Brothers

11.24.09
Robert and Derek were so generous, they too let me take their pictures. The only person missing from these pictures is my brother Taylor, who was away at college for the holiday.

Grandpa Bend, Derek and Robert


When I first started editing this picture, I could barely see through my tears. Robert is so accepting of Derek. He is by far the most patient out of all of us siblings with Derek. They have this amazing bond, they seem to speak the same language. Robert 'gets' Derek, which is a true blessing and talent of his.
If Derek had a 'facebook account,' I think this would be a great profile picture!

Robert with his dog "Cleatus." He sure is a sweet, "smiley(if you can say that about a dog)" dog!

Mom and Dad photoshoot

11.24.09
How honored was I when my Mom asked me if I would take some pictures for her Christmas Newsletter?! VERY honored. My Mom is more then beautiful and my Dad is very handsome, especially for someone who is nearly 60! (I do hope I have inherited both of their youthful genes!)



My parents home is between their heads!

Tian with Grandma and Grandpa Bend

11.24.09

Tian couldn't get enough of Grandma Bend and some plastic balls!
Tian thought Grandpa Bend's hat was the coolest thing around!

Turkey

11.24.09
While we played in the snow, our Thanksgiving Turkey cooked! We celebrated on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving due to my work schedule. My Dad makes the Turkey, I made the Yam Casserole, my Mom made her famous dinner rolls and overnight salad. Yuuuummy!

Boys enjoying snow

Our boys *love* the snow.

In fact, when we had to leave the snow, Tian threw a 3 minute tantrum, just to show us how much he LOVED the snow.

Sledding

11.25.09
After traveling to the volcano outside of Bend, we thought we could possibly take the 6 and the 4-wheeler back, hook up some sleds, and have a morning of fun in the snow before celebrating Thanksgiving. It was the perfect location, there were roads to travel on, and untrampled snow to sled through. The skies were clear, the weather was warm and very comfortable.


Tian, Grandpa Bend, and Derek. Tian's FAVORITE place to be was in the driver's seat. I don't know if it was the heat from the engine or if it was getting to ride with Grandpa!
Tian road on the sled once, and that was all the time he needed. He realized ridding in the driver's seat of the 6-wheeler was a whole lot nicer.
The gang of sledders!
Derek and Trey. Don't they look so happy? This was the perfect combination; they had the best of time!

Uncle Robert and Tian on the 4-wheeler.

Yes, even Cooper the dog got in on the adventure.

AND, my mom took a stab at the sledding. She didn't like it, complained that it rattled her brain. Mine too!


I was so happy to have my new North Face snow boats! The first time testing them out and they were fabulous! I was so grateful to have them!

Hot tubbing and playing Grandpa Horsey

11.24.09
One of Trey's favorite things to do at Grandma and Grandpa Bend's home is to swim in their hot tub. Derek joined Justin and Trey and showed off his somersaults in the hot tub. Yes, he can actually do somersaults underwater IN the hot tub!




Also, rough-housing with any male member of my family is a favorite pastime with my boys. This evening, it was pretending Grandpa was a horse, and jumping on him. I should have pulled them off immediately, considering my dad fractured his back a few winters ago, but the bouncing didn't seem to mind him. In fact, I think he enjoyed the abuse! Tian was the one who started it, and quickly Trey joined in. Where there is one boy, you will quickly find the other!

Laurissa and Abbey's family pictures

11.24.09
While at the Reindeer Farm, I was given the opportunity to take two family pictures. One of Laurissa and her two sweet sons Hunter and Eli. They moved to Bend a few years ago from Hawaii, and at this time of year, I would do anything to live in Hawaii.





The second family was of one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world: Abbey! Her family is so photogenic, and Delaney is quite the little model. I promised Abbey and swore upon our friendship I wouldn't post her family pictures on my facebook OR blog until she got her Christmas Cards out; therefore, I will only be posting one picture of Delaney and her daddy Ryan!

reindeer

11.24.09
Not to make Central Oregon even MORE cooler, BUT, there is a reindeer farm just outside of Bend called Operation Santa Clause which is open everyday, from dawn until dusk! Yes, it is true, and we were lucky enough to see them! We invited a few friends (besides Grandma Bend, Grandpa Bend, and Uncle Robert), Abbey, Ryan and Delaney Davis and our friends Laurissa, Hunter and Eli.

The reindeer were in small numbers (the website boasts it is the LARGEST reindeer farm in the US, with 70+ head of reindeer) because most of them were away at reindeer gigs. I guess they rent them out for the holiday season!

The reindeer weren't too social, so, with the help of my Dad, Robert, and Ryan, we opened a gate which got us a bit closer to the reindeer. Aren't we rebels?! They are much smaller then we expected, and of course, very hairy! While we were out in the field we tresspassed into, we found a vertebrae from the reindeer AND Ryan found Trey an antler. Is that what they are called on reindeer? Trey was pretty excited!

Sweet Delaney Ryan and Treyman watching the Reindeer

Trey and Ryan holding the Reindeer antler



Grandma Bend and Robert

Robert and Derek

Ryan holding Delaney so she could get a good view of those Reindeer

Tian wasn't too into the Reindeer and spent most of his time with either Justin or Grandpa Bend



It was great to spend the morning with friends and family!

After the farm, we drove into Sisters for some killer donuts, and then home for a little sleep for the little guys!

Volcanoes

11.23.09
While driving to Bend, we asked Trey what he wanted to do with Grandma and Grandpa Bend. The one thing he wanted to do was to see some Volcanoes. I don't know what made him think of Volcanoes but we were able to grant his wish. I don't know if he was disappointed at what he found, I think he was expecting an active volcano, but, nonetheless, we found a volcano. There is a national park just about 15 miles from my parents home that once was an active volcano. Our high school's mascot WAS the Lava Bears, so, there is lava all throughout Central Oregon. (please don't tease me about my school's mascot. It is quite an embarrassing story how the Lava Bears came to be, and when I heard it for the first time, I was so mad!)

Instead of finding hot, flowing lava, we found fluffy, wet, SNOW! Trey was so excited, he rolled and rolled around in it. He actually made a snow angel the moment he stepped out of the car. He couldn't stay off the ground he was so excited to be one with the snow! The snow sent all of his hopes and dreams of hot flowing lava right out the window, and he was as happy as ever!



Look at how deep the snow was. Trey's poor little legs are covered up to the knee in snow. Here he is posing with Grandpa Bend!

I think he was screaming he was so excited to see not only a volcano but to play in the snow!