Christmas in Portland

This year was our first Christmas in Portland, just the two of us. It turned out to be very special. Here are some highlights from our Christmas weekend.

On Christmas Eve, our church had a special candle light service. It was the first for our church, and I hope it wont be the last. Pastor Ray and the rest of the Portland Christian Center team did a wonderful job!

After church we headed to McCormick and Schmick's for a yummy dinner. Someone had given us a gift certificate and we decided Christmas eve would be the perfect night to use it. For me personally, I have never gone out to eat on Christmas Eve, so I wasn't completely sure what to think. But it turned out to be very special and I would love to do it again. =-)

I ordered a side salad and this is how they brought it to me. I thought it looked so pretty.

Afterwards we went home and of course we had to take pictures in front of our tree in our Christmas clothes. Doesn't Jay look GOOD!!!! What a handsome husband I have! =-)

Afterwards we sat down and chatted about what kind of traditions we want to make. It was really a fun and funny chat. But hey we have never done this before. And then in tradition of the Vidito Family, we stayed up super late wrapping presents and listening to Christmas music. It was fun. =-)

Christmas morning was beautiful!!!! The sun was shining, and it was cool and crispy! The house was so joyful. I ran around taking some pictures of our decor.

The plan had been to enjoy our presents and then make a nice breakfast and eat on the china and enjoy our morning. But in the tradition of Jay and Mandi, the plan didn't happen exactly. =-) We scaled down the breakfast, cooked together and had a blast opening presents, and then rushed to get ready and spend Christmas dinner with our good friends the Hines. Of course we were late. But hey in the big scheme of it all, everything worked out. =-)

Go Ducks!!!

Jay got a "quacker" noise maker in his stocking. =-)

After dinner at the Hines and an enjoyable afternoon we headed to the Blazer Game. It was a very fun evening and the Blazers won, which made it even better.

The next night, we were given a wonderful treat. Our friends the Carl's invited us to join them at a Christmas Piano concert, downtown at The Old Church with Micheal Allen Harrison, a local well known pianist. Wow!!!!! It was amazing!!! It was such a wonderful event. This is definitely a tradition that we should carry on. One of the special treats for the two of us, sentimental buffs, is that we went to Michael Allen Harrison's Valentines Concert at the same place, 7 years ago for our first Valentines Date. So it brought back special, and funny memories. Here we are in front of the church.

Our Christmas weekend turned out to be very special. It was full of fun quality time, lots of laughs, attempts at new traditions and establishing of new traditions. Of course we both missed being with our families, but this turned into a very special, first Christmas in our home.

We pray you and your family had a wonderful and blessed Christmas Holiday as well. And have a wonderful New Years celebration.

2010 here we come!!!!

Christmas with the Pattersons

One of our traditions has been with our friends the Patterson's for the past 4 years. We get together and give each other an ornament. It's such a cool tradition. Here are some pictures from our time with them and of course their adorable son Sammy!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

One of the things I love about OR, is how you can live in the city and drive down your street and all of a sudden be in farm land. Yes for this city girl, that's pretty cool. =-)


This year we decided to go back to the tree farm that we found last year, for our Christmas tree. Any tree, any size, all Nobles and only for $25. It was fun, cold and wet. A true OR experience. =-) Here are some pictures of our tree. Enjoy!

This tree is about 9 feet tall and about 6 feet wide. It was a lot bigger once we got it inside the house. But we love it!!!!

Hi Jay! =-)

All said and done we love this tree!!! It is beautiful!!!!

Thanksgiving

This year Jay and I hosted Thanksgiving at our home for Jay's family. Everyone but two siblings were able to make the trips. So we had one loud, active, full, and fun house. Jay's folks came down early on Tues and helped me get the house set up, cook and do a lot of prep work. Let's just say the three of us worked hard and had some great bonding time. =-) Thank you so very much!!!!

Wednesday was the day everyone else was to arrive. First is was Matt and Emily. Then it was Annette and Judy with all of the kids, followed by Randy and Doug. Everyone brought side dishes, food to share, chairs and more. It was quite the ordeal. =-)

Matt and Emily with the girls, after a long day's trip.

For me this was the first time that I've cooked turkey, stuffing and gravy. As one of my friends said this was the "mother load of all meals". But after a lot of phone calls to my mom, an amazing recipe from a friend from church and help from my mother-in-law, it was a success!!!! Plus I had fun pulling out many of our wedding gifts and other pieces I have collected over the years. If anyone saw the Target commercial of the lady preparing for her first thanksgiving, that was me!!!

My finished turkey!!!

Jay was the official turkey...wait I mean turkey carver. =-) j/k

His dad and brother also jumped in to help out. It was male bonding time.

This was my first time making my grandma Freese's cranberry Jell-o mold.

It turned out really good.

On Thanksgiving day, our Oregon mom and dad (Larry and Debby Barnum) joined us. All in all we had 12 adults, 5 kiddos and a yummy turkey on the table. =-)