Sean's Christmas Present

So everytime I asked Sean what he wanted for Christmas this year he would say, "To spend time with the family." So I decided to give him a little twist on that request. A night away together while we were in Oregon. I found out that the Jazz just happened to be coming to play the Trail Blazers while we were going to be there, so of course I got tickets. Then I planned a night around it and gave Sean a book with the plans. It started out with dinner for two, the Jazz game of course, then a night at a hotel without the kids, a session at the Portland temple where we were married, (we haven't been back there in years!), and lunch at the Olive Garden, where we ate the night we got engaged.

It was so NICE! I was so grateful to my parents who took the boys for us, and let us have a fun time alone together. Since Nathan was diagnosed with diabetes, it's been nearly impossible for us to get away for more than a few hours, so a night away like this rarely happens.

Josh is 7!

Our oldest is 7! It's amazing that next year he'll get baptized, start cub scouts... wow it's coming fast! It's amazing to watch them grow up in front of our eyes. He's turning into quite the young man. He's smart, athletic, a wonderful big brother to his youngers ones, great at making friends, and is very creative. His imagination never ceases to amaze us.

This year we celebrated with our family in Oregon by having a party at Chuck E. Cheese in Salem. It was the same one I used to go to as a kid, and memories came back to me as soon as we walked in the door. We had a lot of fun being with our family, and playing the games. Josh especially had a memorable afternoon, he hit the jackpot and won an hundred tickets in one game! He was so excited!

We started off the day with a pancake breakfast up at the cabin. Josh requested a heart shaped pancake. We got snowed in the night before, so it took us awhile to get out and drive to Salem. Matt and Carda were there waiting for us when we arrived.

Grandma and Grandpa Frome

Great- Grandma and Grandpa Larson

Matt Newell, Baby Gannon, and Ryan

Hayden and Carter

Beth and her girls, Bailey, Paige, and Madalyn

Luke, Kristen, Ryan and Robbie

Jarom, Caleb, Rachel, Amanda, Carda, and Matt

Greeting Chuck E. Cheese with hug!

Sledding at Hoodoo

Besides seeing his grandparents and cousins, Josh had one request for our trip to Oregon. He wanted to go sledding in the mountains. ( There are no mountains in Cincinnati.) He got his fill when my parents took the family up to a cabin at Detroit Lake. We drove up to Hoodoo Ski Resort one day where they have a sledding hill with a rope tow. A wonderful way to go sledding, I must say. One of the things I loved about skiing as opposed to sledding as a kid was that you don't have to hike up the hill over and over again. Here they provided the tubes which had a rope and clip connected to it. With a ten pass punch you could have the rope tow would pull you up ten times, or walk up yourself 20 times. The rope tow was definitely worth it. Luckily the kids were free, because Nathan and Isaac only lasted a couple of times down the hill. Josh, on the other hand, being hot blooded, lasted about three hours, going over and over again until he got his fill.

Josh, enjoying the snow

Luke and Kristen playing in the snow.

Another nice thing about the place is the big yurt you could get warm in. I stayed in there with the younger boys and helped set up lunch for everyone. They even had a shuttle to the ski lodge if we had wanted to go there, but we were fortunate to get one of the few tables.

Sean and Nathan
Dad, Sean, Isaac, Josh and Nathan in front of the hill

Christmas Day

Christmas day turned out to be a very fun day despite the night we had before. Starting right before dinner on Christmas Eve, I got the stomach flu. Isaac also got it. Not fun at all, but luckily it passed quickly. Then in the middle of the night, Joshua started throwing up, followed by Nathan a few hours later. Josh commented, "This is the worst Christmas ever!" Luckily he forgot about by about 7:00am (I know, we slept in!) and they were really excited about their presents. None of the boys could eat much of a breakfast afterwards, but they were over it by dinner time.

Checking out his stocking.

"Mom, Santa brought us toothbrushes!"

Grandma and Grandpa and the great-grandkids.

After breakfast we packed up and drove to my parents' house. There we had Christmas dinner with my them, my grandparents, Uncle Curtis and Aunt Jenny, and their family, Robbie and Kristen and their family, and Ryan.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a nice, quiet, relaxing day. Everyone besides our family had left, so it was just us and Mom and Dad Morrison.

Isaac found this "hat" in the playroom (which was really a knitted play purse) and wore it all day.



Craft time! The boys made wreaths.

Dressing up for the Nativity.

A wise man

A shepherd

Joseph

New pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa!

Shore Acres Christmas Lights

Morrison Christmas Dinner

Enjoying the beach

While we were there we enjoyed a couple of beautiful, sunny days on the coast. (I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised- we have December visits in the past where it literally rained every day.) We took advantage of it and went to the beach a couple times.

Playing a game of catch with Dan, and Matt Newell.