And still more snow - Sunday, December 21, 2008

Ok, enough already.   We woke up this Sunday morning to about 12" of snow on the ground.   There has been no wind, so there are no drifts, just snow, with about 1/2 inch of ice crusted on the top. Jason from across the street and Lindsay from next door helped us shovel the driveway and part of the sidewalk clean.  Jason was going house to house helping everyone at least clear their driveways.    We knew yesterday that we would not be able to get out to go to church today and are resigned to being "snow bound", at least for a little while.    We did get out Friday around 3:30 to drive the 8 miles to St. Helens to do some final Christmas shopping at WalMart, and of course, since we were in St. Helens and it was 5:30 by the time we finished shopping, we JUST HAD TO GO TO BURGERVILLE for hamburgers (Hanna's favorite food in the world is the Burgerville Tillamook Cheeseburger, without pickles).

It started snowing as we left for St. Helens Friday at 3:30 and did not quit until around 11 PM Saturday night.   We woke up to the scenes in the photos - Grandma's Park in our back yard, which is really out of commission for a while; our neighbor's car in front of his house; and a view of down the street.   My car, in the photo below, sits in a snow bank in front of the house and the poor rose bush, seen in the lower right of the photo of my car, which we transplanted from Valencia, has a coating of ice on all the branches and what leaves were left.

Poor Hanna.   She so wanted it to snow, but now that we are snow bound, Hanna is more than ready for it to all go away so she can get out and see some of her friends.    Bryan was supposed to come by so they could go out, but he can't get here and we can't get there.    No one here can remember weather like this in the past 15 to 20 years, with so much continual snow and it staying without melting.    It started snowing, fairly heavily, again about an hour ago and may snow off and on through Christmas.   Our only concern is that the three families coming for Christmas dinner may not be able to travel.   We think Amber, Chris, Isaac, and Abigail may be able to get here with the guests they are bringing, but Christina, Steven, Alora and Elijah may not be able to get here from Hood River, 60 miles away.

So, since we are retired:  let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

 

More Snow - Friday, December 19, 2008

It snowed again Tuesday and Wednesday, and then again last night giving us a total of between 4 and 5 inches all together.    It has not been as cold as expected, getting up above freezing in the daytime, causing some of the snow to melt.   But, since it seems to snow every few days before the last snow is gone, the ground and side streets have been blanketed all the time.    The school district cancelled school for the week, but one day at a time.   They have an automated calling system so Hanna has anxiously awaited "THE CALL" each evening.    Wednesday and today, the call did not come until 6 AM.    Now, we are expecting what the weather forecasters are calling the biggest storm of this last batch of weather fronts, with up to 4 to 6 inches of snow predicted for Portland.   We are in an area that seems to get more snow than Portland 20 miles away, so we may be in for a real White Pre-Christmas.   Hopefully the roads will be clear enough Christmas Day for the Korenthals, Springers, and the other couple who are coming for Christmas Dinner at our house.    The side yard and yards behind us looked like an old fashioned Winter Scene from a post card this morning.

The first snow of the Fall - Sunday, December 14, 2008

We woke up Sunday monring to the first snow of the Fall/Winter season.   It was snowing lightly and continued through the morning, finally sticking to the street.    It is really beautiful and quiet outside, and COLD.

Grandma, Papa, and Hanna baby sit the kids - Thursday, Dec 4, 2008

Amber and Chris went to his company Christmas Party on the 4th.   We wanted them to have a good time and not worry about the kids, so both Isaac and Abigail spent the night at Grandma and Papa's in Scappoose - FOR THE FIRST TIME. Not only did
Amber and Chris get to go the party and stay out as long as they wanted, they also got to spend the night together at home, without any children around, and sleep in as long as they wanted in the morning.

As you can see, the kids love Hanna and they spent quality time watching TV with her on the couch in the family room.    Like any parents, we wanted to have pictures of our little girl going out on a "big date with her boyfriend", so before Amber and Chris left, we had them pose for "prom pictures" to document how happy and great they looked.

Isaac only woke up once, at 2:45 am, and came into our room - but that is something he does almost every night at home, so we were expecting his "middle of the night visit".   Grandma took him back to his room and bed and he went back to sleep in short order.    Abigail was her wonderful sleep-all-night self and not a peep was heard from her until DeeDee went into her room in the morning to get her up for the day.

Everyone had a great time.

Cutting down the Christmas Tree, Monday, Dec 1, 2008

Yesterday, on Monday Dec 1st, DeeDee, Amber, Isaac, Abigail and I went to a tree farm near Hillsboro to cut down our Christmas Tree.    While the day was cloudy and cool, at least it was dry and not too muddy, although I was glad I wore my big rubber boots, cause it was still a little too muddy for tennis shoes.  We had a good time, although occasionally the kids found something to be grumpy about.    We walked up rows, down rows, across rows, back to the same rows again, and just all over until we finally found "the one".    I don't remember a tree with a 6" to 8" trunk being so difficult to saw through.   While I took a break, Amber tried to help, but she could not even move the saw.    We finally got the tree cut down and loaded on top of the Dodge Caravan.    The tree is now sitting all alone in our family room waiting for lights and ornaments.   Hopefully we will get started on decorating the tree tonight after Hanna gets home from school and wrestling practice.

Thanksgiving dinner - Thursday, Nov 27, 2008

Sorry that this is a little out of order, but I just got the photos from Amber yesterday (Monday).   Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Korenthal's home (Amber, Christopher, Isaac and Abigail) in Hillsboro.    The tradition that started last year was to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Korenthal's, Christmas dinner at the Morse's (Tom and DeeDee) and Easter dinner at the Springer's (Christina, Steven, Alora and Elijah) in Hood River.     

This year, in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, Amber and 

Chris reached out to their next door neighbors Randy, Sarah and their daughter Summer, who have only lived in Oregon for about 6 months; and the Springers reached out to their friends Jeff and Jessica and their 11 week old son Jackson, who just moved to Oregon from Orange County, CA, inviting them to all join us (Korenthals, Morses, and Springers) for dinner.   It was crowded and noisy, with eleven adults and six children, of whom the oldest was just over 2 1/2. But, we managed and everyone had a great time.   The four "F" were present:  FOOTBALL, FOOD, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.   After everyone arrived, we pretty much settled into the guys downstairs watching football while the gals and kids were upstairs.  It was truly a great Thanksgiving, made more so by having the two families with us who were able to enjoy a "family" Thanksgiving even though they were new to the area and had no relatives in the area.

As you can see from the photos, there were people and kids everywhere and plenty of food for all.   This was Hanna's first Thanksgiving and she really enjoyed all the new food she experienced:  turkey, artichoke stuffing, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie.