BEACH VISIT

I just finished reading on my friend's blog how she and her husband took the day off and visited the wharf and whatever in sunny New Zealand. Sailboats and tourists in t-shirts filled the photos.

Okay, here are my photos from yesterday and today. My husband and I took the day off too and headed to the coast. Funny, it didn't look at all like my friend's day. No sunshine for us...just dark skies and cold rain. This time of year, I would rather be in New Zealand!

PIG'N PANCAKE: Definitely our favorite place for breakfast when we visit Seaside, Oregon.

In spite of the rain, some crazy tourists rented unique bicycles and wheeled around town. I snapped this photo from the warmth and safety of my car.

Steve and I enjoyed a great dinner

when we arrived in Seaside Friday evening. This coastal town is pretty empty during the winter so we lingered for quite awhile at Girtle's Seafood & Steak Restaurant.

Seaside, Oregon, marks the end of the Lewis and Clark trail, and it's really pretty cool. We visit most often during the winter season, and will probably visit again on my birthday at the end of January. Sure to get plenty of rain then too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Yep, today is Stephanie's birthday and she's shining brighter than a new penny!

Groggy Stephanie opens presents from the parents.

Peppier with the puppy after shopping with her brother and sister at the mall.

Stephanie enjoying her birthday dinner at a local restaurant.

In deed, children are a gift from God!

The Two of Us

Our most recent shot together.

We were at a birthday party and decided to splurge and we spent a token to have Chuck E Cheese sketch our portrait. Not too shabby!

It's Christmastime...almost

In August we dropped Mitchell off at college in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Okay, we actually parted ways on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon as we handed him off to the Albuquerque family. Yesterday he came home for Christmas (and semester break) and he brought his grandma (Steve's mom) with him! What a treat to have mom for the weekend. At church this morning, Pastor Larry honored those with birthdays in December and it was so cool when mom (Dec. 23) received a surprise gift. Stephanie got one too as her birthday is Dec. 26.

Another treat came when Steve sang "Drummer Boy" during service. Mitchell played along on his guitar and Stephanie was featured on the drums. I knew that they were going to do "something" -- they had to run to rehearsal as soon as Mitchell got off the plane -- but I had no idea they were going to do what they did. It was beautiful. I was speechless.

Mom is the one through whom we got our dog, Meeko. Meeko is now 6 months old and I think he's totally silly! He's a 5-pound ball of fluff -- a toy!




Mom got some good photos of him in his Christmas sweater and in his Santa costume. Good thing he's an indoor dog as the other dogs in the 'hood would be teasing him.



He's cute though, eh?

Mom also brought some photos with her from New Mexico. The top dog is Reno, Meeko's father, and the one with the freaked out fur is Abby, Meeko's sister. (I dig the spiked look.)

Merry Christmas, y'all!

As embarrassing as it is, I've joined the elf team. Click the link to see me dancing with my bad self. Be sure to have your sound turned on.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1249161850

Feel free to elf yourself!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!