

 

Christmas Eve finally got here.  Ryan has to work straight through so we planned presents and family time around his work schedule.  On Christmas Eve we opened our traditional Christmas Eve presents.  This year we got homemade pajamas made by Stacie.  Pajamas are a great gift for Christmas Eve, I think it is the only night of the year that the kids are excited to get ready for bed!

Say No to Crack! December 2013

These pictures don't do justice to the disturbing images that we were exposed to that night.  Stacie was getting Roc and Emma ready for bed, I think Ryan was probably watching a football game on the computer when he looked up to see Calvin bent over playing with the popcorn container.  For those of you who don't know it, Calvin likes to put is hands on his waist and when he does not have clothes on he has a tendency to put his hands on the rim of his diaper and sometimes forces his diaper down to or below the designed coverage area of the diapers exposing more than should be exposed.  This is the same reason that Emma is not allowed to wear hip hugging pants and Ryan is no longer allowed to work on sinks any more.

Snow Day in Rogue River December 2012

Yes, they canceled school for this (not once but twice) and no we don't live in or around Portland!

 

The kids took advantage of the snow and the free time with a snowball fight with the neighbors.

They also made a snowman, it would have been bigger but this was all the snow that we had.

The kids had a great time playing in the snow.  Ryan and Stacie were shocked that school was canceled for such a little amount of snow.  Unfortunately the kids got up and ready to go to school and were sent down to wait for the school bus before Stacie was notified by a neighbor that school had been canceled.  It made for an interesting week and the kids got to start their Christmas vacation early.  One negative aspect is that Emma and Roc's Christmas Concert was canceled twice as well. 

Christmas Lights December 2012

I will start by assuring everyone that this is NOT our house.  This happens to be the family that lives across the street.  Now if you are wondering "how well we did in comparison?"  I will let you know that it is not a competition and if it was we can say that we were destroyed.  This is one of several homes that illuminated our street this Christmas season.  Fortunately we figured with all the other lights in our neighborhood that there was no reason to decorate our house!

Christmas Tree December 2012

Roc looks so thrilled doesn't he?  Maybe it's because his loving sister forgot her coat and we made him give it to Emma and wear one that we found in the car.

 

Roc attempted to cut down the tree but was not able to do it this year.

 

For the past few years we have gone to a tree farm to get our Christmas Tree because Porter and Calvin are small still, making a trip to the woods difficult.  Next year we should be ready to go out to the woods to find our tree.  This year with the new house we had the opportunity to look for trees of any height because the room that we planned to place the tree has vaulted ceilings.  We tromped through the tree farm until we came across this beautiful tree.  The kids were so excited that we had to come straight home and decorate it. 

 

Pictures for Christmas cards December 2012

Ryan and Stacie gathered the kids together and headed down to one of the beautiful parks in Rogue River to take pictures for their family Christmas cards.  Not a bad picture and it looked even better after Stacie placed it on the Christmas card and had it printed.  The kids look relaxed and comfortable making it seem like taking a picture like this is effortless.  For those of you that believe that there is very little exertion to capturing a picture like this I have provided just a few of the picture that better illustrate the trials that come with picture taking (this picture is 55 of 73 taken that morning).



One moment Calvin is sitting on the stool smiling and looking at the camera.

The next moment in mid snap shot he is headed to the ground.

Ryan manned the camera while Stacie corralled the kids (similar to herding cats, feel free to try it, Stacie seemed to enjoy it).

Now the next set of pictures will require a little clarification.  We took our first set of pictures in front of a large redwood tree.  After about seventy pictures we decided to move down closer to Evans Creek to get the water in the background.  So Ryan headed down to set up for the next pictures with the camera, the blankets, the stool, and Emma and Roc while Stacie followed with Calvin in the stroller and Porter.  For those of you that have not experienced Porter in open spaces I like to make the comparison between Porter and a boarder collie that has been locked in a small room for several days and has just been released to run free.   Porter has the tendency to forget how to walk when he gets excited so he just runs nonstop, it is actually quiet impressive to watch as he makes laps running in all directions while screaming with excitement.  This day Porter was very excited! As Ryan was setting up the stool and trying to find the best back drop for the next set of pictures he heard a scream behind him (not Porter's scream this time).  He looked up to see Porter in the pond with is head poking out of the water and Stacie running after him.  As Ryan started toward the pond to help he had the optimal position to watch Stacie jump in after Porter and pull him to safety.  Needless to say that ended the photo session for that day and taught the kids a valuable lesson: "If you want to get out of pictures jump in the dirty water!"


To the left side of the pond you can see a small clearing exposing the water.  Prior to Porter going swimming the entire pond was perfectly green and I believe Porter had no idea that it was a pond. 

 

As Ryan gathered up the rest of the kids and the supplies, Stacie took Porter to the truck and began getting him out of his clothes, Ryan did say that he could stay in his clothes but he would have to ride in the back.

Pay close attention to Stacie's facial expression in this picture.  This is one that over the years Ryan has become all to familiar with.  This is the "Ryan you are not helping at all" look.  Don't worry, from our knowledge this facial expression is only reserved for Ryan!