Home Sweet Home

It was an unusually clear day on Sunday when we flew out of Portland, OR on our way back to Colorado. There were four peaks visible which we think (but are not certain) are: Hood, St. Helens, Rainier, and Adams.

Well, I'm not so sure about the sweet part of the title, as we were all pretty sad to leave the Pacific Northwest, but it is nice to be back in our own space after two weeks of travelling. We spent Christmas day and the week before with my whole family at my older sister's house near Portland. The day after Christmas we headed up to Washington where we rented a house in West Seattle for the week and got to visit with Pat's family in Tacoma and our friends in Seattle. There were of course a few bumps (we may or may not have brought some sort of 24 hour stomach bug with us to Portland), but overall it was a really great trip.

It's been kind of crazy since we got back with trying to get the house organized again (Christmas stuff is still up and it's driving me crazy!), a bunch of appointments on Monday, and then me having minor dental surgery yesterday. I now have a shiny new front tooth to replace the one I ran into a parking meter with when I was eight years old. I never thought I'd say this, but, please--no. more. ice cream.

Anyway, so for now here are a few very random iPhone photos. Will hopefully be getting to the others this week!

Niamh & her new cousin Ila

Disgruntled Ila B.

Christmas tree at the Pittock Mansion

Another Christmas scene at the Pittock Mansion

To Seattle!!!

Muriel at the Museum of Flight

While in Seattle Muriel attached herself to our friend Jay



Waiting to get into the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Pacific Science Center

Ready for Santa!

Back Home!

Golden Gate Bridge

Goat Rock Beach, CA

Half Moon Bay, CA

We returned Sunday afternoon from our Thanksgiving weekend visiting Pat's family in California. There were a few bumps, such as the kids not going getting to bed until midnight (CO time) on Tuesday night due to airplane issues and me getting another round of strep throat. I'm also pretty sure Niamh was feverish for a few days. In spite of all that it was a pretty good trip. Most of the photos I took are all still on my camera; these are from my iPhone. We are slowly, slowly getting back to normal here, so hopefully I can get some more pictures up this week.

Fun With Uncle Mike

A few weekends ago (actually, the same weekend we went to see Thomas) Uncle Mike came to town for one last fling before he becomes a father.

It was a great weekend! The kids had fun with Thomas, picnics, stomp rockets, and playing (or pestering. It's a fine line.) with Uncle Mike. And I believe a good time was also had by the big boys, revisiting favorite college past times.

Weekend in Portland, OR

A few weeks ago my mom, two sisters, and I gathered in Portland to celebrate the impending arrival of the newest Winchell Sister baby. My sister Amanda and brother-in-law Mike are expecting their first baby in November and we are all SO excited! We had a great weekend sans-enfants. There was a lot of laughter, good conversation, relaxation, and of course fantastic food.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. I'm afraid there aren't a whole lot because I wasn't really in the picture taking mood. Sometimes it's nice to just focus on being in the moment rather than recording the moment.

Heehee! I saw this on some photo blog (can't remember which one now), and Amanda humored me and let me try it out on her.

pampering at The Barefoot Sage

donuts being made at Moody's Donuts

basketful of hot donuts--the best I've ever had!

shelves of artisan salts at The Meadow

Weekend In Seattle

At the beginning of this month I was able to spend a wonderful, but all too short, weekend in Seattle. Had breakfast with my parents, got to hang out in Ballard with friends, finally met a sweet baby that had been born while we were in Switzerland, and-the point of the whole trip-attended a baby shower for my dear friend Eve. I'm afraid that I came back to Colorado fairly homesick. But I'm so glad that we are at least close enough to the west coast now to be able fly over for events like this!

my mom at Señor Moose
(wishing I had thought to get a picture of both my parents!)

sweet baby Corbin

house in Ballard

at the Ballard Farmer's Market

Eve

More pictures can be found on Flickr.