Goodbye 2009...

"Picnik Show"

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2009 Snow Birthday

Snow doesn't fall often in Portland (maybe once a year), but this year it so happened to fall on my birthday - yay!  I do miss the snow and was so happy to see the white flakes falling from the sky.

I awoke in the morning to all 3 of my beautiful guys singing happy birthday to me carrying some hand-made pictures that they drew with watercolor crayons.  Elliot made me a couple pf pictures of flowers and he and I holding hands.  Super sweet.

Later in the afternoon , Saba came to watch the boys while Xander and I went to a restaurant called, The Tin Shed, to hang some of my paintings and mirrors for the month of January (pictures to come.)  It is pretty exciting to see my work up on walls, other than my own, and I think it really looks good (if I must say so myself.)

The snow really began to fall in the late afternoon.  We came home to Saba, Elliot and Miles building a snowman in the backyard.  We then had a neighborhood snowball fight, warmed up and got the kids ready for a babysitter so Xander and I can go out for dinner with some friends. 

All in all it was a great birthday and a great way to spend the 3rd to last day of 2009.  Unfortunately, the snow melted the next day and we are back to rain, but I am hopeful and wishing for more snow in 2010.

Hanukkah

We just finished up eight wonderful nights of Hanukkah.  We had some good friends and some family over for dinner, went to a great party, played with the dreidel, said the brachas,  lit lots of candles, and ate loads of latkes. 
We finally figured out how to make really good egg-less latkes.  Just substitute some thin oatmeal and they stick together even better.  
I'm not sure which we do more...play with the dreidel or sing the dreidel song?
Big brother lights the menorah while little brother looks on eagerly.  Ah the universal appeal of fire.

Craf-T Mom-E

Talia continues to amaze me with her crafty skilz.  Just a couple years ago she started making some beaded jewelry and some mosaic mirrors.  In the last year she has taught herself to sew, paint, shape and solder silver, and it seems like it is only the beginning.  She has an eye for colors and shapes and follows her inspiration wherever it takes her.  I delight in the joy this outlet of creativity brings her and am repeatedly amazed by her creations.  While she continues to make mirrors and is exploring new ideas with her paintings, jewelry has been a recent focus.  Here is some of her silver work.

Pendant

Stacking Rings

Another Pendant (and a nice picture too)

The artist at work

Just Playing Around

We have converted our garage into a "shop."  "Shop" is in quotes for our garage still acts as a dumping ground for bikes, some tools, laundry and its machines, crates and crates of books, DVDs', VCR cassettes (even though we do not own a VCR anymore) and oh, yea, our "shop."

I have been playing around in the "shop" creating my mosaics and  jewelry all by my lonesome, but I am lonely no more.  Xander recently joined me out there with his new hobby - Stained Glass.

See for yourself:

He is starting small and might move on to bigger projects in the future.  Nice huh!?!?

Yakira is old, what can I say.  She is a great dog, but sleeps more and plays less these days.

As for these two.... they are always playing!

So Thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week.  Talia and the boys made this cool banner to get us in the spirit.  

We also had a Thanksgiving tree.  Everybody wrote what they were thankful for on their "leaves" and we hung them from a branch.  I think Miles was trying to write nee-nee on his.  It would take a pretty big tree to hold all the things we are thankful for.

Elliot brought home a Thanksgiving art project from school.  Apparently he is thankful for Legos.

We started off thanksgiving morning by meeting some neighbors down at the park for a pick-up soccer game.  It was raining steadily, but not too cold if you were chasing a ball or a two year old.  By the time we got home we were ready for some hot cocoa and board-games  by the fire.

We had a lovely meal with turkey and trimmings.  Elliot loves the taste of cranberry sauce.  Miles loves the texture of mashed potatoes.

Saba dropped by for food and hugs.

After dinner, and the welcome surprise of getting called off of work, we had more family time around the fire.  Football, games, and a jam/dance session were highlights.

We are so thankful for so much.

Happy Tu-Tu

We celebrated Miles's 2nd birthday a couple of weeks ago, with a low key family dinner and cake. Elliot was really excited about his birthday and was practicing the "happy birthday" song with him.  When Miles sings it though, he says "happy tu-tu to you."

