MULTNOMAH FALLS, Troutdale, OR

We have had a week of GORGEOUS weather....bright, sunny skies, in the 50's and 60's....we have been loving life outdoors (sorry to my sister-in-law, Liz).....anyway, today was no different...we just couldn't see staying home to do one of our many Saturday (indoor) projects....so, we went to Multnomah Falls in Troutdale, OR....only about 40 minutes away....they have a 1 mile trail (steep in parts) that we walked up....didn't quite make it the whole way....I could have, but Matthew and the kids were a little out of breath....we think we got close though!!! Next time! Anyway, it was a fun outing, and the falls are beautiful!!!--pictures dodn't really do it justice---you have to come and see it for yourselves! At a few points along the trail, because of how big the falls are, and how close you are, you can feel the water from the falls spraying you, and the ground around you is all wet!!! (Travis....are you a little homesick???)

taking a little break along the trail!! (in Matthew's defense, he was carrying Kayleigh the whole way up!!!)

Must be nice to work from bed!!!!

Ok, so I am still not totally use to the fact that Matthew works from home! His office in the garage is still a work in progress....it WILL be done by summer....but in the meantime, I have to laugh at him when I see where he decides to work each day!!! A lot of mornings, he is in bed until noon....to his defense, he is REALLY working....but I always tease him and ask him when he is going to start working for the day!!! Also, when I took theses pictures and told him he was making it in the blog today, he said, "But I don't always stay in bed until noon....sometimes I am on the couch or in the rocking chair...." Don't let that fool you, though! He is always in his pj's!!! I LOVE THIS MAN!!!!

Snow Day!!!????

Is this really worth having a snow day from school???? I admit, the roads were a little icy this morning, so maybe a delay would have been fine, but to close school for the entire day, when the grass isn't even covered!!!! I think people in Colorado, Utah and other snowy states would have to laugh at this.....We are definitely in a different part of the country when it comes to winter weather!!!! I can't say that we didn't have fun in the snow today! We got up, got ready and went out to play first thing before all the snow melted away!!!

Jessica made a snow bird!!!

The snow was good snowman snow!!!

And, we made a snow dog!!!!

Now, it is time for kids to be back in school!!! :)

TRAMPOLINE!!!

We are loving our trampoline (on the days it is not raining!)....I am not sure who loves it more....me or the kids....I love going out to jump just as much as they do, not to mention I love when they go out to jump!!!!

A day at the Zoo

We decided to stay close to our home in Washington for Christmas Break. Knowing the whole Christensen Clan was together was a little hard, but we had a lot of fun! We were planning at one point to take a trip to the coast, but it was raining here most of the time, and snowing along the route to the coast, so we stuck close by. We went to see the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie one day, we went to the zoo another day (it ended up being a free day....!), and we went out for a breakfast-dinner to IHOP for New Years Day....we also had fun playing games here at home. IT was a great couple of weeks. MAtthew had most of the time off!

Christmas Day!!! (finally!!...so it has taken a while!)

Some of the bigger gifts.....

opening the trampoline!

Kayleigh got her new blue blankie for her bed!

Jessica got her Nintendo DS!
Jared got his Spidersapien!
Later that day, playing with some of our stuff!

(actually, the trampoline is a few days later....it was too rainy Christmas day!)

Kayleigh playing with her new Dora baseball stuff!
Jessica playing Nintendogs!
Jared playing with ALL his new stuff!

Christmas Eve

Cookies for Santa (and apples for the Reindeer!)Christmas Eve PJs.....thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

I am not sure if Kayleigh liked the fact that her jamies were blue, Diego, or feet pjs the best....but, all 3 put together....definitely made for jammies that she loves!!! Good job Grandma!!