Christmas Pictures!!!

So I'm working on my photography skills, in hopes that some day in the future I'll be able to star doing it as a career? How fun would that be. So I embarked on my annual Christmas picture taking for the year. The kids did pretty good as far as sitting still, and doing their best to look at the camera. They are less than cooperative with my practicing anymore.

We were also able to get some good family shots in! We had fun taking on that task, for sure.


But my most favorite of all the ones I took, which is making it's appearance on our Christmas cards! They look SO adorable. Maddie and her sweet and innocent face and oh so precious smile, and Ethan with his very handsome face. He's becoming such a big boy!


Merry Christmas from the Porter family, and a VERY happy New Year!

The Porter's take on Christmas in the Grove!

As an annual tradition that we are trying to keep up on, the Porter's made their way out on a cold Saturday morning to visit Christmas in the Grove. This year was not it's best for turn outs, considering it was the same day as the Civil War, but we did our best to have as much fun as possible. We started with the "Sleigh" ride through Forest Grove. Horse and carriages carried us through the streets of old town Forest Grove. The kids were able to pet the horses, and looked forward to their wonderful winter adventure! Maddie LOVED riding in the carriage!



Then we headed out to some of the local stores who were participating, and were able to make some fun Christmas arts and crafts projects. At a local wine shop, they were making Reindeer out of wine corks, and pipe cleaners. Super cute, and super fun to make. Ethan LOVED making these. Amazingly enough it has not been destroyed, and he is still playing with it as we speak.


Then we headed over to the local scrap booking shop, where they got to make fun little "note" books that spell out the word "Love" - - I think grandma and myself had more fun making these than the kids actually did.

We also got a frame matte and crayons from a local framing shop, for the kids to decorate. I have some fun ideas of what we're going to do with that!

Later that night, we headed out with Grandma Christopherson and cousin Kellen to watch the annual Christmas Light parade in Forest Grove. It was so cold and crisp, that we had to bundle the kids up! Ethan and Maddie rode in their Radio Flyer, covered in layers and blankets, and enjoyed having the parade participators walk up and throw candy in their wagon. It was a very sweet gesture of so many of them to do. Then, about half way through the parade we headed back to Grandma Monica's house, watching the remainder of the parade as it passed by us, wishing all a very Merry Christmas, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner of pizza and salad with grandma. All in all, I'd say it was a great day of Christmas celebrations.

Other events that we have in store, Zoolights, Winter Wonderland at the Portland International Raceway, and hopefully Storybook Lane in Dilley, if it's open this year!