Yep, I inadvertantly took a bit of a blogging break to hang out with family.
I kind of loved it.
Chris took more than a week off, and it was awesome having him home with us.
Unfortunately we all were sick at some point, and the boys are finally just getting over the bad colds they've had for two weeks.

Regardless of being sick, we had a great Christmas, and it was Buckley's first one!
 He loved to eat the tissue paper and had to taste everything he got.
Bennett "helped" everyone open their presents, but he really just opened them himself.
This is a complete picture overload so I'm really just going to post the pictures because it's pretty obvious what is going on...

An early Christmas with my family at my sister's house:

Stockings with cousins:

My mom's strata and French breakfast muffins:
(A tradition every Christmas. SO good but so bad.)

On Christmas Eve we celebrated with Chris' family.
We had brunch, the kids played and we opened gifts, though I didn't feel well and I didn't get any pictures unfortunately.

Later that night I was feeling better fortunately!
The boys got new pajamas to wear to bed and we attempted to get pictures of them in the new pjs in front of the tree. I've learned that it's next to impossible to get both boys looking in the same direction for pictures, let alone smiling.
We took SO many using both our DSLR and my phone though we still didn't get one of both of them looking and smiling.
(go figure.)

Here are a few:

Christmas morning at our house with all of the presents under the tree:
(We were so excited for the boys to wake up!)

I couldn't wait for Buck to get this little hedgehog guy:

Buck got stuffed animals, clothes and toys this year:

Bennett got a ton of puzzles, art supplies and a cd player (which he calls a record player) for his room:
(I also made the boys some hooded towels for after bath time.)

I made this for breakfast. It was good, but not amazing.
(Note to self: Next year don't search around for an exciting new recipe for Christmas morning. Make your tried and true crockpot casserole.)

We took all of our decorations down on the 27th and our house is finally back to normal.
Chris went back to work today and while we miss having him around, it's nice to return to our normal routine again.
We're almost feeling back to normal, with just a couple of runny noses, but nothing I can't handle.
I really hope this sick-for-two-weeks-healthy-for-one pattern is coming to an end...I'm pretty sure at least one of us has been sick since Halloween!


Happy 2013 Friends!

Before I jump into my post I feel like it's only appropriate to mention the the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut and also the one days before at Clackamas Town Center just a 15 minute drive from our house. I can't help but to think of the families of the victims, the bystanders and also of the emergency workers who are having to process such gruesome scenes, as the rest of us continue on with our lives.
And so I pray.
I pray for the families, the moms, dads, sisters and brothers. I pray for peace and comfort in their hearts, thoughts, and minds. I pray that somehow they will be able to put the pieces of their lives back together.
I pray that they have families to be with on Christmas morning and that the new year will bring healing.
I pray that they would find hope in the Lord who gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ." Phillipians 4:7

...
On a lighter note, onto our weekend...Thursday night my mom watched the boys while Chris and I grabbed a quick dinner and finished our Christmas shopping.

I had been wanting to try out the banh mi's at Best Baguette since I had read they were one of the best in Portland. It didn't hurt that the restaurant is close to our house.
They have around 25 subs on the menu, half are American and half are Vietnamese banh mi's.
All of the sandwiches come on a freshly baked baguette, and they all are aroud $4!
(there's no hipster food competition in Beaverton I guess)
They also have a ton of fun drinks including thai iced tea and boba tea.

Chris having fun with the boba straws:
(I love that the garbage cans say "Hank"...I kind of wish Chris' name was hank just for the purposes of this photo.)

Grilled chicken and grilled pork bahn mis with an avocado smoothie and a thai iced tea:
(It's so good that we are going back tonight!)

Buck getting all bundled up for grocery shopping on Friday:

Saturday we had a brunch party with a bunch of our best friends and their kids. Most of us have known each other since college and after getting married we used to get together once a week for dinner. With kids in the picture and some people living out of town (ahem Sara) we are lucky if everyone gets together once a year.
The kids wore pjs and we had hot chocolate, lattes and mochas and a ton of tasty breakfast food to eat.
It actually started snowing for the first time before people arrived so it set the mood perfectly!

