Ahhhh the snow is finally melting

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve/Day, I loaded a bunch of pictures on my picasa also

The whitest Christmas in the NW

Well, there's another storm headed our way. We're looking at another 4-8" tomorrow, Christmas Eve. We only need another 1.5" of snow to beat the all time December snow fall record for our area. I have never seen this much snow here, and I can't believe how much we are going to have for Christmas! Our 14+" haven't even melted yet!

George decided to combat cabin fever by shoveling the walkway by the front door...it started snowing again just as he finished!

Welcome to Winter!

So I just realized it's Dec 21st, the first day of winter! George went out and took some more pictures from the road. It snow a little more earlier today, and we might get 2-4 more inches tonight/tomorrow. Yeah...it's a lot of snow...I don't know if we've had this much snow here before, not that I remember!

Freezing rain

So it started raining last night around 10pm, nice freezing rain. Now all our nice snow is covered in a 1/4 inch of ice. It's still at 22* out there! George just went down to give the chickens some water and had to stomp his way down through the ice so he didn't fall. I have seen a few cars on the main road (Ward RD) from our window and they are going really slow. I can't believe people are out there driving at all!

Our little bird feeder all covered with snow

Mr Ben is snow dog! He loves the snow and the cold weather. His coat is so thick he was sleeping in the snow last night!

Snowed in with no internet!!!!

Oh internet how I have missed thee......It's been out since mid morning yesterday and we have all been a little stir crazy stuck in the house. One can only read for so long before you want to check the weather/email/blogs/anything interesting..... So yay! It's back! Now we just hope not to lose power with the storm. Icy is supposed to start tonight/tomorrow and be about 1/2 inch over the 8 or so inches of snow we have! Ick!
George and I went for a walk this afternoon and played in the snow for a while. Yesterday the snow was nice and wet, good packing snow for the snowman etc. Today it was really dry and powdery, good for flinging at each other but that's about it. The dogs think its great, with their heavy winter coats they think the temp is just fine! We're at, let me go see......about 22* right now brrrrrr!! It's supposed to snow all night too so we might get a foot before this is over :) I loaded some more pictures into my picasa album and will add more of the icy tomorrow.
Oh and I put up some pretty window decorations, I'll get some pictures of that too. Hope everyone else is staying warm! We'll play in the snow for you all again tomorrow.

We finally got snow!!!

Only in the NW....

George and I went to a holiday part for his work at McCormick & Schmick's on the waterfront, nice place btw. They had these trees hanging on the building. That's right, real noble fir trees, cut in half, hanging on the building. These weren't tiny trees either, probably close to 5'. Those are some spending decorations!

Brrr it's a little cold here

You know it's cold when the geese are standing ON the water!

So the last batch of snow missed us, we're hoping we get some this time. Although I could do without the freezing rain...

Yay Snow!!!

Looks like Kaylee won't have

to wait for her first snow!

Super Cute!

Welcome Kaylee Marie Fish

She went for the c-section just before 11pm, everything went well, momma and baby are healthy. Kaylee is just shy of 9lbs, weighing in at 8lbs 15oz and 21 inches! She has a bit of a lump on her forehead...because she was trying to come out face first! So it's a good thing they went for the c-sec, because she wouldn't have been coming out otherwise.

Day three......Come out Baby!!!!

10:40
Well folks, she only made it to a 4 after three days. Baby was starting so show some distress after the contractions so they decided it had been long enough. They just took her back for a c-section. It'll take about three hours before we get to see Jamie and baby.

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1:45
So things are starting to progress, contractions are getting stronger and the doc is going to break her water when she is dilated enough. Doc wants baby out today one way or another! I think Mom took the laptop with her to the hospital, so I'll see about uploading some pics later today.

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Yeah still no baby. They switched the meds overnight so she could eat but are planning to put her back on the pitocine this morning after her doc is there. Today 12/11 is the day she was scheduled to be induced anyway, so maybe Kaylee will decide to join us now. Jamie was able to get some sleep last night and is in good spirits today. Today Will be THE DAY...we hope....fingers crossed right?

