Time to Reflect and Tanner's TKD test

Tanner tested for his belt last Friday, no sparring shots but got a few of his form and self defense he also Reffed and coached a couple other fights. He did great.
This is Tanner's good friend "it was for there self defense" and they were trying not to laugh at some points just thought this shot was funny
breaking a board
receiving his blue belt/black stripe
splintering another board
i couldn't see


too cute
my hubby!

Needless to say a week ago last Sunday i would of never thought we'd have the Christmas that we will have. Exactly a week after the first snow fall we got hit with a what Oregonians like too call a "Artic Blast"( they did give the mid-west a slight run for it's money LOL). I have to say we lucked out on the traveling. Dax flew in Friday no problems and my folks flew out Saturday morning(with just a 2hour delay). I insisted to my dad they will close the airports on Sunday as we are not equipped for winter weather here and i was right. Growing up Minnesota as a child and young adult we didn't miss school unless it was over 70 below wind chill and a blizzard at the time the buses would be moving. my dad had a good laugh at us(it got old after a while). I am glad my parents made it home however i would of loved for them to be stranded and stay with us longer instead. We enjoyed our first Xmas meal last Friday Prime Rib and then we played in the snow some more. Sunday night when the storm really hit was a fun night. we played and watch the news and enjoyed being warm in the house. I still am a little shocked we actually got over a foot of snow all together. it was 40 years to the day that was the last time Oregon was hit like this. I do love it. We are getting around with little problem, i skipped out on work Monday "just because" but went for a walk that turned into a jog for an hour. (yes i got allot of funny looks) We went to Fred Meyer and got our Christmas dinner and Dax's Birthday stuff. Going for allot of walks. Sniper went to the field on Sunday and the snow was so deep after three Frisbee catches he was pooped. We go to our hill at 4-5pm like clock work with our neighbors and sled for a couple hours. Scott brings out the heater to warm our hands. I am training Sniper to pull me and we've had some good laughs with that. The boys fort is a work in progress. Tanner made $30.00 shoveling. Dax and I have gotten a good work out shoveling our driveway. You really can break a sweat it's very hard work.Dax started his puzzle(John Wayne) and is almost finished.(i hid his last piece as always and he always fall for it teehee) I almost think my boys are more active during this snow than they would of if it was just rainy and cold. Today the driving is much easier. (thanks to a huge truck and 4 wheel drive) work was a piece of cake and people were happy to have a good class. Dax and his friend have gone to Costco( i guess the pass is pretty clear). i am making more bread and a little house cleaning. then back outside. I told the boys to savour this because Sunday it could start to disappear, and I will be sad and what funny i am on a short list of people that feel that. I really do like it i am not cold it's pretty i am just dyeing to buy the camera i really want just to get some awesome shots. I will miss it. i wish the track at the high school was cleared, but i am making due doing my jogging in boots and snow pants and using the god-awful treadmill. Cabin fever could come about if i stayed cooped up but as long as i am out i am good to go. Just think we may never see this happen in Oregon again. I think it is something else that for sure. Will friends and family this is probably my last post until after Christmas. so enjoy your family and the blessings you've received through out the year, take this snow as a gift spend some quiet time together, work on a puzzle, play games, bake, watch movies. if you are driving, be safe and aware of your surroundings. Merry Christmas!

more Snow photos

Tanner and Jake has pretty much lived outside the past week. This sure beats laying around the house. I have done some nice long walks with my friend and we've been building and sledding. Now that the boys have actually full 3 weeks off it will be interesting to see if we start to get on each others nerves. Dax is home and off work until the New year as well. I love our neighborhood. our neighbor across the street has been blaring the xmas music as we play out front, we've had a cookie exchange and have been snacking allot. it is very festive. My walks usually start out at the field and go around the fair grounds. it was so pretty last Wed. The dog is loving it too.

Showing off

A very special gift that a special person made for me for my birthday.
for me getting a gift after my birthday is allot more exciting because you don't really know it's coming. Candy(my Friend) can do anything. She is so crafty. i strive to even have a little bit of her creative juices. Anyway I love jewelry any one that sees me outside the gym may notice. This week however i feel like i have lived in my work out clothes.

Happy Birthday LUCKY!!!

Technically he is probably 1 1/2 years old but since we got him around this time and Sniper's B-day is coming and lets not for Dax's big day on Christmas. ( as a matter of fact all our birthdays either fall or are right on the holiday) i figure why change it. He was a stray at the gym and i fell in love. very friendly and very trained. My boss took him to the shelter and since no one claimed him he became ours. He's got a curly tail and his eyes are crossed. he loves being outside as much as i hate having him go out he makes it up to me by hanging around the house and coming right home in the morning. He's a hunter and has the habit of bringing me presents. (YUCK) he's cuddly and playful. Sniper loves him and they will sleep together sometimes. He is loving the tree a little too much and has knocked done allot of the ornament's silly cat. he'll also get a hold of my pony tail bands and i find them in the oddest places. uses his scratching post but not the carpet or furniture. I think we were the Lucky ones!

My fun runner

Jake and Grandma Loff


Jake just got home from school today and told me he won a Tee shirt at school for running the most laps during our "FUN RUN' fundraiser in October....This little guy is always asking me when i will start taking him to the track to run laps with him. I told both boys, Tanner wants to start too as soon as the snow melts at the track...today was gorgeous. I too the dog to the field(forgot my camera) and we ran and played fetch until his nose started acting up. I told Dax on the phone that if we lived on the mountain i would be in hog heaven. I love the snow and the sunshine that's when the cold doesn't bother me. I would take this over rain any day. I guess we should be prepared we are getting more snow Wednesday. The downside Jake misses his play on Thursday.. Teacher said we'll reschedule it in the New Year though...

We are lovin it!!!!

Any chance to wrestle one another
building his fort in his usual "fort spot"
love my back yard before with the fresh layer of snow.
snow ball fight
hot cocoa anyone?

Grandma helping with Jake's fort in his "fort spot"

The only way to eat snow i think
one of many sled races
my boys are so Darn cute

loving my house right now


weeeeeeeeee!!
my guy

my other guy
Jake's ready to throw
coming up with snow ball fighting strategy
Dax and I are from places with a abundance of snow(Minn and Utah). Dax played hockey and skied, he nearly skied his life away( He's a amazing skier). I skied cross country and figured skated. We lived for the snow. i drove in blizzards like it was a regular day of sub-zero degrees and non-stop snow. Anyway one thing we miss is the convenience of winter sports and fun. We have to drive to it now. Well every now and then we get the pleasure of snow here in the valley, and so i have to say i am glad for a no-school day. today consisted of snow ball fights fort building sled racing, hot cocoa, soup, and best of all after dark falls and it gets icy enough ice sled races. (yes i join in too) as a matter of fact i am pretty darn good at it and i am on the top 3 ranked in our culd-a-sac. tried to get pics of the night races we just got done. we have a decent enough hill and great parents to watch every move and for cars. (thanks Darrel and Jose). i love this the best part. we are suppose to get more snow tonight for more fun tom morrow. We miss Dad though,this is something he loves too we promised lots of pictures.. hopefully we'll have more for Christmas break when he's back!! here's just a few pics from our day.