Christmas and New Year's have come and gone--I cannot believe it! My winter vacation from Lewis & Clark continues to dwindle, the threat of snow in Porltand has become and remains a reality/nuissance, and my little family and I are making the most of our time together this winter. The boardgames are getting used and we're doign our best not to pack on the winter pounds! :) 
We were surprised earlier this month with more snow than I've ever seen in Portland! It was absolutely crazy! I was unable to get to work for two days :D because my little Neon was completely covered in the white stuff wo Pat took Aliya and I on hooky-bobbing behind the Jeep. It was Aliya's first time and she had a blast! 
The day we decided to get a Christmas tree there were blizzard conditions. We waited an extra hour for Pat's sister's family to get to our house before heading up Zig Zag (on Mt. Hood) for our tree. It was the coldest, windiest, snowiest experience I've had in a long time. Pat finally settled for a tree that "looked good" only to realize once we got it home, it was a tad Charlie Brown-ish. Still, we donned it with lots of lights and as many ornaments as its few branches could hold and it was perfect.
On the 23rd I took Patrick and Aliya to the Nutcracker at the Keller Auditorium downtown. Pat said he didn't really understand what was going on (being a first-time ballet patron) but they both watched intently throughout the show. Aliya told us that she wanted a tutu (sp?) and ballet shoes--the kind with the square toe that you can stand up on--from Santa Claus. I took this as proof that she really liked it :).
We spent Christmas Eve with Pat's mom, Lois, and his two cousins, Eric and Keri. It was interesting in that his cousins are two of the loudest, most interrupting people I have encountered in my 25 years of life. Still, it was nice to celebrate with family and to be introduced to the "neverending present bag" that Lois gifts each of the grandchildren every year. It was a giant bag FILLED with so many trinkets and toys--only a grandmother would do such a thing to the child's parents! I didn't believe it! It was pretty cool, I won't lie!
We woke up early Christmas morning--thanks to the excitement of 8-year old little girl realizing Santa had made his rounds the night before. She still believes, though we figure we only have one more year working the Santa Claus story because she noticed that "daddy writes his "G"s just like Santa..." Too stinkin cute! She also proclaimed that "it's a miracle" that Santa found her glasses that she'd lost--he left them on the table for her ;). After Christmas day, Patrick, Boots, Leo, and I made the icey trek to Helix for a day to visit my parents. We hoped to stay longer but I-84 was closed off and on, and the roads to Helix were closed due to the snow drifting. All in all, we got to see everyone briefly and I got my family fix for another month or so. :)
We started the new year feeling blessed beyond belief. I never thought my life would go this direction and now that it has I can think of no other way. Having Patrick and Aliya in my family is more than I've ever dreamed of. I am thankful every day that I am surrounded by love and in faith that good things happen for good people.
Miracles & Blessings
