Welcome Mei!

Resa and Tim are in China picking up their daughter, Mei.  This is their first day together.  Looks like they were meant to be a family!  We cannot wait till they get back into the US and we can get our hands on beautiful Mei!!

The Protectenator

Ellis and Brock have been working on Ellis' science fair project today.  She has named the invention "The Protectenator"  This invention was inspired by an event that happened a couple of weeks ago.  At school, someone was breaking into Ellis' lunchbox and eating part of her sandwich.  This went on for a couple of days.  While this was happening, Ellis was assigned a project to make an invention that had a power source, an on and off switch, and that WORKS!  So, we decided to try to make a lunchbox alarm.  Brock, with Ellis' assistance, built an alarm with an electric bell, wire and a battery.

Here is the alarm...

Here is Ellis & Kiley acting out the attempted sandwich theft...

and the Oscar goes to.........................

The Protectenator up close....

The Sky Blues

Today we attended Ellis's 3rd grade class concert.  They call themselves the Sky Blues.  It was wonderful.  Of course I cried (Kathleen, not Brock).  Every year the third grade class puts on this performance.  Ellis was front and center!  Here are a couple of the songs they did.  

Zoo Snooze

Ellis spent the night at the zoo with her Girl Scout troop.  (Mom did also :)  We had so much fun.  We got to go behind the scenes and see the vet hospital, the animal kitchen and a giraffe eye to eye!

The troop made treats for the sun bears.

We all slept on the floor in this conference room.

Here is the sun bear enjoying the treats the girls made.

Here is the newest addition to the zoo.  The baby elephant is 3 months old.  Soooo cute!!

Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree....

It started to snow on our way to get a Christmas tree.  The girls were so excited!

Jingle Bell Run

Ellis ran her first road race today.  She did the Jingle Bell Run.  It was a 5K run.

Ellis warming up on the stairs.

Ellis was a little nervous before the run.  

Ellis trained for the run with a great group called "Girls on the Run".  What a wonderful program!

Ellis and her running buddy.

Ellis and her buddy approaching the finish line.

Ellis looking strong.

Ellis finished the race in 42 minutes.  Way to go Ellis!!!

Yeah!  They did it!!!

Mt. Hood

On Saturday we met some friends up at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood to decorate a tree with bird friendly decorations, go sledding and do a snow dance.  We have not had any snow yet this year and are really itching to go skiing.  So, we are praying for SNOW!

As you can see, not much snow on the mountain.  However, we had just enough to enjoying sledding. 

We decorated this tree with cranberry and popcorn chains and pine cones coated with birdseed.  Then we went into the lodge for hot cocoa.  It was a beautiful day on the mountain (even without snow!) 

Ellis and her friend Isabel.