Wild Weather Continues....what's next Volcanic Eruption?

People fall in love . . . . kids fall down and need a bandaid . . . London bridge is falling down . . .and so were a lot of trees in our area during last week's wind storms. I heard these trees fall but I thought it was our basketball hoop maybe crashing down or ? ? ? I looked all around & couldnt find the damage. Well 5 minutes later Alan returned from the local grocery store to report the entrance to our neighborhood was blocked by this mess (above).

Happy Birthday Gwampa Wicky!

Nolan Ricky is very proud to be named after his Grandpa Ricky:No doubt Alan loves his Pa-n-Law . . . . . uhhh....maybe too much?!? LOL The hat my pa is wearing was part of his bday gift

handmade by his daughter Amy. I love you Pa!

INVASION OF THE CROWS

Hundreds of crows making such a loud ruckus . . . couldnt even hear the loud diesel roar of the kids school bus over those noise makers. If they paused in their song - all I had to do was make a small crow-like sound & they all would start up again. I made a small video of this but only have time to upload a still photo.

Alan & His Bleacher Support

Payton & I were missing from the bleachers this game . . . had to finish swapping the kids bedrooms etc., Alan & the youngest 3 went to basketball.

Above: Alan getting ready to walk out the door this past weekend . . . to a church league basketball game. Accompanying him is his very own cheerleader Darla, fanatic spectator son Elijah with binoculars (his idea), and the photographer-wanna-be Nolan. Alan was laughing saying "Oh boy I can just hear the guys at work teasing me about 3 of my kids with all their equipment".

Attn: All Dads & Daughters

Daddy Daughter Dinner Dances
(For 7 yrs & under daughters) Fri, Feb 6, 6-9 pm;

(For 8yrs thru 13 yrs daughters) Sat, Feb 7, 6-9 pm
Milwaukie Center
Res: $40/couple + $12 additional daughter
Non-res: $46/couple + $15 additional daughter
A special date night for dads and their daughters. A buffet dinner is included and professional photographs are available for purchase. Call 503-794-8080 Press zero - to reserve a spot.

This will be Alan & Darla's 3rd year enjoying this tradition.

There are still a number of reservations still available.

Nolan & I Shared Historic Moment This Morning

Today President Obama was sworn in

as the Nation's 44th President Of The United States:

President Obama's speech included this:
"...in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.

The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit;

to choose our better history;

to carry forward that precious gift,

that noble idea,

passed on from generation to generation:

the God-given promise that all are equal,

all are free,

and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

Darla & Elijah : On The Same Team

Some wonderful folks up here on the Mtn (Thank you Brewsters!) organized a basketball clinic for the month of January for kindergarden up thru 2nd graders. . . . and of course our Mr Kindergarden (Elijah) and Miss Second Grade (Darla) wanted desperately to sign up.


Tonight was their 2nd practice. Both kids have been working really hard and loving it. Here are a couple snapshot collages for your viewing pleasure :-)

Notice (above; bottom right hand corner) 4 year old Nolan even snuck in on some action - the end of the practice huddle! He is in the light blue shirt. Prior to that our little marathon runner was running laps around the gym for almost an hour.

Circle Of Love

Snuggling, cuddling, smothering one another in love. . .

. . . part of our daily regimen here.

Another storm victim : Landslide in Sandy

This landslide occurred across the hwy from Sandy Safeway. . . . it took a lane of Hwy 26 down the slope with it . . . . and it all landed on a automotive repair shop below.

Before the landslide:

After:

Please pray for the owner Bill King. No doubt this has been devastating! I have heard thru the grapevine he is a divorced father with 3 teenagers. Insurance Co supposably is saying because it was a landslide - the earth moved - which means he wouldve needed earthquake coverage. Please pray that this family will be carried thru this. Thanks!

"Tear" (Austin Powers Style)

Seriously . . . eldest son gave me a birthday card today that made me tear up, so I thought I would share what it said:

Mom,
I may not
remember every
little thing
you did for me
when I was
growing up . . .

. . . But "remembering"
and "knowing"
aren't the same.

And I want
you to know
that I "know" . . .
and I love you!

Happy Birthday!
Love You Mom,
Payton

Sisters Near & Far

Well . . . of course I get bummed that my 2 younger sisters Lena & Kally live in another state, and their families . . . but there isnt anything I can do to change that . . . so I just live with it. . . . but still always aware of the sad distance. I love you Lena & Kally!

Then here . . . . in Oregon I have 3 sisters (n-law or Ive heard it said somewhere sisters-n-love) Lauri, Linda, & Mary. All three are older than me, wiser than me, and I am blessed to have them as dear friends & sisters. Add in nieces Shawna & Lanelle . . . I am one lucky lady.
Note: I have tons of nieces & nephews & even great nieces & nephews but Shawna & Lanelle are close to my age & are more like sisters.

