The Kid Turns 11

Tis true.  We now have an eleven year old in the house.

This is the first time he didn't want a themed party.

So sad.

But he still picked everything on the menu, including brownies, in lieu of cake.

Here's the day in photos:

As always, we did a family party at the house.

Aunts, uncles, cousins, Grammy and Grandpa.

He requested my Marinated Mushrooms, brie, and salami for appetizers.

I threw in a couple store bought cheese balls and a fruit platter, too.

For dinner, he wanted Rigatoni with Pesto and Sausage, Baked Tomatoes, and Garlic Bread.

After dinner, he opened presents.

Then it was time to sing Happy Birthday.

I made three different kinds of brownies.

Caramel, Candy Cane, and Peppermint Bark.

Such a sweet kid.

And tomorrow, we'll have a five year old on our hands.

Look out, world.

Life Snippets #29

It's photo purge time.

For those of you not in Oregon, and clueless to our climate, we have had the craziest couple batches of weather over the last two months.

Snow, snow, ice, snow, snow and more ice.

The city all but shut down.

The kids were out of school for DAYS.

The Dad was off work for DAYS.

Our house became the pit stop for school families and neighbors, popping in, hanging out, drinking, eating, going to The Hill for sledding.

It was so much fun and just what the doctored ordered, because whatever I had going on, that no one could diagnose, magically disappeared.

So these photos are from our first batch of snow, and the first round of the kids being home from school.

The driveway was so dang pretty, all dusted in white, and we were pretty darned excited to see this much snow.

Then, a week, (or two??? It's all a blur.) later, Snowpocalypse happened.

It started at 2:00 in the afternoon and snowed like crazy for hours.

Opening up the driveway door, and seeing this, after only a short time, was a BIG deal for us Portland folk.

So much so, that I had to go out on the porch and take pictures there, too.

And then, to the back.

It's so crazy how much light it reflects.

It was so bright out, even after the sun had gone down.
And Libby Lou thought she had died and gone to heaven.

I just can't get over how bright out it was.

These photos were all taken at night.

Our temps never got above freezing for the next five or so days, so the snow stayed.

And stayed.

Which began the parental and neighbor binge drinking.

Ha!

The next morning, I was out with my Champagne, taking more pictures in the daylight.

The Dad said it was twelve inches.

Ahem.

Look at this, you guys.

It was SO amazingly beautiful.

I know some of you are used to a white winter, and this is nothing compared to other parts of the country, but for us, Big Deal.

It was perfection.

Although, as a gardener, I may not be singing the snow's praises when spring comes and I have casualties.

But until then....look at this tiny slice of heaven.

She played with a soccer ball in the snow any chance she got.

She went sledding with the kids on a big hill in our 'hood numerous times.

I kept worrying about her poor little feet, but I don't think she ever held still long enough to touch the ground.

She loved it so much.

The Girl got in on the action.

I'll take a Snowpocalypse every year.

Best, time, ever.