EbbyCub & babyJ

Merry Christmas (and by now, it's more like, "Happy New Year!"). It's been awhile since I've updated the blog, and we've got a lot to cover.

This year, Santa left Evan A BIKE! It was a HUGE hit - thanks Santa! :)

A couple of days ago, I was going through Evan's closet and came upon a sweater that my aunt made for Evan a year or two ago. It was too big for him then, but it fits perfectly now! I took it off the hanger and said, "Hey, let's try this on you!" He put it on, and wore it ALL DAY. He didn't want to take it off for anything! It was so cute, I just had to post this. Heather, if you read this - please tell your Mom. Thanks!

As he gets older, he gets more and more excited about holidays. Christmas is no exception. Evan had the most joyful giggle as he took command of placing ornaments on the tree. He loved every minute of it - and Ryan and I loved sitting back and watching him work! Now that it's "complete", he can't stop re-organizing his masterpiece. The ball ornaments keep getting magically moved to different branches. It's very cute though - because he's so delicate about it!

If you give a kid a cookie,

you're assured a great big smile.

He'll examine it, then choose a limb

to munch on for awhile.

If you let him eat it on the couch,

he'll promise he won't make a mess.

You'll find some crumbs, but not much else-

Finished already?? I guess...

-Gingerbread Cookie, Christmas 2007

My favorite summertime reality/performance show is So You Think You Can Dance - and Ryan and I went to the live concert last night! It was AWESOME. The performers have such amazing talent - it was incredibly entertaining to watch! We got to see many routines that were performed on the show last summer, including Neil and Sabra's "Sweet Dreams Are Made of These" dance with the table prop, and our favorite West Coast Swing performance with Pasha (my favorite - he's HOT) and Sara. Yay!! Exhiliarating!! Can't wait to go next year...

The actual day, that is. Ryan, Evan and I relaxed all day - making a yummy meal of marinated turkey loin, mashed potatoes & gravy, cornbread stuffing, cheesy broccoli and pumpkin cream pie. It was so nice to have just the three of us at home! Later in the weekend, Ryan's family came over to celebrate. Quiet times? Ha Ha! Nope - but still festive and fun.

Ok, so I'm a little late in posting this. Last weekend was spent at a beach house with my Mom, Auntie "Poca" (my sister Maria) and "Uncle" Derrick. The little ones in the family call Maria "Auntie Poca" because she looks like Pocahontas.... long story....

Anyway, back to the beach. The weather was fabulous until the day we left! We hung out at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, had a fire in the fire pit (with s'mores) and visited a lot. Ryan took Evan on a "boys' hike" on the beach, and they found a really cool tunnel. It was very relaxing and fun! Evan really loved the "surfboard room" - we can't wait to go back!

I don't know how to feel about this: Evan put himself to bed! Is he a creature of habit - or was he just really tired? I deliberately did NOT give him a nap today because #1: he slept in, and #2: he has preschool tomorrow morning. He is such a night-owl, that I thought "I'll keep him awake so he'll go to sleep at a reasonable hour tonight and wake up in a great mood tomorrow morning for school!" Well, apparently he had other plans... Isn't he cute???

Evan and I were feeling better this morning (we both have colds), and the SUN was shining - so we headed east. We ended up at Multnomah Falls. The last time we tried to come here, Evan had a horrific tantrum and we only stayed 5 minutes. Today was another story! He was so amazed by the waterfall, and we all hiked (almost) to the top. I admit - I realized after about 10 minutes that I was sweating bullets - because I was SO afraid of Evan getting too close to the edge!

I'll never forget a childhood memory of me, my sister Maria, and our Dad coming here. She was probably 7 or 8 years old (I would've been 8 or 9), and was curiously peering over the edge of the bridge. Dad silently and swiftly GRABBED HER, pulled her back, and his face was white. He said he had never been so scared in his life - imagining his child falling from a bridge! I guess that fear carries over to me now...

Anyway, back to our story: After Multnomah Falls - Ryan, Evan and I continued for lunch at Char Burger, across the Bridge of the Gods, stopped at the Fish Ladders, then enjoyed a beautiful drive home. Gotta love these beautiful fall days - no schedule to stick to, everyone in great moods, and of course getting home safely!

We spent Halloween at: Nicole's house for a festive playgroup (that included a pinata), Firstenburg Community Center, then in the neighborhood with our friends Julie, Connor and Charlotte. Evan was a "scary skeleton", and enjoyed every minute of it! Despite a few falls (due to it being dark and having a mask on), he managed to haul in a LOAD of candy.

I gave Evan a bubble-bath tonight - and he decided to be Santa Claus. Then he wanted to make ME Santa Claus too... Ho Ho Ho! (A bit early, I know)

We took advantage of probably one of the last sunny, relatively warm days and spent some time outside. Evan is an expert trike rider - and a little daredevil too. He loves to find "hills" to free-fall down, and it's so cute seeing his little legs pedaling so fast! He found a caterpillar (thankfully he didn't squish it this time), and rode through a forest of "helicopters". We strolled through the neighborhood and enjoyed everyone's Halloween decorations, the crisp air, and the sunlight on our faces. One of those great evenings outdoors!

Oh no - I wish. Fly's head? Looks like it, doesn't it? This is what I walked into when I came upstairs to see what was taking so long. Ryan gave Evan a bath, and when Evan wouldn't cooperate with getting his pajamas on, well, Ryan got creative....

We spent a couple of hours at Toys R Us today - and found a "Hopper" for Evan. You know, one of those big bouncy balls with a handle? The kids hold onto the handle and bounce.... Well, as soon as Ryan inflated it, Evan excitedly says, "Wow! This sure is a GREAT toy you bought me, Mommy and Daddy!" After a couple of minutes of bouncing around, he proudly exclaims, "Hey! I'm just like Tigger! And this is my Tigger Tail!"

Saturday, we hosted a Halloween/Harvest Party at our house. We invited our playgroup families and had some fun activities for the kids, including pumpkin painting and cookie decorating. We hope everyone had a good time - we did!