Christmas 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CORVALLIS!  

Merry Christmas! Up here in Corvallis we have Grandpa Reg, Grandma Patti and Aunt Suzanne here for five full days. Before they arrived Evan said he wished they were staying longer. Suzy went for an hour run with Mike yesterday up into the base of the forest, then jumped on a mountain bike and rode with Mary for a bit. She is such a trooper as it was pouring and 44 degrees at the end of the ride! Amazingly she smiled the whole way. She needs to move up here if she can handle that!








Evan is so excited to have family here. Grandma Patti made pozole (Mexican Christmas soup) dinner on Christmas eve. Super good!

Christmas morning was awesome as Evan was nearly in shock that the wood stove door was open (that was nothing to do with Santa, Mike was putting wood in!) and the stockings were full. He was SO VERY patient waiting for everyone to be ready for stocking unloading. Mary got some great items from Santa Suzy (just like Aunt Beth knows what Mary needs -- one or more personal shoppers!!!). 

  

 






Grandpa Reg got mustaches from Santa Suzy.....








We had a snack and then the presents...

Evan could have played with his stocking items but the lure of large wrapped items was strong. He opened a t-ball set from Grandpa and Grandma. Somehow Evan was hitting balls inside the house (what were the grown ups thinking? no one knows). The first hit was clean and right on the ball, so was every hit after that. We were all amazed; no instructions needed. We had to shut down the hitting indoors as he was just too good at it and something was sure to get broken. 

The next gift was a soccer net and Evan-sized ball from Aunt Suzanne. That was a good indoor sport and very fun. After the presents Evan said he got the presents he dreamed about.

When the drizzle stopped Aunt Suzanne and Grandpa took the t-ball set outside so Evan could really got for it. Such fun!



Patti has been busy strategically getting the Christmas meal underway. Grandpa and Grandma went for a drive to see the area just north of town where we mountain bike ride and where our grass-fed beef comes from (had a prime rib roast Sunday night, glad Patti was here as Mary had no idea about cooking that cut of meat and Lauren is on the other side of the country!). News report, dinner was amazing...time to sleep now. Grandpa was the first to throw in the towel, off we go.

Along the way there have been art projects with Evan, games, fort building, and Santa hat skating! Get ready to laugh, he wanted MORE hats!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a GOOD night!
With love, Mary and Aunt Suzanne