Day 369

Another picture from Parker's camera. He's captured Kaitlyn eating her breakfast bathed in sunlight.

Day 368

A sweet picture of Kaitlyn on the changing table. Soon, I hope we will be able to say good-bye to diapers . . .

Day 367

A freak snowstorm caught Portland totally unprepared. It took us over four hours to get home (all of 14 miles). The kids were better than I could have expected - Thank God for the DVD player in the car. And thankfully, they had some left over items in their lunch. Even though we didn't get home until after 10, Parker and Les still had a chance to go and play in the snow. All Kaitlyn wanted to do was go to bed.

Day 366

Here is Parker singing his new Christmas classic "Handy Manny Christmas" which involves him singing those words over and over and over again. It's soon to become a world wide favorite.

Day 365

Here's another picture from Parker's camera. I know it's a little fuzzy, but at least he got Grandpa's head in the shot this time. He took this one at Grandpa's house during Sunday football.

Day 364

Parker got a digital camera from Grandpa for Christmas and has been quite the shutterbug in the last couple of days. Here is one of the photos from his series entitled "What I ate at Chang's for Dinner." That's Grandpa sitting across the table.

Day 363

Yes, I bought the family matching jammies. Aren't we adoreable?


Santa was very good to our family this year. Grandma and Uncles Mike & Andy came over to watch the kids open presents and have some Christmas brunch.

Day 362

Christmas Eve was at the Deemer house with good food, presents, and family.

Day 361

As we were waiting in line, Parker was really excited to have a chance to sit on Santa's lap. Kaitlyn, however, seemed to be withholding judgement. But as soon has I handed her to Santa, she was clear that she did not want anything to do with the process. Big fat crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks and calling for Mom. Santa was quick on the uptake, and snatched her hands so she couldn't cover her face and then smiled for the camera. Oh well, two out of three's not bad.

Day 360

The children were nestled all snug in thier bed . . .

Day 359

Last year our tree topper suffered an unfortunate accident, so we had to go buy a new one. Parker picked out a nice lighted star. You can't quite see their faces in the photo, but both were excited by the prospect of putting the star on the top of the tree together.

Day 358

While getting out of the bathtub, Parker slipped and hit the corner of the eye on the side of the tub. Suddenly I had a wet, bleeding, crying Parker in my arms. The cut probably could have used a stitch, but I really didn't want to do that to him again. Thankfully I had my first aid experts over at the time (Carrie & Mindy) and after a group consultation Miss Carrie put on some butterfly bandages to keep the cut closed. After some hugs & love from Mom and Dad (and a dose of Tylenol), Parker was up and rocking out on the guitar on Rock Band.

Day 357

Parker really liked putting the ornaments on the tree. He kept asking if it was time to put another of one of the "ordaments" on the tree.

Day 356

Parker and Kaitlyn's daycare holiday party was a little bittersweet. Due to budget & space issues at the police precinct, the center will be closing December 31st. However when someone broke out an original NES system, Parker had a great time playing Duck Hunt. He was surprisingly good at it and I am pretty sure that the appropriate distance from the screen was maintained the whole time.

Day 355

Slowly the ornaments are going up on the tree . . .

Day 354

Parker eats apples all the time - peeled and sliced in his lunch. But this is the first time he has eaten an apple off the core. He was pretty excited when Daddy showed him the "big boy" way to eat apples.

Day 353

Although the stockings had been up for a few days, Parker finally noticed them while we were playing chase after getting our jammies on. He practiced reading all of the letters and he was particularly fond of the one with his name on it.

Day 352

I had a few too many vacation days accrued, so I took the day off work to get some work done on my scrapbooks (Yeah, I finished Parker's Year Three album!). I happened to glance out the window and was able to snap this picture. Someone forgot to tell this blue jay that birds are supposed to fly south for the winter.

Day 351

And the stocking were hung by the chimney with care . . .

Day 350

The family headed to Fudruckers for dinner tonight. Which, of course, means time in the arcade. Kaitlyn still loves the race car games.

