December 2013

Being way behind on blogging, I thought I would at least get the rest of December recorded before moving to 2013. 

First up was the holiday version of the Paula Piano Recital!  One of the funnest parts of this one was Liyan Huynh who has decided to learn to play the piano so that she can teach her grandchildren someday! 





Paula even did a duet with a couple of her students as well.



20 Students including 15 grandchildren and one daughter-in-law!



With the Larson crew out from Vermont, we decided to participate in the Christmas Bird count on the weekend before Christmas.  Brig, Anders, Kennedy and I were a team and were assigned to a territory south of Hillsboro in the Forest Grove area.  We counted a total of 56 species before lunch and had a few that no one else saw.  Among them we saw:

American Kestral



Northern Shoveler



Scrub Jay



And I learned something about the Pied Bill Grebe.  Where most Grebes have a distinctive way of diving,  this Pied Bill and his friends were playing submarine.  Kennedy and I watched them for a good 30 minutes, and over and over they just sunk into the water and then after some time rose back up like a submarine!






















We also saw the White Breasted Nuthatch



And the winter Golden Crowned Sparrow



Christmas Day had many of us at the Lodge, where we celebrated with the whole family. 



We unwrapped gifts, played games and just generally enjoyed being with each other. 





Paula rented several condo units at Mt. Hood, and we spent the last couple of days of the year playing in the snow.  Several learned to ski for the first time, and seeing the fireworks at the mountain on New Years Eve was a real spectacle. 









Lot of folks sitting in the snow!



Chelle had me take this shot as she was sure that it would be some time before she would be looking this "hot"!



One morning Anders and I took a walk around the loop and stopped to talk to Mike Welch, our Native American friend who has done the story panels for us.  He had asked me to take a picture of Paula reading to grandchildren last summer which I did.  He is doing a panel to trade a dentist for some work he needs, and used Paula's picture as a model.  Weston, Bree, Ava and CC!



So after the fireworks, the year was over, but early the next morning, we went to watch Nate and a few of his friends race motorcycles in the mud and cold.  Pretty amazing.




Another very full year!

Before the Storm

There are about 50 people out dancing to XBOX in my living room at Rainbow right now, and I am on Dorthy duty while she sleeps in the bedroom on the waterbed,  so I decided to blog.  Chelle and her family got in last night from Vermont, so I am pretty sure it will be a nonstop party from now until they return home on the 3rd. 

Paula and I had a wild week related to the firm.  Last Saturday, we did the Portland holiday party, complete with Santa and about a million kids. 



Rob Fotheringham was Santa this year.  Really fun to have him interacting with the kids.



That afternoon, we flew to Salt Lake with Paula's mom, did the Salt Lake dinner with the staff there on Monday evening, and argued a Summary Judgment motion.  While there, we drove out to see Thuan's former wife Jane and their son Carl.  It was a beautiful day with incredible views of Timp from downtown Lehi. 



Carl was decorating the tree, and I got to help him.  I also got a chance to help him collect eggs from their hen house. 







On Friday we flew early to Boise, visited with the staff there, and flew home through Seattle where we got stuck on the ramp with a plane malfunction and had to change planes.  Got home about 3 am!



Yesterday, drove to Longview to buy a truck, picked up Chelle's family at the airport, and partied at Chuong's house. Serious Grandkid action.



Didn't take Ander's long to engage his cousins with the Pokeman cards.



Birding lately has been limited to just around the loop here on Rainbow, but some fun birds nonetheless. 

Varied Thrush





Golden and Ruby Crowned Kinglets

 



Downy Woodpecker



Anna's Hummingbird







And our mystery critter.  What is this fairly common bird?  First grandchild to get the bird wins $10!



Fox Sparrow



And a beautiful little House Finch



So here it is just 9 days to Christmas.  The river is up, and we are snug in our home.



I keep thinking about the blessing that this home is.  Paula teaches the grand kids piano lessons here and teaches them how to cook at the same time.





Just a parting shot of Chuong's little family.  Really fun.




Peace.