......update....

Well, Riley FINALLY got her very 1st hair cut today! Cameron and Julian were getting theirs done for the Christmas party we are going to tomorrow....and we just happened to ask if they cut girls' hair...( it's a man/boy parlor ) ..and they said sure! So, Riley climbed up into the chair ( after a little bribery ) and got about an inch cut off! We had them put some layers at the ends too! It really made a big difference! I will post pictures on Monday! I was so weary about having her hair cut for one reason...she never lost her baby hair, so the ends of her hair really were her baby hair! I kept some for the baby book of course, but now, like I told her, there is no more baby left...she is now officially a big girl! Her face lit up when I said that, and then she just wanted her candy cane...ie: the bribery! :) We will attend our first actual Christmas party tomorrow with some friends of ours...we all have new outfits to boot! I will post pictures of us all spiffy on Monday as well!

We are so thankful that our friends have included us in their holiday celebrations for the last 3 years! The holidays are pretty hard for me, being that I am away from all of my family! Cameron has his sisters and his brother, so it's a little different for him. I haven't spent a holiday with my brother or sisters since 2003 I think....that is the last one I can remember....it's just been too long! I miss them and I have 3 new nephews that I have yet to meet.....one from each of my siblings.....! There is also stuff going on at home in Oregon that I just wish I could be there to help with...and be there for the ones that need to know I love them and miss them. I just want to give all of you hugs and tell you face to face that " I LOVE YOU "......

So, here you go...this is just what you are gonna have to hold on to until I can get over that way...(((HUGS)))...and I LOVE YOU! Please keep it close and know that I mean it! :)

...pictures to come MONDAY!

...Just some blabber...

Well, we are currently in the process of getting our first snow of the "winter" season! I love watching the snow accumulate on the outside patio and on the leafless trees! I find it peaceful and almost like a stress reliever....to be able to just sit quietly with my cup of coffee and watch as God covers the earth with the fluffy white stuff! We have about 3 inches on the ground so far, and the forcast shows snow for the next 7 days. So, by that time, we should have a good foot of snow on the ground. My other favorite part of the snow, is watching the kids play in it! Riley just wants to make snow angels and Julian wants to make a snowman and have snowball fights with Daddy! The joy that it brings to their eyes is unexplainable!

Growing up, we didn't get much snow....maybe a few inches at the most, that I can remeber. I do remember that it snowed on my 16th birthday! I drove down to the beach and it was covered in snow! You don't see that very often! I am still not used to the cold weather here...nor do I think I ever will! The negative temps just beat up your body! Especially my back!

For those of you that don't know, I have had 2 back surgeries to repair a bulging disc....both surgeries have failed and I am in mild pain all the time. September was 2 years since I hurt my back.....but it really seems like yesterday. During the winter, the pain seems to increase so much that I have to take the pain pills again....I dred taking them! I have not had to take any meds for my back since April of this year! I am hoping that this winter won't be so bad...pain wise.

On to another note, for Christmas, Cameron got me a treadmill that I have been asking for! I am hoping to drop anywhere from 20-30lbs! I would LOVE to get back into my pre-pregnancy jeans! ...they are still in my closet! Hopefully dropping some weight will help with my back issues. I am not fat, but I do have some extra padding that I can't wait to get off!

....off to the laundry I go! I hope you all have a great day!