Day 349

Parker's first concert - Imagination Movers!
I took Parker to see the Rose Garden for his first concert. We picked out his first concert tee and even a flashing glow stick (how could I say no?). Once the concert began, he sat enthralled the entire time. He would not get up and dance and in fact he got angry at me when I did. The highlight of the evening was when Mover Rich appeared in the section right behind us. I was able to lift Parker up so he could get a high five - he was ecstatic.

Day 348

The Sales Team from my office had a Christmas party at Ian's house - which was conveniently located just a couple of miles down the rode from ours. The kids acted a bit like crazy monkeys, but least they weren't the only kids there - and they didn't break anything. The got quite a kick out of riding on the enormous rocking horse.

Day 347

I ordered a wreath from the local Girl Scout troop (I play Bunco with one of the leaders). It looks very Christmas-y up next to our front door.

Day 346

At Pioneer Courthouse Square, they run some fun holiday performances at noon time. Kennedy, Pam's daughter, preformed with her school's marimba band today. Since Pam was out of the office, I went down to support her and snap some pictures for Pam. It was a lot of fun; I'd never seen a marimba band before. I was most impressed that all the kids had the music memorized.

Day 345

We got our tree put up by the corner window in the dining room and the lights are up. My plan is to have the kids help me put on a few ornaments each day. This is the first time we have put the tree in the dining room and I like the way the lights reflect off all the windows. Hopefully it will work out well on Christmas morning.

Day 344

We all traipsed out to Canby to visit Carrie's tree farm (okay, so technically it's her parents . . .). She helped us pick out just the right tree and even took a family picture for us. (In a sad/funny turn of events, Charlie the dog stole baby Jesus out of the manger scene and nibbled off one of his fingers. Surely we are all going to Hell now, because instead of immediately stopping Charlie we took pictures.)

Day 343

Our fair city hosted a tree lighting ceremony, complete with carolers and a visit from Santa. Grandma accompanied me and the kids, while Les took Uncle Mike to the Blazers game at the Rose Garden. Although it was pretty chilly out, a good time was had by all. However, neither of the kids wanted to go see Santa - even with the bribe of a candy cane.

Day 342

Okay, so I know this is the same picture from the December 1st. But I spent all evening working on our Christmas card, so clearly I didn't take any other pictures :) I think it turned out pretty good for my first attempt at digital designing - although I did have a template to start with.

Day 341

What you are seeing here is truly a Christmas miracle. Les shared one of his precious Butter Cookies with Parker. Les waits ALL YEAR for these cookies and NEVER shares them. But in the spirit of Christmas, he shared one with Parker . . . and his heart grew three sizes that day :)

Day 340

We stopped at Borders on the way home to pick up a few new Christmas books. Parker was nice enough to "read" aloud to all of us.

Day 339

We used the self-timer on the camera to get a picture of all four of us together . . . and Missy too!

Day 338

The moon has been waxing this week for the full moon to arrive on the first of December (there will even be a blue moon on 12/31). We've got quite a nice view of the moon from the side window in the living room. When he was very little, Parker decided that the moon was his. "Look Mom, there is My Moon!" As he was looking out the window at his moon, Kaitlyn walked over to look too. Parker turned and looked at me with a funny look on his face and said to me, "Mom, I think My Moon is poopy." To which I replied, barely keeping a straight face, "Are you sure it's not Kaitlyn?" He leaned over and checked Kaitlyn's diaper and very calmly said "Yeah, it's Kaitlyn," and then turned back around to watch his moon some more. He didn't understand why I was laughing so hard.

Day 337

As we were getting ready to get in the bathtub, the kids had to take a break for a little naked dancing - which now even has a theme song (just repeat "naked dancing" over and over in a sing-song voice). Kaitlyn's babies even got in on the act. It was hysterical, watching the two of them dance around the living room, falling over, crashing into one another - and the whole time singing "naked dancing."

Day 336

Parker was sitting so nicely as I was getting ready to head out for dinner. He was patiently sitting on the step by my bathtub, holding his balloon - I just had to snap this picture. I wonder what's going on in that mind of his . . .