Tonight Lauri, Linda, Shawna & Lanelle spoiled me rotten for my birthday. I have such a hard time with this. They wouldnt let me pay for anything - they even smuggled money into my car for gas money. The rear hydraulics in my car went out (Alan needs to put in a new part tomorrow but he thought it was jimmy'd for tonights fun) . . . . and although it doesnt damage my big ol' expedition it becomes quite the bouncy ride. Well Lauri ended up getting car sick as we bounced toward home thru Carver Curves, then when I was alone, half way up the dark icey mountain I realized I needed to pee & the bouncing, numerous storm caused potholes on hwy 26 proved to be challenging . . . but I made it.

Thank you for the birthday wishes and I love you all....Sisters near and far!!!

Life can be so taxing . . .

. . . But then there is that time of the year, when IF you're lucky, you file your taxes and instead of paying you receive a REFUND!!!!
It took me a while to locate the direct deposit schedule for those "refunds" on the IRS website but now that I did find it . . . I thought I'd share with you in case it's helpful:

This is in the situation where you are electronically filing:

Submit return 1/16-1/22 Direct Deposited: 1/30
Submit return 1/23-1/29 Direct Deposited: 2/6
Submit return 1/29-2/5 Direct Deposited: 2/13

There are later dates too . . . but if you're not in a hurry to file . . . then you probably dont care about this above schedule any-hoot! :-)

Time to start tallying those receipts . . . goodwill donations . . . . gathering all the tax statements . . . fun itemized deductions . . . oh joy!!!

And I will throw in a shameless plug: A-1 Income Tax (on Johnson Creek Blvd, just down from Fred Meyers) #777-1040. They are awesome & I started using them as our preparer 17 years ago, referred to them by my credit union. Just tell 'em Amy sent ya :-)

My future husband

I think our son Elijah is who most resembles Alan (whom is shown above as a young'n).
What do you think? No doubt personality wise the two are sooooo much alike. It cracks me up to see home movies of Alan as a child & see the same mannerisms . . . like the way they wipe their mouth, walk, etc., Sooooo darling to me.

Despite The Storm....

Two of my dearest best friends were still able to travel back to Oregon with their families for the Holidays. Here is a photograph of Melanie (Fay) Wais' children alongside my youngest 3 . . . . cute stair steps, huh?

My 3 (Nolan, Elijah, Darla) are on the left and her 3 (Audrey, Sophia, James) are on the right.

Darla & Audrey are both 2nd graders - when standing up straight, are the same height, same hair length, and are both missing the same teeth.

I didnt get to see Alison's two cutie pie sons this trip, but they sent a beautiful holiday photo I will try & scan & upload soon.

My own Pa sums it up this way . . .

Amy's Pa: "Bob & Vickie are pretty extraordinary people Amy . . . not too often does anyone meet someone THAT wonderful!"

Us: "We agree. We love you Grandpa Bob & Grandma Vickie!"

The kids missed out driving Grandma & Grandpa's Golf Cart this year, thanks to the storm but it doesnt matter where or when we are with them . . . we are just grateful for the time together as family.

Well One Big Wish Of His Came True. . .

ipod

T
O
U
C
H

. . . . . . . . . Payts groovy folks chipped in the extra moola to get this 16 year old an ipod touch for his birthday. Luckily, Grandpa/ma Hibberd had sent Payt a chunk of bday cash as well . . . PLUS this bargain hunter of a son talked the seller down to $150 (Craigslist) . . . and it works/looks brand new. Payton was playing with his new bday toy for the past 24 plus hours.

Next weekend he will be having a group of friends over for a party.... wii, ping pong, karaoke, rockband, . . . tons of fun stuff. The little ones wont be here just us chaperones. Who knows some brave friends of his may even go home with their own recorded cd, compliments of Alan's recording studio. Happy birthday Payton James! We love you!

Payton being smothered by siblings after blowing out his bday candles.

Today is Sweet 16 for Payton James

Happy Birthday to our honey of a son, Payton!

We love you so much!

Area Mudslide & Floods

8:30pm last night Alan, the kids, & I drove home from a Christmas Party and were on this very spot of the very WET hwy 26. Two hours later it looked like this:

Then you have Welches Rd. also closed now due to the Salmon River. We pray that our friends & neighbors in these flooding areas are kept safe & damage to a minimum.

My pa was busy into the late night hours last night sandbagging in Estacada, our hometown, where the Wade Creek literally took over parts of the town with it's waters. The brand new public library is under a foot of water now, and the Clackamas River is at breaching flood levels in town as well. My friend also said the high school parking lot is flooded with logs drifting up to the front doors.

Well this Winter is definitely an active one! We received another 9 inches of snow last night and I am heading to the local store now to stock up on essentials - milk, tp, bread etc., We have also been experiencing power outages.

If there is anything our family can do to help others please contact us. We have 4WD and wood heat source. We dont lose our water or heat in the outages. Please call us 503-622-1275. Thanks!

A Sledding We Will Go . . .

A Sledding We Will Go . . .
Hi - Ho - The - Merry - Oh . . .
A Sledding We Will Go!!

(Above: Niece Emily & My Darla)

Well a block down the road from our house lies

a superb sledding hill that we visit every winter

numerous times. Today we have nieces Rachel,

Emily, & Sarah joining us, & although it was pouring

down rain the kids were determined to enjoy sledding!

