President's Day weekend at the beach

Brandon and his uncles have had a tradition of meeting at the beach over President's Day weekend. This year Uncle Jason got the hook up with some lottery winner friends with their five million dollar beach house in Brookings, Oregon. It's about a seven hour drive for us, and while the drive was looong, it was worth it!

That's the house from the top of the road and then from down on the beach when the tide was out. I could not take a bad picture of the house from anywhere, it was just amazing views from every angle.

This is the entry way and sitting area right when you walk in the house

The kitchen

Part of the game room with the three pinball machines. Payton and Andy spent alot of time on these machines.

We got a nice bedroom with a daybed for Hunter and an amazing view.

 

We went down to the beach a few times when we caught the tide out

We spent the majority of the time in the house though. Watching the kids play, watching movies in the theatre room, playing video games, drinking some beverages, eating yummy food, and just relaxing.

A great time! Can't wait til next year!

Snowshoeing on Mt Hood

This snowshoeing adventure was last month. It was my first big outting outside the house after having Leo. Brandon stayed home with both of the kids while Mark, Teri, Erin and I drove up to Mt. Hood for an afternoon of snowshoeing. It was a tough 3 mile loop around Trilium Lake, but the weather was good to us and it was so peaceful and gorgeous. Lots of laughs too! Need to get up to Mt. Hood more often, especially with this crew!

Cute, cute and more cute!

LaMarcus Aldridge

This blog is going to be a little off topic from the family and all about LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trailer Blazers. I actually had REALLY wanted Leo's middle name to be Lamarcus but enough people gave me a hard time that I gave in and we went with a more traditional family middle name (Anson). But maybe when Leo is older I'll give him a nickname of Lamarcus if he'll let me. :)

These are pictures of LaMarcus from the NBA site:

I've developed this little sports crush on him over the last three years. He just seems like a cool guy and there is something about him I've always liked. His personality, his spirit, his smile, his determination. Whatever it is that makes a person someone's favorite sports player, he fits all that for me.

Last week Brandon's Dad gave us his tickets for a Blazers game. He's a season ticket holder with some good seats. He and Teri watched the kids while Brandon and I got out for a much needed date night. Thanks Mark and Teri!!! Brandon and I have each been to a handful of games this season but this was by far the best Blazers game I had ever been to. They played an amazing game against a number one team and we had so much fun. I was never really into sports growing up but there is something about having so much excited energy in one building, it's simply an awesome physical rush.

This year, I really want a picture of myself and Lamarcus Aldridge. I was able to get a picture with Greg Oden a few years ago, another Trail Blazer (who has had quite a few injuries the last few years so he's been out most games). Jaleana and I attended an event that he was at and we squeezed our way in to get a picture.

While it's cool to have a picture with a Trail Blazer, he's not my favorite and I still want a picture with LaMarcus. :) So during last weeks game, being so close to the court, I talked Brandon into sneaking down to the floor level after half time while they were warming up to try and snap a picture of me and LaMarcus. This picture isn't that great, but now I have a mission for the next Blazers games we go to (March 15th!). I WILL get a picture of me and LaMarcus! Even if I'm feet away from him and he doesn't even know I'm trying to capture a moment with him and I.

LaMarcus (with the arrow above him) and I.

We had a really great time!

LaMarcus at the line.

That night he set a career high in points of 40! He has since beat that career high in this last week, he just keeps getting better and better.



He didn't get picked to go to the All Star games this year, but he is an All Star in my book!