Santa Parade

One of our local fire districts has Santa parades throughout the month of December.  They drive all thoroughout different neighborhoods in Clackamas county and when they were going through Happy Valley we went out to see Santa.  They had amazing old antique fire trucks all decorated with lights and Santa's sleigh too.

Thanksgiving 2011

We had Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year.  Doug, Kelly, Will, Jack and Annemarie made the trip from Montana, Steve, Jen, Matt and Caleb and my parents all came.  We had a great day, always nice to have our whole family together and see how much the kids have grown! 

 Will, Jack, Matt and Caleb

 Upside down Tyler

Cheers!

Rudolph?

Someone has the Christmas spirit :)

Driving Range

Jason and Tyler went to the driving range one cold Saturday morning.  They spent 2 hours there!  He loved it!

Brian Wilson Beard Contest

Somehow a bet began at the Kaiser Westside Hospital job site.  The goal was to grow the best Brian Wilson beard.  The bet began in September with the initial deadline being October 31st.  You can imagine my joy when Jason informed me that his bosses had suggested they delay the final voting until a regional meeting that was being held at their jobsite, in November!  Jason ended up getting 2nd, out of 2, and came home with a lovely consolation prize.  His competitor acutally dyed his beard for the contest!

Bandon Dunes 2011

Jason made his annual trip to Bandon Dunes this year with the biggest group yet.  He had to bring our trailer in order to get all of the clubs and gear to the course.  They had amazing weather and had an amazing time!

        

Happy Halloween

Tyler loves Elmo so, it seemed right this year.  We had the Elmo costume for about a month before he was ready to put it on - he was scared of it :)  Trick or Treating was an absolute BLAST!  We all went out together to about 4 or 5 houses, did the trick or treat thing and figured that would be it.  When we got back home Tyler said "more trick or treats please?"  So I stayed home to get rid of our candy and Jason and Tyler headed back out for more goodies.  They came back, heavy on the candy and again Tyler asked to go back out.  It is so fun to have him really starting to understand and see him enjoy the things we remember enjoying when we were kids!  Can't wait for Christmas!

This is not our house... but our favorite of the night :)

Carving Pumpkins

This year Dad was home to carve pumpkins with Tyler and I.  Tyler seemed very interested in the carving but left the work to Jason and I.  He still didn't really care for the "guts" of the pumpkin again this year.  I asked him what he wanted me to carve on his pumpkin and his answer was a tow-truck.  I did my best.

New Set of Clubs

Jason and I were going to wait until Tyler's birthday to get him a set of clubs but we wanted him to be able to play with them when he got them.  I don't know how but this kid just knows what to do... he wears the bag and everything.  We put a ball on a tee and on about his 3rd try he figured out how to hit his driver.  He also has a 7 iron and a new putter.  Since the purchase of the clubs we have all gone to the driving range as well.  That may have been the best family outing we have taken yet.  We all had our own mat and golf balls.  Tyler LOVED it! 



35 Years Young

35!!!

 Thank you to the Montana Peppmeiers for our newest Growler - The Great Northern Brewing Company

 Tyler and Grandpa

...and of course my Cherry Chip cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkles :) Thanks Mom

Pronghorn Lava Tubes

After our golf round, Randy took us to visit one of the signature holes at the resort.  During construction of the hole, they were blasting down with dynamite to create the dramatic drop and depth of the hole.  While doing so they uncovered two lava tubes.  Central oregon is volcanic in nature, covered with lava fileds. These lava tubes are formed as the lava flows. The outer layer of the flowing lava actually cools and hardens so when the flow stops a hollow tube is acutally left behind.  When we walked back in them there was about a 40 degree temperature change, it was in the 90's outside that day and we were freezing, wanting coats underground, it was unbelievable.  We had a crank lantern and a barely charged flashlight to guide us.  We ended up using the flash on our camera to see where we were going.  At the back of one one of the tubes one of the original developers made an "office".  They carried back desks, memorabilia, golf clubs, golf balls and a tee to hit off of, and we did, in the pitch dark.  We got to tee one up and crank it into the darkness of the tube - probably not going to do that again :)

Pronghorn

Jason recently played in a golf tournament sponsored by the West Side Economic Alliance in which he won the following "major awards"

• $50 in gold coins for long drive
• A 1 night stay at the Commodore Hotel in Astoria, Or
• $50 gift certificate to the Reserve Golf Course
• 1 free round of golf at the Reserve Golf Course
• $25 to the Stock Pot restaurant
• A silver stein for 3rd place over all

AND... 2 nights stay and a round of golf for 2 people at Pronghorn Golf Course in Bend, Or.  I guess you say he did OK :)  We had an amazing stay and had an amazing experience.  We both love central oregon already but this weekend was one we will not soon forget.  The course was perfect, well manicured fairways edged by the beautiful central oregon desert, that I never hit a ball into. We got a caddie for our round of golf that was extremely helpful, from bandaging my blisters to guiding us through the course.  Our caddie's name was Randy, a retired fire chief that now works the courses at pronghorn part time.  Nice retirement if you ask me :)  He did everything from cleaning our clubs and raking the bunkers for us (not that I was ever in one, making 5 attempts to get out...) to giving us a guided tour to one of the signature holes on the private Fazio course after our round.  He told Jason to call him when he needs a caddie on the tour.