Making & Baking & Shaking...

... on the sprinkles. We got together with Grandma, Aunt Jody, and the boys to make, bake and decorate sugar cookies. Because the weather was so awful, we were unable to make the cookies before Christmas. But, the cookies taste just as good after Christmas as before!!

Christmas Fun!

We had a fun Christmas despite Aayla being sick. She made out pretty good this year. She got her very first doll house... Dora of course! She was almost speechless when she unwrapped it...

Aayla and Owen enjoying Christmas dinner at Aunt Marcia's house.

My best attempt to get a picture of all four in front of the tree.

Aayla and Owen dancing to the singing snowman.

Happy New Year from the Jensen's!!

Merry Christmas!

This is the holiday picture we had taken of Aayla and her cousins. I don't know how the photographer did it... I have never gotten all four of them looking at the camera with cute faces! We had a nice Christmas eve celebration with family. Unfortunately, Aayla came down with a nasty virus yesterday morning. She was such a trooper last night, but I'm afraid she is paying for it today...She has been sleeping on the couch all day. :( Poor thing is even too sick to enjoy any of her new toys. Needless to say, it has been a very quiet Christmas Day thus far. Merry Christmas to all!!

It's Snow Joke

We are still surrounded by snow and ice with more in the forecast for tomorrow. Don and I dug out my car to chain it up only to find out we had the wrong size chains. Major bummer. Don walked over a mile and a half (one direction) in the blizzardy weather to get them. On a brighter note, Aayla loved falling in the snow. She would break the half inch thick ice layer and trip and fall into the snow face first and laugh and be so excited. She's tripping on the snow.

Here's my barely visible car...

Arctic Blast.... Seriously!

We now have at least 10 inches of snow on the ground. On top of all that snow is a 1/4 inch of solid ice. We tested the strength of the ice by sending Aayla's red Radio Flyer tricycle down the driveway. This is a very solid little bike, weighing in at a little over 20 pounds. Watch the video to see what we are dealing with here. I am still hopeful that we can make it to Vancouver for Christmas. When we took these video and pictures, it was raining ice pellets. As I end this blog, it is snowing heavily again.

This is the layer of ice on top of the snow (before the freezing rain shower).

This picture is from last night and we have at least 3+ inches more now.



Even more snow and ice on the car now.



Mr. Frog is slowly losing the battle...

Winter Wonderland Take 2

We continue to have stormy winter weather here in the great Northwest. More is expected this weekend and next week. Because we do not get this type of weather too often, the city is not the best at getting roads cleared (especially neighborhood streets). We do not have any form of traction devices for my car and so Aayla and I have been stuck at home all week. We are a bit tired of being at home and can't wait until we get to visit Grandma, Aunt Jody, and the boys next week for Christmas. It looks like we will be having a white Christmas this year. Aayla has been enjoying the snow, especially helping Daddy make Mr. Snowman.

Don and Mr. Snowman having a cold one, in the cold one.



Here's a little video of Aayla trying to catch snowflakes...

Winter Wonderland

It's been snowing non-stop since about 8:00 this morning. The temperature has dropped to 26 degrees and they expect it to get down to 16 tonight and even colder on Monday. Brrr!!! I know that other places get much colder than this, but for us, it's pretty cold and stormy. Luckily, we have a nice warm house to enjoy the wintery weather in...

Aayla and Daddy bundling up.

Aayla had a blast catching snowflakes.

A Visit From Grandma And Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa Jensen came all the way from Tucson, Arizona for a visit this past weekend. Aayla had a wonderful time playing and talking with them! It was an early Christmas for Aayla (and us!) as she opened her very first gifts of the season.

A brand new Radio Flyer tricycle!! Aayla was so cute trying to help Daddy put it together...



The finished product and one happy girl!





THANKS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA FOR EVERYTHING!!
WE LOVE YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!!

All Dressed Up

Don and Santa's little helper ready to party!

Swimmin On Up...

Aayla recently moved up to the next skill level in swim class. Instead of singing and playing water acclimation games, she is now learning how to swim. She still loves swim class, although her favorite part is the last 5 minutes when she is allowed to play in the "baby" pool. Here's a picture of her and all her swim buddies sitting on the bench.

Here's Aayla practicing with her teacher Jonathon.

Aayla jumping into the "baby" pool to Daddy.