Christmas is finally here!

After all the build up, 2 weeks of snow, birthday parties, birthdays, a week off work, it finally arrived. And it arrived at 5.22 am for some little creatures. I think it would still have been there at 9 or even 8 or 7, but it officially kicked off at 5.22 am. Stockings first, then presents from the tree, then off to Grandma and Grandpa's for brunch, presents and more presents, and dinner. Sophie says all her presents are her favourites (secretly I think she likes her pink guitar best) and Oliver liked everything with wheels (which was a lot of stuff), especially some magnetic cars which he could string together into a train (his 2 favourite things) from his Aunty Tamsin and a stand up comedian Elmo critter. Melissa McKeown knitted us all very fashionable scarves too.

Christmas eve with Santa

We ventured out in the snow to see Santa at a local restaurant. Oliver was NOT going to sit on the lap of any strange looking red and white clad HoHoHo-ing beardy fellow, even if he did promise presents. Sophie, however, was all over the man, wanting to know where he parked the reindeer.

Sophie White is FIVE!

Sophie's birthday has arrived! 5 years old already. If she looks kind of sleepy in the morning it is because it was way too early. One excited birthday girl got to open more presents in the marathon present season, then we went to the Cheesecake factory for a special birthday lunch and on to Build-a-Bear to make a birthday bear.

Sophie's Birthday Party!

Sophie and her friends braved the 12" of snow to have a great birthday at Out Of This World Pizza.

SNOW!

Portland had about 12" of snow for about 2 weeks including Christmas day. Lots of fun then less fun then annoying, dangerous, house-binding, family destroying cold wet cold messy dirty snow. Here are some pictures of the more fun snow times.

Christmas tree hunting

The White family (and Honey Bear) treks out into the "wild" to hunt,
track and fell a Christmas tree.