Day 335

We drove down to Neskowin to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and were very lucky to have dry weather - especially considering how it poured on Thanksgiving day. We went for a walk on the beach with Mike, Andy & Alex, which turned out a bit blustery. I had to zip Kaitlyn into my coat because her lips were turning blue. Parker had a great time throwing the tennis ball for the dogs. He and Uncle Mike also enjoyed investigating the dead birds on the beach - eww.

Day 334

We hosted Les' family at our house for Thanksgiving this year. After our delicious meal, we all played Scatagories - even Les' dad! While, once again, I failed to get a group shot of the whole family, I did manage to get this one of Susan & John. We had quite a lot to be thankful this year, including good health, good family, and good friends.

Day 333

Welcome to the world Rhiannon. I hope that you and Kaitlyn will be the best of friends, just like Parker & Grayson. Thanks for letting me play a small part in bringing you into this world.

Day 332

Parker have you seen your sister?

Day 331

This is a rare photo - Kaitlyn is sitting still. This is at daycare and it seems she is patiently waiting for Daddy to arrive so we can go home for the evening. Secretly, I think she is planning on how to take over the world one day.

Day 330

Kaitlyn's hair is getting so long. After her bath, I've taken to putting in a headband. That way it will dry, yet stay out of her face. We've tried just leaving it loose, but she's constantly either pushing it out of her face or accidentally inhaling it. I keep debating over cutting bangs . . . but I just can't bring myself to have any of it cut.

Day 329

Although Kaitlyn is not quite yet into playing "dress-up," she really does love carrying around her "purses." And by "purse" I mean any bag with a handle, be it grocery sack, basket, or gift bag.

Day 328

So You Think You Can Dance - Season Five Tour
After having cheese & chocolate at the Melting Pot, Mindy, Carrie, Kathy & I headed over to the Rose Garden for the show. We had great seats - close enough to see all the intricate movements of the dancers hands and feet. This shot is from the infamous "Cancer Dance" which was breathtaking in person. Notes to myself in the future: take the better camera & make sure the battery is fully charged.

Day 327

When Mallory called me up to see if I would go to the midnight showing of the Twilight Saga: New Moon with her, I said sure. So what if I had to go to work the next morning, no big deal. When the movie started an hour and fifteen minutes late, I started questioning my sanity. However, it was totally worth it. The movie isn't going to win an Oscars, but it was very entertaining and had plenty of hot guys without their shirts on. Sure, I was totally wiped out a work the next day, but Mallory and I had a great time spending some quality time together. Go Team Jacob!

Day 326

Driving in the car on the way to work, I just happened to glance back at Parker. He was sitting very serenely watching "Up" on the DVD player - and quite randomly had sunglasses on. There was just something about it that I found quite funny . . . a dark winter morning, watching TV, wearing bright yellow sunglasses with giraffes on them - priceless.

Day 325

Grayson came over this evening to hang out with Parker & Kaitlyn. After chasing each other round and round the kitchen, they retired to the bedroom for a quick pick up game. (I have to say that my middle school basketball coach Mr. Bergman would be very proud of Kaitlyn's perfect free throw stance.)

Day 324

Both kids got sent home sick from school today. So Les picked them up from school and spent the afternoon at home with them (after a quick Taco Bell stop for lunch, of course).

Day 323

Another picture in the series entitled "Jammies, Slippers & Winter Gear." We are still having a difficult time convincing the children that you don't have to put your hat and gloves on just because you put your slippers on. At the same time, they look so cute; do we really want them to stop?

Day 322

Kaitlyn insisted that I bring the rocking horse upstairs this morning. She spent all day riding on it. At first she needed to be lifted on the back, but after a while she figured how to climb up all by herself. After she had her turn, she made sure that all her baby dolls got to ride as well.

Day 321

I have to say, I have two Super Kids!

Day 320

Kaitlyn certainly loves her baby dolls. She was playing by herself in her room and suddenly it was too quiet. When I peeked on her, she had pushed the little Ikea table in her room over to the changing table and was standing on it, diapering her baby. Too cute!