Christmas #1

This weekend we went to our favorite spot on the Oregon Coast, Depoe Bay, to celerate Christmas with the Thompson/Rice clan! Since we always go to Tucson for the actual holiday, it is so nice to create some fun holiday traditions here in the Northwest.

We had beautiful weather at the coast and spent almost the entire trip just playing with the boys. But we did make time to eat some delicious food that Mary so graciously prepared and to exchange some gifts.

Here are some photos of our Christmas #1 celebration but this first one is by far the best! It is sure to be a classic!


D and Alex - my boys!

His smile just warms my soul

Christmas-ness!

Alex wouldn't go to sleep so he joined the gift session

Katie and Jesse bought this shirt for David. We bought this shirt for Jesse. But Jesse had already bought the shirt for himself. Thus...you get this picture! I guess great minds think alike.

Katie, Mary and Ryder

All the boys

Me with my son and nephew

Santa's little helper (thanks for the socks Kristin)
Now onto Christmas #2 in Tucson...STAY TUNED and HAPPY HOLIDAYS

First Annual Thanksmas!

This year we had our first annual Thanksmas with our great friends The Drakes and The Kolasinskis.

Thanksmas is a time for us to get together to celebrate the holidays as it only feels right to share this festive time with dear friends! We enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving-style dinner and exchanged Christmas goodies (for the kiddos). It was a very fun night and I look forward to many more years of this awesome tradition! Thanks for hosting Matt, Carynne and Ellie!


The girls

The boys

Matt K. and Carynne

Aunt Kristin with Alex and Ellie

D and I with Alex and Ellie

Ellie, Carynne and Kristin (Ellie in her awesome hat that Kristin made for her...so cute!)

Gift time!

Alex fast asleep in Matt D.'s arms

Our favorite little man

A few of our favorite things...

Things have been crazy busy lately. As if the holiday season isn't enough on its own (Happy Hollardays and Merry Stressmas!) I have been trying to balance going back to work a couple of days a week.

So I am going to keep this post simple. These are a few of our favorite things over the past couple of weeks...ENJOY!

BOY TIME
Hanging with the boys at the bar (David, Matt D., Matt K., Alex and Aaron)
**Disclaimer: Make-a-wish had a fundraiser and families were allowed at the bar during the day. Please don't think we are getting Alex started on bar-hopping this early!
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GIRL TIME
Hanging with the girls at the bar (Steph, Kristin, me, Carynne and Ellie)

POUTING
Alex doesnt really pout but I just love his little lower lip so I had to share this photo

UNCLE MICHAEL
My bro came into town and was a huge help with our holiday party and with watching Alex while I went to work. Alex loves him to bits. I am lucky to have such an awesome brother and Alex is lucky to have such a great uncle!


BATH TIME
I think I have mentioned this before but our bath time is our family time. It is the time when we all pull together (no matter how crazy our days have been) to connect, play, listen to music and start to unwind. Alex always loves looking in the mirror after he is bundled up.


TRAIL BLAZERS BASKETBALL
The Trail Blazers are back! And since I have been back to work, David and Alex have been super supportive. The first photo is of David and Alex at our Rip City United Holiday Ice Skating event last weekend and this second photo is with Santa Blaze when we went to get our Christmas tree!
**Rip City United is the loyalty and benefits program I manage for all of our Trail Blazers Season Ticket Holders.

SANTA CLAUS
Who doesn't love Santa Claus! He definitely makes it onto the favorite things list.

I am sure I will have more to report soon but until then, enjoy the festive holiday season!

Lots of thanks!

This was definitely a year to give thanks! This year I am thankful for:

1. My beautiful baby boy, Alexander
2. My husband
3. Our puppy, Duncan
4. Family - I am so blessed with family that I can call friends
5. Friends - I am so blessed with friends that I can call family
6. My job - the best part of my job are the awesome people I work with. They make work fun!
7. Laughter - I laugh every day in life...a true laugh! What a blessing!

Here are some photos from our trip up to Washington to celebrate with Bob, Mary, Katie, Jesse and Ryder! Katie, Jesse and Ryder were awesome hosts and we had an amazing time eating, talking and taking an obsene amount of photos of our boys. It is so fun to fall so in love with my son AND my handsome nephew!

I definitely missed the Russo clan but we get to go see them for Christmas...can't wait!







We stayed in downtown Seattle so we were able to catch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Friday morning and walk around to Pike's Place Market. It was Alex's first parade and D and I splurged on delicious donuts and fresh crab at Pikes...yum!





This picture sums up my Thanksgiving...I am one lucky lady to have these two men in my life!

2 months and more!

This is going to be a long post...lots to chat about today!

First: I LOVE the job of being a mom to our beautiful baby boy! It is definitely the most challenging thing I have ever done but it is all worth it when Alex snuggles into my neck or coos at me in the morning when he first wakes up. Those little moments steal my heart away. Don't get me wrong, it breaks my heart when he crys but we work through those times together too!

Second: But now it is time for me to go back to my other job. I start back at work two days a week and my wonderful mother-in-law will be taking care of Alex. It is going to be hard to be away from him and start working towards this constant journey called "balance," but I guess it has to start sometime, right? So Trail Blazers family...here I come!

Third: We have been working in as much family time as we can but it has been challenging lately. D is working and has started his Executive MBA through U of O (he is officially a duck!). His classes are on Fridays and Saturdays (alternating) so some weeks we only get one weekend day together. Not to mention the work he has to do outside of class as well. It is difficult but he does an amazing job still making Alex and I feel special and if anyone can balance all of this in his life, David can! When we do get family time together we have been going on a lot of walks, watching football (not my choice but I go with it!) and visiting good friends. We have even gone on a couple of dates and tried this new brewpub in Hillsdale and celebrated some special birthdays - Happy Birthday Carynne and Maddie!

Fourth: Alex turns 2 months tomorrow. Happy 2 month birthday baby! Some of my favorite things/changes this month are:

• Our mornings - Alex loves to sing and coo in the morning


• He has found his hands and loves to suck on them


• Bathtime is the best! D and I both give Alex a bath and he loves it. Then when he is all wrapped up in his towel we look in the mirror and he laughs at us. It is one thing we do as a family every day and I treasure that time!


• He is sleeping more - 6-7 hours in a row almost every night


• He is so strong and loves to kick his legs around and stand on my lap

Here are some pictures of Alex from the past couple of weeks!



We have been spending some really fun time with my dear friend Erica and her sweet baby girl, Sydney. We went to the mommy matinee at Kennedy School to catch a movie together and we joined a group called Stroller Strides to get our workout on! Here are the kiddos before one of our morning workouts.


Syd grabbed onto Alex's arm and wouldn't let go. Not sure how Alex felt about the agressive move (check out his face!) but Erica and I sure got a kick out of it and Syd seemed pretty happy too!

Silly

Morning singing time

Giggles

Sleepy baby

Batty for Halloween

Happy Halloween!! We went over to Bryan, Bec and Lei's for Halloween night as they have such a fun neighborhood and Bec made a delicious dinner of sweet potato/chicken pot pies...yum! Here are some photos of Alex...I am just batty over him ;) And thanks to my mom for the awesome costume.


All the grandparents

I chose to be a dairy cow for Halloween because all I am good for these days is milk :) Here I am feeding our son.

Alex with his godmomma, Becca

Leila, Bryan, David, and Alex - Leila was the cutest darn Elmo