Harper's first Christmas

Baby Harper may only be six months old, but a girl knows how to open a present and to be happy when it's shoes! Yum.

Christmas 2013

Skype to the rescue...we felt a part of the action but still quite homesick this year. Had fun opening gifts! Only bummer was that mom's box got swiped from our porch on Christmas Eve. Still thankful for thoughtful families and plenty of phone calls to cheer us up. That and our friend, Buster, who made us smile. He's the pooch of co-residents who we dogsat for a couple days. Fun having him around for company! Plus Joel got to cheer him up too by giving him extra treats.

Santa's workshop

The elves had to hurry this year to get all the goods out to Michigan in time. Last year we were scampering around the basement saying we'd never put things like this off anymore...alas, there's always next year.

Ski season begins.

XC skiing in mt. Hood ain't the same as west Michigan. We figured that out the hard way after hiking through streams and climbing over tree trunks while carrying our skis. Better stick to the trail.  And next time we'll get a pass beforehand, and bring a camp stove with  hot chocolate!

Tea time!

With allie on her Burn Surgery rotation, weekends now consist of Thursday, the one day off. We've been meaning to stop in the tea room at Steven Smith Teamaker for months after discovering the company is out of PDX, but the hours are 9-5. Lucky us. The only ones there, plus we ran into Steven himself. Definitely a favorite spot. 

Don we now our gay apparel...

The Portland Gay Men's Chorus annualHoliday  concert -- no better way to kick off the holiday season. Wonderfully talented and equally hilarious. 

Grandma Rena cookies.

Ryan & Leah joined us for cocoa and cookies after our favorite pizza Place, Dove Vivi. Joel's thrifted purchase of his special cookie dough squirter was put into action early in the season this year. Although it's a shame the dough tastes so good plain or else even more would make it through into wonderful winter themed shapes...