Portland Zoo

We had a fun little weekend getaway to Portland last weekend. We were just going to head up on Saturday to check out the zoo, but decided to go Friday for a fun little family trip. Kendra told me about priceline.com - highly suggest for cheap motel rates. This is our family picture inside our hotel room :)

The kiddos playing - Austynn found the shower cap first, but of course, Carson wanted his turn right away!

Austy with her shower cap :)

Getting late - I love how Austynn is laying her head on Mitch ;)

The cute little breakfast place we found Saturday am - Cadillac Cafe

We took the MAX (Carson called it the "choo-choo train") - we had good seats going to the zoo, so he enjoyed looking out and seeing everything. We saw a tugboat and barge in the Willamette River as we went over it, so that was fun.

We made it to the zoo - Carson is hiding his face from the camera :)

Carson ran all but about 10 minutes of the adventure. Austynn would have loved to been down, but just not quite fast enough. I pushed the stroller with all our stuff :)

I think this picture is cute of Carson watching the mountain goat

Austynn playing the drums

What a pair!

Austynn really was not happy about being stuck in the front pack when Carson was on the tractor! She really wanted her turn!!

Baby elephant

Austynn checking something out :)

Carson was talking to someone about the hippos!

I am not sure I have seen the hippos totally out of the water, so that was kind of fun. The rhino was pretty sweet, too. We were all pooped when we got home on Saturday evening, but nice to still have Sunday!

My Birthday - 31 wow!

I just wanted to write and say thank you for a wonderful birthday! It was fun being able to celebrate with our parents this weekend, but so nice for the actual day to be made special, too! The kids and I got up and met my grandparents at a neat little breakfast place. Mitch had delivered pretty flowers that the waitresses gave me, so that was fun! It tasted so good and the kids ate like champs! It kept us full until dinner :) The breakfast place was by Mitch's work, so we quickly stopped by to say hi (and thanks). Then I ventured to 2 stores with 2 tired kids (g/g gave me some b-day money, so I had to get some stuff for our house!). We came home and all took a nap! Then Mitch got done with work early. He got me some new maternity clothes - wonderful and they fit! Nice work, honey!!! And, he got us some amazing food from Market of Choice. Two different pasta salads, a twice baked potato, and sundried tomato/blue cheese filled flank steak. Honestly, it was all SOOOO INCREDIBLE! Wow, I could eat like that every night ;) Then we went for a walk and got some ice cream from Wendy's. It was such a fabulous day - thanks!!

The kids didn't appreciate the

 food - they enjoyed mac and cheese and hotdogs - fine by me!

Mitch frosting cupcakes with the kids - after our walk ;)

We had to try the timed thing a couple times to time blowing out the candles correctly :)

This was the kids yesterday after their baths and before dinner. They were having a "parade" - each w a ball and a screw driver. It was funny, but allowed me to cook a little bit :)

Austynn's dedication

They let us give them a few pictures of Austynn for a little slide show. I thought that was a neat idea. Here are the ones we chose of her growing up :)

Austynn waiting to be dedicated. They had singing, communion, offering, and announcements first! The kids did well through communion (wasn't sure about Cars not getting the juice or crackers!), but then Mimi told him that he could pass the offering basket and grandpa didn't know, so he was skipped and started CRYING. Mitch had to take him out...then we were called up to the front. When the pastor asked where Mitch was, I said he was out with Carson, who was crying bc he wanted to pass the offering basket. He made a joke, and at least everyone found it funny! Always interesting with kids! Austynn had really big eyes, checking all the people out.

From left to right: my grandpa, Mitch's dad, Carson, my dad, Mitch :)

Red Robin for lunch

Red Robin brought Austynn and I each a sunday. The kids enjoyed them! Austynn especially - she was grabbing all the sprinkles and whip cream off the top and eating :)

A german chocolate cake for my birthday tomorrow - thanks and yummy!!

Hi Grandpa! Thanks for my pretty new necklace - I love it!

A Few Random Pictures

Here is Cars, with his new apron and jammies, making cupcake batter. We used his new car cupcake tin - pretty fun! Thanks Uncle Timmy and Aunt Jackie!

Carson and Austynn cooking a basketball at their new kitchen

Just a cute picture of Austynn with her big girl pigtails and her sweet screwdriver!

Austynn wearing dad's hat - not a very grand picture, but she thought she was sooo cool. The kids had had it by the time I got the camera out and ready :)

Christmas time!

We had a great time spending Christmas in Central Oregon at Papa and Nana's! This is the gingerbread house project :) We had no idea how difficult it would be to put all the pieces together! We had to put all the pieces together, wait a few hours, and then decorate...

Austynn went over to the tree and surrounding decorations and found 3 (as many as she could carry!) ornaments and then walked over for us all to see what she had been getting into :) I tried to take a quick picture, as it was funny, but I didn't want her to fall and have it broken in her mouth!
Now we are to the fun part - decorating! As you can see, Mitch and I had one side that had a few boo-boos! I don't think I got a picture of our finished products :( Cars was enjoying eating the candy as Nana decorated!

Papa and Nana took the kids to the fire station on Christmas eve (all pictures are on Nana's camera, and I don't have them, but they got some cute ones!). I guess they got to see an ambulance, too. They were going to let Carson turn the sirens on himself, but the loud noises scared him :) It is really neat they allow the kids to do this!

Austynn playing the recorder :)

Carson out running with uncle Timmy and his puppy, Lola. He got a new flashlight in his stocking...I looked out once and they had gone out in the yard...all I could see was his flashlight bobbing up and down :)

Christmas morning - we were motivated and got up and showered and got dressed.

Opening the first gift on Christmas!

Such a great dad! I think these 2 look alike!

Carson was so hungry (we opened some gifts and then waited for people to arrive), that he just sat down in his chair. It was awesome having him really hungry, though, as we had his full attention at the table all breakfast. Papa made pancakes (small ones for Cars - he loves these!). He had already had 2 or 3 and Aunt Ashley challenged him to a pancake eating race. Oh, he stuffed it in his mouth and ate it (I think the first one anyway). It was hilarious! I wasn't sure if he would know "race", oh but the boy has a strong competitive drive already :)

This vest is from Auntie Ashley and Uncle Ryan (thanks so much!) - so funny, Austynn has loved it from the first time she saw it. She wears it all the time and is always so excited when she sees it. She carried it around for a long time on Christmas morning.

The kids had soooo much fun! Carson is wearing the apron that Uncle Timmy and Aunt Jackie got him, as they know he loves to cook. It was great - they got him a little rolling pin, tablespoons, cookie scoop, measuring cup, car cupcake tin (we made some today! so cute!). He was SOOO excited to open all the stuff and knew what most all of it was (to the amusement of all of us!). Cute apron, huh! Austynn got a girlie one. Thanks guys!

Family photo (w Lola) :)

We celebrated with my grandparents on the 27th. Grandpa and grandma joined us at the "kids" table this year. Lots of good food and fun!

Cars and Aust got this kitchen from great-grandpa and grandma. They love it! Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for such a special Christmas. It is amazing how blessed we are with material things! Man, we have so much to be thankful for!!