Another Snow Day

Once again we torture our baby by making her come out to play with us in the snow.

(New Video!)

Snow Day!

Not quite ready for snow angels

Hounded by the paparazzi

Must...get...to...swings!

Chapped baby!

Sunday morning we woke to a winter wonderland! A blustery, blizzardy winter wonderland, but that didn't stop us from taking Anneke out for her first snow. Usually I love to get out the cross country skis and cruise around the neighborhood, but it was too nasty and icy for that. At one point I was ready to go inside, and I think Anneke was, too, but Dave looked so sad and said, "but it's my only snow day!" So we braved the weather for a bit longer. Anneke's lucky to have such a playful dad! The next day we took her out again for a walk to the grocery store, and look what happened to her poor little face! My sister said to use Eucerin on her chapped little cheeks--she's a pro at this since she lives in the midwest.

Christmas trees!

A couple of weeks ago we joined Dave's side of the family and their old friends, the Johnsons, at the Christmas tree farm! When Dave was growing up his family and the Johnsons celebrated Christmas together since their own extended families were back in the U.K. Meeting up with them to cut Christmas trees is an annual tradition, one I was invited to join when Dave and I first started dating. We all head over to Cornelius Pass Roadhouse afterwards for lunch. Notice Anneke and her cousin. I fear this is just the beginning of a bunch of shenanigans.

Now I know how Joan of Arc felt.

Ha ha! (Incidentally, technical difficulties prevent me from posting the Christmas tree photos--more on that later). Emily, this is especially pertinent to your life with a very dramatic four-year-old.

I can't tell you how many times The Smiths helped me through particularly absurd days in social services.

Santa

Tick off another "must do" for Anneke's first year.

Special thanks goes to Mary who pointed out not only that the Macy's line for Santa is very short during the weekdays, but that the crying baby with Santa pictures are often more interesting than the posed ones that we so often try for.

We were able to have two photo sessions in order to get this picture, and of all of the pics where our little girl was bawling her head off, we chose this one for the wonderful look of displeasure she gave the camera. Zoom in to see it better.

Family shelter

Crikey. I am a social worker, and I still end up surprised when I read stuff like this--I'm still naive about family poverty and homelessness in my community. I guess it might be in part because I have always worked with families who, although they definitely were living below the poverty level, still had some kind of home or shelter, whether it was a Section 8 apartment or a relative's couch. I'm embarrassed to say it's hard for me to believe there are families living in their cars, but here you go.

Well, to quote 80s GI Joe: "Knowing is half the battle." See, all that after school TV made me a better person.

Emergency shelters

MULTNOMAH COUNTY

Warming Center for Families: 1435 N.E. 81st Ave., Portland, 503-253-0148
To donate: The center needs pillows, blankets, sheets and pillow cases. Drop them off at the center or at Human Solutions, 12350 S.E. Powell Blvd., or at these three Key Bank branches -- Gateway branch, 1205 N.E. 102nd Ave.; Lloyd Center branch, 825 N.E. Multnomah St., Suite 175; Gresham Mall branch, 390 W. Burnside St., Gresham. Drop off food (snacks that require no preparation such as fruit, nutrition bars and juice boxes), dishes, eating utensils, paper towels and cleaning supplies at the warming center or Human Solutions.
Volunteers: The center needs people to staff it. To help, go to
www.humansolutions.org
or call Becky Mullins at 503-256-2280.
For other shelters: Call 2-1-1

Our Little Deer is Nine Months Old!

And it's a Festivus miracle that I was able to take these photos, between the tricky lighting and the ever-so-curious baby.

This photo was attempt no. 238....

How do you baby-proof a Christmas tree?

Ready for my close-up, Mommy!

And here's my daughter next to the most worrisome non-lethal baby hazard of them all.