cold snap!

Oh my, can you say cold.

Bill & I drove home tonight from dinner at good friends' home. This is the temp on the car, it's only 9:30 p.m. I can not imagine how low it is going to get tonight! We have the faucets with exteriors pipes on slow drip and will be very bundled in bed. 

We are used to cold, but not this cold.

Stay Warm (o:

-leila

xoxo

changes

I admit, I have been very frustrated with lack of consistency in my posts. I have the hardest time figuring out how to make the type always be the same! Grrrrrr

I was inspired by paper's blog, she has made some really nice changes. If you have not figured out yet, she is very creative and talented. I confess I copied her and made some changes also. I think they are nice, new and refreshing. So enjoy o.k.

I still have not figured out how to set my font! Oh well it was something to do on a lazy Saturday while Bill worked. (He is doing some ahead catch up because I am stealing him away for a long weekend very soon)!

An Eagle!

It has actually been sunny the last few days, which I always enjoy. It makes me want to get outside and walk Sophey. The cold and ice are still here and I admit to a couple of slips (tennis shoes and ice, not a good mix) so I am a little bruised but I have really enjoyed being able to walk into town again.

This morning Bill had to go into work so I decided to take Sophey into town for a few errands. We went to the bank, the pet store (for a nice new leash) and to the market for a few groceries (Laura is home for the weekend and has been grumbling at the lack of food). It was such a pleasant walk, I really enjoy interacting with the merchants in this small town, it's a friendly place.

The really exciting part happened on our way home. There has been a dead squirrel on the road for 2 days now (poor guy, I think a car got him). As we were approaching this fluffy grey dead guy a HUGE, and I mean HUGE bird descended down and picked him up with his talons then instantly swooped back up. It took me a few second to get my bearings then I realized. It was an Eagle. I shouted to Sophey, "Sophey that's an Eagle, A Bald Eagle" several times. I had to tell someone! She just looked nervous, he WAS a big, BIG bird. He then flew off over Squaw Creek back towards our old house. I just kept saying. "that's an Eagle", wishing someone (other than Sophey) would've seen him. He was magnificent! 

I had always thought I had seen a Bald Eagle a few times at our old house on the creek. It was always through all the trees but I was pretty sure there was nest a there someplace. Well now I am sure, because that is exactly where he headed.

It was exciting. Only in Central Oregon I suppose. I called Bill and told him. He was excited for me. His next thought was, "Hey maybe we could somehow knock Griffey out for a bit and just go lay her on the road...." Poor kitty, so unloved.

Well I didn't have a camera )o: So no pic of 'Baldy'. Here is Griffey though, she looks knocked out, she is not. This is just how she spends her winters, cooking herself. She does get out more in the summer.

Hugs

-lgc

Our Family

I do know it has been awhile since I have posted. Life was busy, so busy... Kid's home, our Christmas, end of year stuff for BrandNav, frantically getting the house ready to put on the market...

It was nice having the kids home. I enjoyed it so much. I was frustrated, I had not prepared very well and that bothered me. From being so sick to being gone. I just kinda blew it meal wise and felt bad. I guess I will always be a mom no matter how grown they are. Things like that are just important to me and I felt a failure.... Good grief!

Anyway Christmas was great, lots of wonderful and special gifts! We then had a brisk walk to the Mexican (a personal favorite) for lunch. It was a bit cold for the 'California Kids'. It's funny I always consider myself a California wimp when it comes to our weather, but with these guys being home I realize I am very acclimated to our climate compared to them. The SoCal boy struggled the most. Then trying to convince Joe something other than flip flops would really be more pleasant. kids.....

Laura a wise Oregonian understands the reason to wear Uggs.

The next day it was off to The Deschutes Brewery for a tasting and tour! It was fun and interesting. We learned a lot about beer why there are so many differences. We tasted some yummy beer and had a great time, it was a bit of a bummer for Michael and Laura being the only people on the tour under 21. They handled it well and the tour guide continually encouraged them (especially Laura, she's a cute girl you know) that their day would come, soon enough!

Our entire family is ALWAYS taking pictures! Good ones too. You should look at their photo sites. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperelephant

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krishansen

Michael, very proud to be a Disney Cast Member, shows no shame in wearing his 'Finding Nemo' hat. Interesting.... he does not work on that attraction, I guess coveting and gaining other costumes is a Disney Cast member thing. hmmm...... Is that in the Walt & Mickey spirit??

Nope, no beer for you two!

My daughter, I love her porcelain skin, she is beautiful.

O.K. so I just have to show, these four are really into their cell phones. It just seems to be a thing with the generation these days.... 3 iPhones and a Voyager, spoiled... Notice Laura. still snarling over the lack of beer! College kids.....

Bill not a dark beer lover is a bit trepidatious at the tasting. He is so funny and cautious while the rest of the family is gleefully thinking, "Woo Hoo four FREE beer tastes"!

A cute pic of Wil & Kris, waiting outside of Banana Republic while Heidi and I frantically look  for bargains.

There was a lot of cockapoo action. Even a drag down that drew Bella's blood. Mean Sophey! She was pretty ashamed... Here they are gazing at the ball under the chair, "oh so challenging".

Some things about Heidi have not changed a bit. This reminded me so much of when she was a little girl. I had to take a picture. In her own world, reading.....

Wil turned 23 while he was here in Oregon. Happy Birthday to you Wil! My handsome very grown up and mature son.

O.K. So I am done for now. Finally...

Also, although the house is spic and span and ready to list. We are not going to do it. Gee big surprise there. Same ole same ole... How can we give up our nice home we built for so cheap and get so much less in Bend?!?!? I really do not think the struggle/issue is over, I don't think it will ever be! Unless someone figures out how to move us someplace warm! 

It is getting into the teens tonight. How many times an I say brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Under His Mercy & Grace

L

New Years Day

"How does Bella do that?"

We played fetch with the cockapoos for at least a half an hour (from the hot tub). We tried very hard to get it to land on the frozen pond to see if they would venture out onto it. Bella was brave Sophey was amazed at Bella's ability to walk on water and was not so brave.

We found 2 things. It is impossible to get a ball to bounce from the snow onto the pond. It is impossible to keep a ball from bouncing off of a frozen pond onto the snow. 

Heidi always the good sport, is compelled to find the dogs ball that is lost in the snow.

"I got it! Again...."

Waiting for Christmas....

The snow has been very nice this week.

We have a very sweet Woodstock Nest in one of our trees. It's precious.

You may notice in the previous post, we still have gifts under our tree! We have yet to celebrate Christmas.

We are all anxiously awaiting it. Heidi, Joe and Kristen (she is at her families right now) came in this weekend. Wil gets in tonight and then Michael tomorrow night. Then we will have Christmas finally on Thursday. We are excited to have all our family together and have been enjoying the White Christmas Season. We have had lots of snow and lots of cold! It was 8 last night.

It is pretty here, we like the weather like this when it's so pretty! (o:

Happy New Year

xoxo

Leila and Bill

Happy New Year!

Happy 2008 to everyone!

We hope your New Year is happy and good!

Bill and I had a very fun time last night having dinner with another couple then we went and practiced our very rusty ballroom dance skills. It was fun to go out for a change for the New Year (a first for us) and to get dressed up. We had a fun date together.

Love Bill & Leila