We thank everyone for their phone calls, cards and presents.  It is wonderful to have such wonderful and loving family and friends.

Here is a little video for y'all.  

Side-note:  Miles acts like he doesn't like the cake I made for him, but he actually did.  He asked for more afterwards, and days following, but that isn't on video, of course.  It's true, really!!

Halloween 2009 **EDITED**

Oh, Halloween...

There is usually a 2 week build-up to Halloween around here at the Brown home.  From picking out the perfect pumpkin, design/carving  the pumpkin, getting our costumes together and of course, trick-or-treating around the hood.

One of my favorite things about Halloween is carving the pumpkin.  I love the creativity that we put into it, roasting the pumpkin seeds and lighting our creation outside.  

Elliot and Miles were both really into it this year. 

Miles helping Elliot with his pumkin
Elliot helping Xander scoop out the seeds for roasting
Elliot carving out his design
The finished products

The pumpkins all lit-up

Elliot was not sure about what he wanted to be for Halloween, so I assumed he would just wear one of the many dress-up clothes we have around here.  A couple of days before Halloween, he said, "Mom, I know what I want to be for Halloween. I want you to sew me a storm-trooper costume from Star Wars with a helmet."  Really????  In 2 days.  

Hmmm... 

I probably could have sewn the costume, but daddy came home with a light saber for Elliot and plans changed. Elliot then decided he would be Anakin Skywalker and I should make that costume.  We had it mostly put together. I was going to sew him a brown cloak when we where out shopping for some provisions and we saw an Anakin costume for 40% off.  It wasn't too cheesy and b/c of time limitations we bought it.  Phew...

** The most interesting part of the whole costume debacle is that Elliot has never seen Star Wars and probably won't for another year or two.  He has heard about the movie from friends and has seen a book from a buddy, but he knows ALL about it and remembers ALL of the details.**

Miles wore the doggy costume Elliot wore when he was 2
Elliot using the "force"
Elliot and Ronan gearing up for some trick-or-treating
A few of our neighborhood gang out and about
Miles just had a blast walking around and following the big kids, until he realized what was going into those pals.  He was biting off the wrappers just to get to the chocolate or candy.  A little frightening, really.
Cute!

Here's to 120 years...

Grandma Helen and Grandpa George celebrated 30 years of marital bliss with a party, of course.  A gathering to celebrate love with family and friends.  They graciously helped us to come down to Florida and we are more than thankful and happy they did.

We spent the week relaxing at their house, visiting with family, enjoying the sunshine and warm weather and had a grand ol' time at their party, of course.  The kids loved playing with their cousins, aunts/uncles, and ALL of their grandparents.  

Miles found comfort at the buffet table and stuffed his face with at least a pound of watermelon. He also kept himself occupied with the toothpicks and a cube of cheese.  We like to call it "edible art."
P.S.  Aunt Virginia catered the whole party and did a wonderful job with decor and food.
The cousins on the dance floor.   They rocked it all night long.    I I think Elliot suggested "Beat It" at least 10 times.

A movie screen was the back-drop to the dance floor where rotating pictures of the last 30 years of George and Helen lives together were displayed.  It was really neat to see pictures of Xander when he was Elliot's age and pictures of his teenage years.  Hmmm...

Xander and his Grandma Kempe
Xander and Helen dancing the night away
Family Pic
Family dancing
Jack and Miles in Kyleigh's shoes
Elliot was all tuckered out around 11:00 p.m

           All da boys
Miles and Aunt Diana sitting on the dock of the bay...
Photo Opp
Nana and her kiddos
Nana, Bobba, bubbles and the boys
Hammock time
Nee-Nee time w/Aunt Heather
Elliot and cousin Tommy on the boat (a.k.a jungle gym)
Deep thoughts
More Nee-Nee time w/G-Ma and G-Pa
Wii Baseball
Fun with Grandma
Here is to the love these two people share with each other and with everyone around them.  They are so special to us and we love them more than words can say.   
Here's to 120 years (as we would say in my family.)