Ayda does Christmas

Here are pictures of Ayda opening gifts and enjoying Christmas day.

For Santa

December 24, 2008

Dear Santa,

Hi, it's me, Ayda. I wanted to write you a quick letter, wishing you luck on your flight tonight. I don't know if you have heard but the weather here in Oregon isn't great and I want you to be extra careful on the roofs, I don't want you to slip and fall. I also wanted to give you my Christmas wish. It is really simple: I want a baby. I already have a cabbage patch doll, but I am wanting something a little more life like. I know I am asking kind of late so I will understand if I don't get the baby tomorrow. But was hoping I could have that baby sometime by mid-May? Thanks Santa, I really can't wait for the baby to arrive!!
Love,
Ayda

cool picture

This basketball isn't going anywhere for a long time!

Snow for sale

Okay, it was fun for a day but seriously, a week (with no end in sight)? I have been stuck inside with Ayda for a week. There is only so much a mom can take, we have made more salt clay than anyone can imagine. We have colored more pictures and used more stickers than I can even tell you, we have played the game, "don't break the ice" three million times. The city is under a chain requirement after the freezing rain of Saturday and Sunday. We had no church yesterday so one of our activities was to check out the snow covered by ice. Ayda was able to stand in a few places and in other places she would break through. We can't wait for this to pass so we can leave the house again. But until then we will come up with things to do, today we will be painting nails and toenails.

snowman

Not that I have anything to prove but North Plains was on the news tonight, the kids in our neighborhood built a snowman that is more than eight feet tall. Travis and Ayda on the other hand build a snowman that is about two feet tall. Enjoy.

Arctic Blast 2008 continued

I realize that because of my last post I am being mocked by anyone who lives outside of the state of Oregon. So, allow me to explain the huge difference between getting snow here and getting snow in a place like Utah. Oregon: there are a total of two snowplows available for the entire state. Utah: snowplows everywhere some people even add a plow to the front of an ATV and plow their neighborhood. Oregon: they say it is too cold to use deicer, salt, any other method to make us safe. Utah: deicer sensors are built into the road, salt and sand trucks everywhere. Oregon: can only drive on highways and freeways with chains on. Utah: who owns chains, just leave and hope you get there. Oregon: ice everywhere, it took me almost two hours to get to and from my sisters house (normally it is 40 minutes round trip.) Utah: snow not ice. Oregon: school has been cancelled all week. Utah: really, they cancel school because of snow? I have received more than one comment about this not being snow...I assure you this is snow for Oregon. Here are some updated pictures of Ayda, I really got her dressed to play (except I don't own gloves for her anymore--snow boots are actually rain boots and she didn't want to wear her hood so she is wearing my hat and scarft) she was good for a couple of minutes but her hands got cold and she was ready to be done.

Oh baby it's cold outside!

I am pretty sure I signed up for rain when I moved to Oregon, not snow. I don't have memories of really cold temperatures, from when I lived here before. I know it snowed a few times, I remember that because school would always get cancelled. On Sunday it snowed, as we drove to church we mocked the drivers for going 30 mph in a 55 zone. This isn't Utah folks and the snow isn't sticking. We ended up getting sent home from church early because the Bishop got worried about roads (really didn't seem that bad to me). But it is SO cold. Ayda begged to go out and play so I put her coat on and her rain boots and she took one step into the backyard and she was finished. I can only hope that "Arctic Blast 2008" (that is what the news is calling it) passes by us quickly.

(backyard)

(front yard)

Christmas goodness

I am excited for Christmas this year. Some of you close to me may know, Christmas isn't my favorite time of year. I guess being ten and having your dad die around the holiday will do that to you. But this year feels different. I am not sure why, maybe because Ayda is getting older, maybe I am all healed...I am not really sure. With that being said, this was my first year at decorating my yard (attempting to) It isn't great and the pictures didn't turn out so you will just have to take my word for it. Outdoor Christmas decorations remind me of growing up. My mom and dad always had our yard decorated beautifully. Before my dad died he made several Christmas-themed carvings. Over the period of a few years, he made Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, the three Wise Men, a Bible with verses about the birth of Christ and some from The Book of Mormon. He also made a big Santa and the phrase Merry Christmas. I remember the first Christmas after he died, putting up those carvings and it made me miss him so much. We put them up for several years but time took its toll and they were looking a little worn. But this year I had the perfect place for one of these carvings. I asked my mom if I could borrow the scene of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. I am displaying it proudly. I was a little worried maybe it would offend someone but just hoped people could see the season in it. Well, we came home last night and a note was taped to our door, the note read, "thanks for displaying your manger scene, have a Merry Christmas, from your neighbors." I am glad it is well received. So without further ado her are some pictures.

I thought girls weren't supposed to be gross!

Travis was making Ayda dinner and when she was finished she wanted some animal cookies. Upon receiving them she dipped them in her left over mustard...gross.