And they did: for 15 minutes then everyone was too wet.

(Above nieces Sarah & Rachel)

(My Nolan Ricky snowsuit sledding)

(Elijah Alan prefers the sled over this snowsuit sledding.)

Wii One, Nolan

Weeeee This Is Sure Fun!!!!!

Darla and Elijah engaged in a hardcore boxing match. I could have been standing there offering to take them to Disneyland and they wouldve been unphased. Darla has been complaining of sore muscles from the serious workouts she has been receiving from playing with their new Wii. They absolutely love their new Christmas gift!! Our living room was converted to our very own bowling alley last night, thanks to this Wii. I have NEVER been a fan of video gaming systems but this is completely different. So grateful!

Thank you Grandpa Bob & Grandma Vickie!!! Payton & Nolan have got to play just as much as Darla & Elijah . . . I just didnt have the camera as handy.

By the way, for those who read my posting on our last name . . . Crombie Cocoa, Crombie Campout etc., . . . . well when Alan was setting up the Wii it prompted him to name our game console. I was cooking dinner & he hollared to me "Amy what should we name our console?" And I of course responded "Crombie Console". LOL I think Alan & Payton came up with something different tho since Payton is a Gaskell, and a Hibberd, and a Crombie . . . . Happy New Year!!!

No Prevention Possible

Our neighbors have suffered the same loss . . . . GUTTERS. Normally the super steep pitch of our roof tops prevent super high build up of the snow, which stands true but this storm was different in that it had layers of DEEP FREEZE . . . . once the layers started to loosen they took the gutters down with them . . . still frozen to them. So a dandy of a home repair to be scheduled.

Christmas Continues

Because of the "Arctic Blast 2008" all of our family Christmas functions were postponed...so to keep that Christmas Spirit alive till New Years we are keeping our tree up longer than normal, and we are continuing to make Christmas Cookies. We are only sad K103 isnt still playing Christmas music.

One of my fav gifts . . .

Darla, our lil' darling

Feliz' Navidad

Papa and I love our new coffee mugs:

My favorite ornament

This beautiful glass Christmas ball (LOL)

Oh Christmas Tree

We discovered that come Spring time, or sooner, our huge above the garage attic needs serious reorganization . . . we could not locate all our Christmas totes this year & thus a number of our ornaments & our white lights were missing this year. So to Alan's misfortune we had to use the huge 70's style colored lights on our tree. Here is this years tree . . . a left over from my dad & Kris' Christmas Tree Harvest. In other words, a reject if you will - an unwanted tree adopted by us for the special season.

Here is a special ornament from my childhood days, given to me in Grade School by an ol' friend & neighbor Nishka:
Speaking of ornaments . . . . every year our kids have always received a new ornament from us. Well, after reading on Beth's blog . . . I am going to borrow a tradition of theirs I think . . . . and that is, they let their children pick out an ornament themselves each year. I love that!!! To see how their tastes change thru the years, etc., What a fun memory for the kids. Now I have always prided myself on picking ornaments with sentimental thoughts of the past year, etc., but I think I prefer Beth's family tradition. So thank you for the idea!

Ahhh traditions, every year on Christmas eve the family gets to open 1 present. Each year the kids act like they are suprised which always baffles me because they always receive the same thing . . . new pajamas. Sometimes they have worn their new pj's to midnight candlelight service at church too. What are your traditions???

Merry Christmas From The Crombies

The snow storm allowed this family TONS of family t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r-n-e-s-s time! We have been laughing so much! Fun times!

Elijahs exact words, when opening his handmade present from Nolan & Papa, were "An airplane? How awesome!! How did you guys make THAT?"

Nolan LOVES his handmade car from Elijah & Papa. He plans to paint it green.

Darla was so shocked her big brother Payton made her three beautiful pieces of beaded jewelry for Christmas. She loves them!!!

Payton also liked the, handmade & designed by Darla, wooden box to store some of his valuable treasures in. It even has a lock.

"REAL" icycle christmas lights......

Try making these if you want to impress the family!

My husband & 4 kids declared this their all-time favorite cookie . . . I followed this recipe but didnt have UNsalted butter so had to use salted butter & they were still incredible. Also, I had to use a little milk & a little marmalaid in the frosting in leiu of OJ or heavy cream & also turned out incredible! By the way, Alan is a chocolaholic but swore off chocolate because of this tastier treat. I am not kidding.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies
6 dozen Iced Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin (fresh or canned)
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)
1 cup raisins
Icing:
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons whipping cream, fresh orange juice or rum
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg (or pumpkin pie spice). Stir into butter mixture until well blended. Add nuts (which I didnt) and raisins (YES). Drop by teaspoonful onto parchment covered baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake about 15 minutes, or until golden. (for me that was only 10 minutes) Cool.
Icing: Cream confectioners’ sugar and butter. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. (If icing is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar; if too thick, add more cream, orange juice or rum.) Drizzle over cookies.