Christmas 2007

This is a tale of 3 different Christmas celebrations. We started the festivities on December 21st in Boise at Papa Gene and Grandma Danas house (or Gena as Meredith calls them). The big hit of the night was Papa and Grandmas new puppy Maddy. She really liked Merediths velvet dress and Meredith liked her cuddles.

Meredith and Maddy
Opening the new table and chair set!
Mom and Meredith
A new bike too!

The next morning we packed up and flew to Spokane. Thus began Christmas #2 and Nana and Papa Mikes house. We were greeted in Spokane with beautiful fluffy snow. Lots and lots of it.


Meredith got to open gifts all day long on Christmas Eve. This was the "big" gift.
A doll house!
Opening all the furniture for the house. Thanks Aunt Kortney and Uncle Chris!
Meredith played with the doll house all day long.

Papa Mikes grandson Dan and his parents joined us later that night...
Here is Meredith waiting so patiently to open presents.
Checking out Dans new book.
Wrapping paper is still fun!
Meredith really got into the headbands that were in her stocking.

Christmas day we headed into town to stay with Grandma KK and Papa Jim and celebrate Christmas #3. By then Meredith had the present thing down pat.

Opening her new bitty baby.
New cash register!
Taking a break with Grandma.
After dinner coloring with Uncle Scott and Cousin Brett.

We have had a great stay in Spokane, all 8 days of it! The snow has been great, Jesses cold has not been so great. We were lucky to have dinner with Jeff and Naomi (home from Portugal for a bit) and our good friends Jeff and Laura Fleming. We've even seen a couple movies!
Meredith is really into getting herself dressed. She's still learning.

It wouldn't be a complete trip to Spokane without a stop at the carousel. Meredith really liked going around and around. Jesse had to do the honors, I can't handle it!

After a couple rides, Papa Jim took over.

Wheeeew!

We'll be home soon. Hopefully our dogs are still alive. It'll be like Christmas all over again since all our presents headed back to Boise the night of the 26th. Meredith won't know what hit her!

December 2007

We made an unexpected trip up to the cabin this weekend. Best of all, our long lost friends the Nevalas joined us for some snowy fun! We haven't seen them in months so it was great to catch up. Meredith was a big fan of Dan and Jen and "Owie", Howie the dog. We went snowshoeing and tried to stuff Meredith into her old snowsuit since it's the warmest thing EVER. A little short in the legs but it worked. Dans shoulders were a better ride than the backpack apparently. Dogs and kid were sufficiently pooped.

On Saturday night we decided to see if Meredith would like ice skating. It happened to be "disco" night so it was dark and there were spinning lights and loud music. She loved it and started dancing the second we arrived. She also got to rent the tiniest pair of skates ever made.
Thankfully Dan, being from Minnesota, is an excellent skater. He even plays hockey in the "A" league here in Boise. I hear thats a good thing. Anyway, we tusted Dan a bit more with our precious cargo than with Jesse. Needless to say she loved ice skating and I'm sure I'm going to be hearing about that adventure for the next month.

Here is our tree at home. Meredith likes to hide IN the tree. We also spend hours each day playing "I Spy" with the ornaments.

We enjoyed our 2nd annual tree hunt with the Bordners and Kearneys in McCall this weekend. All the kids had a great time together as well as the adults!

Meredith and Aiden got stuck in the backpacks. It's getting hard the lug Meredith around. I'm not sure what we'll do next year.
The Kearneys
The Bordners
And poor Aiden who couldn't quite manage to sit up in his snowsuit.

It's not Meredith that has been keeping us up at night. It's our new "baby", 914 E Bannock (directly across the street from our old house). These are really bad photos but you get the idea of what the house will look like. The house that is on the lot will be torn down here shortly. We are replacing the round columns with traditional square posts. And not to worry, there will be plenty of room for visitors, the house is deceivingly big! We are looking forward to being back in our old stomping grounds and enjoying some SHADE. Although we will miss our great neighbors "up the hill" terribly. Cross your fingers for a quick an easy build!

Here is what makes my head hurt.

November 2007

Scott is working at a CDA print shop as a graphic designer. He got to work on a fun project this week! Watch Good Morning America tomorrow live from Idaho!

What a great Thanksgiving we had this year. My parents, my brother and his girlfriend Carissa all made the journey to Boise for the big day. We had a great time! A big thanks to my mom for cooking a great meal, somehow I always manage to avoid having to cook when she is around.

Thanksgiving started early in the AM. Meredith wore her new apron that Grandma KayKay made her, she refused to take it off most of the day.


My brother Scott and his girlfriend Carissa. Her family is in Hawaii so she spent the Holiday with the Hamiltons and Meredith families!
Discussing aprons.
Meredith showing Aiden the finer points of stacking things.
Jesse loves carving. His one job of the day.
Morgan provided a great rendition of "Jingle Bells". I really think Morgan has a bright future in entertainment ahead of her.

The "Friends" table, featuring the Bordners and Kearneys. Not enough room at the "big kid" table, so they got their own!
Aiden ate most of the turkey.
After dinner entertainment, The Wiggles.
The boys laughing about not doing the dishes.
Ryder and Morgan itching for some pie and perhaps the wishbone.

On Friday we all headed up to McCall to spend the weekend in the cold. Friday was a gorgeous night on the lake.



Meredith loves being outside, rain, shine or freezing temps.
Family pic by the McCall bears.

A beautiful day on the lake.
Scott and Carissa.
A lot colder than Hawaii.
Uncle Scott got to haul Meredith around on our tree cutting adventure.

Not to sure why we are chopping down a nice tree?
We measure the height off my dads head! About a 10 footer.
Possible Christmas card shot, you might see this again.
Grandma KayKay, Meredith and Me!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family!

We had another great winter weekend in McCall. This time Jesses mom and stepdad Mike came to visit! Meredith had a great time playing with Nana and Papa Mike, and Jesse and I enjoyed a night out while they were in town. We went for a walk along North Beach and got caught in a bit of a blizzard!
The dogs didn't seem to mind the cold or the wind. They jumped right in the lake.
Payette looks a bit different in the winter!
I had a tough time taking pictures, the snow was really coming down. A very nice start to the Holiday season.