Jamie Update

7:30pm
Still not much progress. George and I came home around 4pm to get some sleep. I txt Jamie a little bit ago and she said they are going to switch meds at 9pm since she has maxed out on the pitocine. Other than the lack of progress she is doing okay, and baby is doing well. Looks like it will be tomorrow before we get to meet baby Kaylee.


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11:30am
Well, we're here at the birth center. Not much happening yet. Jamie is doing okay, she's in the tub right now trying to relieve some back pain. Her contractions are still pretty far apart. So it looks might we might be here a while still.

Dec 10th 6:30am
So contractions are still 3-10mins apart, she says they don't really hurt yet, just uncomfortable. We're planning on going down to the hospital around 8 or 9 this morning and hopefully Kaylee will decide to join us!

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So my sister had an OB appt today with fetal monitoring. Kaylee didn't move during the monitoring, however her heart rate and breathing are fine. But it was enough of a concern that the dr decided to admit Jamie and start the induction tonight. Jamie was having dinner about an hour ago, then was going to get a timeline from the dr for when they would start the medicine. Baby should be here in the morning, or earlier :)

Holiday Pictures

I started a new file in my Picasa link for holiday photos since I know there will be way too many to load on blogger!
Oh and we are going to have snow next weekend!!! Exciting, but poor timing since Jamie and baby will be going home right about the time it hits. Yay for studded tires.

Woodstove updates***new pics below, they made fire!

So the guys are installing the woodstove today. It's dirty work

And my kitties are still super cute and snuggly

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Bwahahahaha!!!! Men make fire!!!

Tree lighting at the Fort

**Tree lighting will be at 4:30!



So this Saturday is the tree lighting ceremony at Ft Vancouver for anyone interested. It's usually a smallish crowd just a couple hundred, which is much better than going downtown and getting mashed in with a few thousand!
Things start at 6pm, the band plays, there's songs, they light the tree, have cookies/cocoa, and offer tour of the main building. Good times so everyone should come!

***Okay now I'm not totally sure what time it starts. George told me 6pm but the info online says 4:30pm...I guess I will know for sure when it gets a little closer :)

Vancouver Barrack's Holiday Tree Lighting
Ft. Vancouver Parade Ground
(Ft. Vancouver Way & Evergreen Blvd.)
4:30 p.m.
http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/events/index.htm

Fireplace to woodstove

So my folks decided to put a woodstove in the fireplace box. It's taking a little bit of remodeling... George and my Dad have been working on it for a few days. It won't be done for a while since they are still waiting on some parts, but hopefully by next weekend, or Christmas ;)They were cutting some wood/concrete and you can see the camera wanted to focus on all the dust in the air
Manly men

Manly men on the roof....
It's really high

And me hiding behind the cat..... he looks so huge... hehe big kitty :)

Snuggle kitties

Two of our kitties like to snuggle sometimes. Since it's been colder the last few weeks I've caught them snuggling a lot! This was just too cute...

Gobble gobble day

So we had thanksgiving dinner at our house/parents house like usual. I think we had 16 people here, a little smaller than normal but hey, more food for us! :) I didn't get any pics of the crowd, just a few before it got too busy.

Jamie is getting nice and round with the baby

Mom checking on the turkey

Yummy rolls I made from scratch

Jamie showing Grandma all the ultrasound pictures

George and Galen playing chess on the computer

Mill Plain Fred Meyers

Thanks to my sister Jamie for this FYI.
For those of you in the Vancouver, Wa area, the Mill Plain Fred Meyers just finish a remodel and is having a grand reopening sale this weekend. I just looked over the flyer and there are some great deals! Mom and I are going early tomorrow morning, hopefully the crowds will be small :)

Today's adventure in cooking

This was fun, I've never made it before :) I'll let you guess what it is

The directions said 'drop by spoonful' HA!

I decided this would be easier

I'm not sure why this is loading sideways... But I cut it into pieces after it cooled



Yummy! It's like white fudge/marshmallowie goodness
AKA Divinity

And no, I didn't add any icky yicky gross nuts of any kind! So there!