Boys Trip To Packwood

Uncle Pat rented a lot in Packwood and invited everyone to come.  Since Mom and Kayda were backpacking, the boys headed up.  Uncle Pat's Family, Grandma and Papa Hanis, Uncle Greg and Aunt Liz, and Uncle Scott's Family were all there part of the weekend.  They squeezed 3 trailers, all the vehicles, and 3 tents into the lot.  

Daddy had fun reminiscing about the old days he spent in Packwood.  His grandparents (Baba and Grandpa Hanis) owned a lot and cabin in Packwood (High Valley) for over 30 years.  Daddy spent a lot of time there growing up with his parents, brothers, grandparents, uncles/aunts, and cousins.  

He went around showing the boys where the cabin was, the creek they would play in behind it, they walked along the dike that divided the lot from the Cowlitz River, swimming in the community pool, eating pizza at the Packwood Pizza Parlor, and golfing at the nine hole course in the High Valley community (they were able to play two 9 hole rounds).  The boys also had a blast playing with their cousins, as always.  It was a quick trip but fun.

Getting ice cream in town.

The cabin in the back (which was an old water pump shed that was hauled up, and the mobile home to the right (you can see the window and deck.

When Daddy was a kid, where everyone is sitting used to be the main channel of the Cowlitz River.  You could not swim in it as the rapids were to fast.  Now, it was perfect for sitting and playing in.

Butter Peak

Carson's 10th Birthday!

Today Carson turned 10!  We officially no longer have any single digit ages in our little family.  Carson has determined that he isn't ACTUALLY 10 until 10:17 p.m. 

Yesterday we had to finish our camping recovery program.  Then we played Dino-opoly (I hate any monopoly games so it's my best gift for him).  Later Leelan, Avry, Kristee and Zach came over for a few hours.  The kids had a great time running around.  The weather was too yucky for any pool time though.  

Today we started with presents (I swear he was going to bounce out of his skin).  Then he worked his way through playing with each thing.  The boy is loved and had many wonderful people thinking of him.   Kayda gave him the gift of time in the pool.  Dillon has an ear ache but Kayda said she would play in the pool for at least 20 minutes.  They switched over to the hot tub and lasted a little longer though. 

We ended up having dinner at Red Robin with Grandma and Papa H. 

I got my hands on some relighting candles.  It took a good long while until he could get them all to STAY out. 

Christmas decorating and Christmas

Last year we were moving so we didn't get to decorate for Christmas beyond a couple strands of lights outside and the stockings and the Christmas tree.  I desperately wanted extra time with our Christmas decorations this year.  So, November 1st we put up our outdoor lights.  Since the house is so big we bought garlands and extra lights for outside.

We discovered kind of late that we didn't have any anchors on the roof so we were unable to decorate the second story.  We tried everything to no avail.  Hopefully next year we'll be able to make it work.

Daddy spoiled me and let me buy garlands to decorate our staircase.  I was so excited!  It's one of my favorite things from growing up, walking down Christmas morning with the railing all lit up.

We also splurged and got a new tree.  We have a couple of fake ones from before.  One was our original but the lights no longer work, the other was a really inexpensive one that just looks sad.  This one is gorgeous.  It's a 10 ft tree and barely fits.  We can't put any kind of topper on this one, but it doesn't need it. We didn't put it up until just before Thanksgiving.

My absolute favorite candy in all the world ... Of course it's only good during the season.

Cookie decorating! 

Christmas morning they're not allowed to come down until Dad is ready with the video camera.  It's very different than when I grew up as we went down to see Santa's gifts in the early, early morning.

The boys got hoverboards and we're very creative about riding them.

 Carson loves to give hugs to say thank you!

Grandma and Papa H came down for gifts and Christmas dinner.  It's the first time we've had a nice Christmas dinner in a long time.  We like to lounge on Christmas usually.

Grandma and Papa G came to visit after Christmas so we waited to celebrate with them.  

The boys were really excited about their riding boots.

We played "What do you meme" family edition.  There were a few things that really got everyone laughing. 

When Grandma and Papa G come visit there is always an abundance of candy.  Carson made a tower with the Costco size candy jars.