Happy 28th Birthday Me!!!

For the past six years I have wanted to eat at Stanley & Seafords in Tacoma. Shane remembered and took me there for my birthday last night. It was so delicious! I enjoyed the company of Chris and Jessica Byers and my dear husband Shane. Grandma Debbi watched the boys over night for my birthday. It was so nice! My parents took the boys over night just two days ago so Shane and I could go see Avatar late at night. This whole week has been so fun and I've enjoyed having time with my boys, my husband, my friends, and my family. Being another year older doesn't feel so bad.

They gave me a complimentary burnt vanilla creme which was so yummy! I loved the food, the environment, the dessert, and the company I was with.

Cali Cristmas

Jacob on Christmas

Jacob just wanted to play with everything right away after opening the wrapping paper. He got a small horse from Santa. Grandpa and Amanda gave him a super cool Matchbox Car Mickey Mouse Playhouse Garage for cars that he loves. Mom and Dad gave him a large yellow tonka truck that he likes to ride in. Grandmama and Papa gave him a big horse, a car that drives itself all around, and some cool bath toys.

Seth on Christmas

Seth loved opening his presents! Santa gave him a Ben 10 watch that he loves. He got a big helicopter from Grandpa and Amanda. Mom and Dad bought him a plasma car that he likes, but wishes went faster. Papa and Grandmama gave him a Magnext rocket and a digital camera among many other things. The funny part was he really would not leave Phillip's side. It was sweet.

Eli on Christmas

This Christmas Eli got Bendaroos from Santa. He loves them! He got a RipStick skateboard from mom and dad, but hated it so he traded it in for a regular skateboard and two new board games. He got a cool K'nex from Grandpa and Amanda that turned into a moving spider. Papa and Grandmama got him a language translator, a new bionicle, and Illustory. Illustory is exciting because he can write and illustrate his own book then it is sent it to become a hardcover book.

Merry Christmas!!!

This year we took a trip down to Grandmama and Papa's for Christmas. We relaxed, made cookies, played games, and ate a lot of food! On Christmas morning we enjoyed the company of a surprise visit from Phillip, Auntie Jessica, Papa, and Grandmama. It was really nice to spend time with the whole family. Eli wore the Mickey Santa hat and passed out presents, Seth sat with Phillip the whole day, and Jacob was on the couch next to daddy eating candy and asking daddy to take every present out of the box.

The Candy Basket in Portland, OR

One of my very favorite places to go in Portland is the Candy Basket. It has a ceiling to floor chocolate fountain for visitors to look at. Shane loves the mess ups section. They have baskets full of bags of truffles for about half price because they don't look pretty enough to package. Shane like the dark chocolate truffles, but my ultimate favorite is the Seafoam. It is spun molasses covered in milk chocolate. It is sooo yummy!!! This most recent visit, I bought a pack of Red Velvet Cake Truffles. They were beautiful white chocolate coated truffles with red sprinkles on top, cream cheese ganache and red milk chocolate ganache on the inside. They were divine. I can't wait to get more.

VooDoo Doughnuts

So, everyone is a critic right? Well, so are we. Shane had their Portland Creme, same as a Boston Creme and he really like it. Seth had a standard jelly filled, Eli had a Marshal Mathers(topped with M&M's), and Jacob had a Raised Ring with Vanilla Frosting(topped with Fruit Loops). They loved their choices! Mine was the best! I had the classic famous Maple Bar with Bacon. It was like pancakes with maple syrup and bacon all in my mouth. I loved it! Jessica had a couple delish Arnold Palmer and Neapolitan(They are cake doughnuts with a frosting, powder, and three mini marshmallows). She said they were different and good. Chris tried the Famous VooDoo Doughnut and loved it. Overall it was a good experience.

The non-creepy VooDoo Doughnuts

So, after the Christmas lights we decided to go see what the fuss was about this VooDoo Doughnuts. It's been on Food Network as a cool place to go, so we followed the directions I had. As we were tuning onto a road in a creepy part of downtown, there was a long line of bums laying under tarps along the sidewalk. Jessica and I started freaking out. We found the place, but luckily there was no place to park. It was creepy. Jessica looked it up and found a VooDoo Doughnuts just a mile away, so away we went. Finally at 8:30pm, we pulled up to a non-creepy VooDoo Doughnuts with a small parking area. It was so funny, and we were just enjoying the sight of it. The outer lounge had a ton of random seating to choose from. The boys loved the different seats!

This is the boys doing the 'Shake Your Booty' or 'Shake Your Butt-Butt'. They are too much for words sometimes.

The last of Peacock Lane

There was a bear waving to everyone from the upper window in a house. We weren't sure if it was a remote control or not, but after looking at photos it was a dude holding a bear. You couldn't see him at all while you were walking.

More Peacock Lane ...

Yummy, giant candy canes!

Jacob was being a grouch because we wouldn't let him run in the road.

My favorite house!!!

Peacock Lane

I love Jacob's ears here!

The boys loved getting pictures in front of the houses! Who is that guy?

Seth liked getting his picture taken the most that night.

Portland Trip with the Byers

So we were invited to Adi Stimmels Birthday in Portland on the 19th. The boys and I went and had a blast, but I completely spaced taking pictures of our dear friends. We did bring the Byers down to spend a night in Portland for fun and had Shane meet us after he got off work in Hermiston, OR. We decided it would be a good time if we saw something Christmas like, went to Powell's books, and ate at Voodoo Doughnuts. We started our fun times off by going to the best place for Christmas Lights in Portland, Peacock Lane! It really was so much fun. It has been a decked out street for Christmas lights since the 1920's. Looking at lights is one of my very favorite things to do at Christmas time. We parked at the Walgreen's right at the end of the street and walked up one side and down the other of the street. It was so busy, but we got a parking spot right away. It was funny because we were like cattle along the sidewalk being corralled. The boys loved it and my favorite house was decked out with The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Auntie Shelbi

Just a bit ago I was asked to take some 'professional' pictures of Shelbi to grace the walls of her mom and dad's homes. I love doing these mini photo shoots for people because I like a challenge. Shells was so sweet and awkward trying to keep a straight face. I got a lot of silly pictures, and a lot of good pictures. It really wasn't too bad for 10 minutes and about forty pictures. I just started taking pictures in jpeg and nef form, but the raw pictures won't do me any good until I master my photoshop CS4. Okay so mastering CS4 is a little overkill for a goal, but maybe even figuring out how to use it for basic function would be better than no editing at all. I keep wondering if that is what everyone else uses for at home use. The only simple function editing I know of is Picasa, but I wish I knew other better quality easy to use editing programs.

Jacob was adorable and just wouldn't back off long enough, so I let him be in a couple pictures. I love this one with Shells!