Christmas smoothies:

Someone liked their hot chocolate:
(Bennett doesn't realize that marshmallows are for eating)



I don't really remember what we did Sunday but I think it involved time at home until we went to church.
Earlier this week it snowed a couple inches at our house.
I told Bennett to go get ready and he came out in underwear and an upside down windbreaker:

After helping him put on a little more clothing we finally got outside:

We walked around our yard and built a mini snowman, then he wanted to go back inside for some hot chocolate:


We are starting our Christmas festivities tomorrow and I can't wait!
(I assume Bennett will be "helping" everyone open their presents and 


Merry Christmas Friends!

It's that time of year again, when I figure out which delicious treats to make for the guys in our family.

My dessert board on Pinterest is overflowing with ideas (774 of them) and it's always difficult for me to choose just what to make. I think the next two weeks will make up for my lack of baking this year!

Here's what I'm thinking...
(it still needs to be narrowed down a bit...which ones would you choose?)

chocolate fudge peanut butter cookie stuffed cookies

Thursday night was date night and we grabbed dinner at Vita Cafe on Alberta.

It was mostly a vegetarian/vegan menu and I usually don't like judging a restaraunt on our first trip, but everything we got was really salty. Bleh. The thick, hand-cut fries were my favorite thing but they were also pretty salty. Put away the salt shaker Vita Cafe!

They did have a ton of amazing looking vegan cakes however.

Us at dinner:

 

When we got home, we got a little peek at what the boys did while we were gone.

I love seeing them play together:

Saturday morning I woke up with a cold, so we just kind of hung out.

Bro time on the couch:

Sweet little guy, who just so happens to have caught my cold:

(For the last couple of months, we have been sick for two weeks then healthy for one, then it repeats. So weird/annoying, A dirty 3 year old boy and a baby that puts everything in his mouth don't mix I guess.)

On Sunday, we met up with Abi to get a couple of updated family pictures.

I absolutely cannot wait to see them!

Bob Goff spoke at church that night. That guy has so many awesome stories and he's so funny to listen to. I'm attempting to read his book Love Does but I'm a.) not exactly the book/reading-type and b.) not exactly sure why I thought the holidays would be a good time to pick up a book. I'm sure I'll finish it someday,  I guess it's a New York Times Best Seller. So cool.

Monday we had to cancel a playdate because of Buck's cold, so we just chilled at home again.

Piano time:

That night we decided to go to Zoolights, because it was likely one of the last dry days we'd have to be able to see them. Buck slept most of the time and he was bundled up in the Ergo so we kept each other warm.

If you haven't been to Zoolights, it's so cool.

Bennett loved it this year, despite standing in line for the train for 1.5 hours.

It went quickly and they have displays for you to look at while you wait, so it wasn't horrible and Bennett was so patient.

Waiting in line:

I love this one, except for that random guy. 

He walked in right as I took the picture:

Buck sleeping away:

Mustaches:

This was the first year Bennett wasn't in a stroller for Zoolights and I think he really liked it.
All that walking definitely wore him out, which is a good thing.

Happy Wednesday Friends!

(you might want to turn down your speakers for this one)

Friday night Chris and I saw a movie at the McMenamins Mission Theater.

I love seeing movies there because it's so cheap (can't beat $3) and you can eat delicious food while you watch a movie.

The only downside is that they don't have tots or fries like all of the other McMenamins but the food is delicious as always. 

I rarely stray from my favorite, the turkey sandwich. 

(I'm a sucker for turkey and cranberry together and the bread is amazing.)

Here are some pictures of the theater if you've never been...

From our seats:

On our way to order food:

Saturday morning bro time:

Saturday evening we went to Bennett's best friend Avery's 3rd birthday.

We pretty much did't see B the whole time because he was off playing, but I did get to hang out with this guy: 

Sunday we had a lazy day at home.

The boys made coffee and breakfast:

We played all morning, and during nap time Chris made these very organized lunches:

(he would.)

After lunch, Chris left early for church since he was playing in the band and Bennett and I tried to get a good picture of us.

This was the best:

and my favorite outtake:

We also did this:
(click the link and turn your speakers down!)

We "elf-ed" ourselves!
(I removed the video...I didn't realize that it would forever play the the 
obnoxious Christmas music regardless of what post you are reading!)