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. =-)

Summer Projects

The summer has come and gone and we are well into Fall. Jay has been staying busy with the Ducks and now Blazer's Preseason. Mandi has continued to work at the accounting office and picked up a 6 week job at the church. She also just had her first client at New Day Counseling and is excited to see the business grow.

As we transition from Summer to Fall we thought we would send you some pictures of the work we've done on our home this summer. It has been fun to see all the changes take place as we continue to make this place OUR home.

If you ever want to visit we love having visitors. So just let us know.

Project #1 The Path

Together Jay and I put in this little path. It's small and simple but we love how it turned out. We also, each got new bird baths. Jay really wanted this blue bird bath, but he had already gotten me a new bird bath for graduation. So now we have two. Mine is kinda funny as it has a solar powered fountain. The birds seems to enjoy it, but if you walk in front of the sun or the sun goes behind the cloud, the fountain stops.

Project #2 The Yard

We've also had some help on our yard this summer. It looks so pretty and we've finally covered up the spots where some trees were taken out and planted some new grass.

Project #3 The house and new furniture

Since I've graduated I've had a lot more time on my hands to play around with the furniture. So it's changed many times. But for now this is how it will stay. In the Family room, we got a new desk and set up a working corning for me. In the living room we moved it around many times, but for now this is how it will stay. We have some plans for a new couch, but that will be down the road. But we did get this beautiful new ottoman. We love it!

Project #4 Jay's Office

We were also Finally able to set up Jay's office. We got some great new furniture and had the room painted. Now, it allows for Jay to have a nice new office and we can have a another guest room for our guest.

Project #5 A New Door

Since Jay moved into this house, he has been wanting a new red door, and we finally got it! And it looks beautiful!!!!

Project #6 The Garage

This summer we have spent a lot of time on the garage. We've had 3 garage sales, gone through countless boxes and finally set up Jay's tools. It's looking good and we are close to being able to park a car in the garage. Here is Jay's workshop.

CA Nephews

Well, I never got a chance to post about our trip to CA, other than the cousin reunion. So I thought I would just put up some of the cute pictures of our time with the nephews, Will and Charlie Vidito. You can see more pictures of our trip on my facebook page.

The boys are growing up so fast and it was so fun to watch and play with them. Will went shopping with Grandpa and Jay, and they all walked around with their sun glasses. I got a chance to finally hold Charlie and love on him and take lots of cute pictures.

Uncle Jay with Will and Charlie

Aunt Mandi with Will

What a cutie!!!

Ahhhhh =-)

Ok, will give their parent's props too. =-) James and RoseAnne, you have two very cute

kiddos that we love!!!!

New Day Counseling

Here is a 360 video of my office. Enjoy!

No client's yet, but I just got my business cards. So I am still in the marketing stages. Please continue to pray for the Lord to bring the clients, to help me network, and for Him to continue to proved as I wait for the clients.