Happy New Year!

We celebrated the new year with some fireworks we saved from the 4th of July. The boys took videos of each other once the sparklers came out of the boxes. Steve spliced a video together (sorry for anyone with a slow connection-it's about a 3MB file.)

Lights, Camera, Action

The boys have been enjoying the cameras, in particular the ability to take movies. Here is one Tim did shortly after Joey showed him how. It's at Grandma and Grandpa Bullock's house.
-Steve

Merry Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas with lots of family and lots of fun. We spent Christmas Eve with Steve's family. Joey acolyted and was an innkeeper at our church's pageant. Tim was a shepherd (and tried to figure out a way to hold his shepherd's crook while clapping during the songs - which made several people chuckle). The Grandparents Denniston got the boys cameras for Christmas, so expect some pictures in the next couple days (and months).

After the boys were up for five hours, we went to the 10:00 am Christmas Day service at church (we haven't been since before the boys were born). Joey wanted to acolyte again and was the only acolyte for the service. He enjoyed getting to do everything and did an excellent job, we're very proud of him (he can make those chimes ring!).

We spent the afternoon with Holly's family and played the fun game Santa brought - Jungle Speed. The best surprise was SNOW on Christmas Day. It snowed just enough that, with a little bit of effort, you could make a snow ball. So the boys had a great time outside.

The picture shows the boys in scarves that Grandma Bullock made for them (a little bit of a Harry Potter influence).

Personal Interview

We went with Grandma and Grandpa Denniston to the McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove for Breakfast With Santa. Joe asked for a Pokemon game for his DS. Tim asked for some Spy Gear. Santa wanted to know who he was going to spy on.

There was also a balloon artist who made Tim some Pixie wings and Joey a magic wand.

It's getting Christmasy

We got our Christmas Tree tonight and all of the ornaments (that would fit) put on it.

On the left is Joe decorating the tree. Below is Tim decorating himself.

Thanks Sinter Klaas!

December 7 was St. Nicholas Day. To the left Tim and Joey's sneakers are loaded with giant carrots for Sinter Klaas' horse (otherwise known as St. Nicholas). In exchange (of course), Sinter Klaas leaves a gift. The boys got cool pens with snow globes on top and glow in the dark bracelets. Too bad I dropped Joey's snow globe pen first thing the next morning (sorry Joey!). Tim was up extra early that day since he was so excited. Joey comments on occasion he's getting a bit old for such things, but he's the one who put carrots in his shoes.
-Holly

the leak returns

So, I got Steve up on the roof yesterday - it wasn't nearly as fun as when the boys and I were up there a couple of weeks ago. It was a lot wetter and very muddy. We carried about 15 of our big round stepping stones up so we could tarp off the same part of the roof we tarped a couple of years ago. The leak which led to the remodel of the family room returned (of course it could be a different spot - you never can tell). Thankfully, whatever we covered did the trick and the leak has stopped. Now we have to wait for the weather to clear so the roofers can come see what they think needs to be fixed this time. :)

I wish we had taken a picture after we got down from the roof - we were covered in mud, soaking wet and I even had mud smeared across my face from a flapping muddy tarp. You'll just have to imagine.

Good thing we were talking about moving the raised beds to the front yard - without the stepping stones the yard is a giant mud pit. Maybe I should teach the boys to slide . . .

What do you know about the black keys?

Tim started piano lessons the week of Thanksgiving. It started with a test lesson to check out the teacher and to see if Tim really wanted to do them. He had a grand time, so we signed him up for more. The teacher has a teaching studio just off of Woodstock, so when we don't have buckets of water coming from the sky, they will walk or bike to the lessons. Tim is still enjoying the lessons and it's amazing what he's learning.

-Holly