Tis' The Season to Be....Sick!!!

Well - you've always known that I am a hip, with-it, trendsetter - and this year was no different as I was one of the first people to usher in the flu in Portland - yay!  No one had it when I got sick in early December, but now there are all sorts of articles about the epidemic arriving in Portland - so I was on the cutting edge! Before anyone worries too much we still had really nice, enjoyable holidays - we were just very sick. (That's right: we.  My special gift to Thor who felt the first symptoms on Christmas Eve). 

We were fortunate to get to spend time with family over the holidays anyways though. Mom, William, Sheri and Fred came over for Christmas - and the only flu casualty was William (sorry little bro!) I managed to capture some pictures of our veeeeery low key day. 

I actually think this is Xmas Eve. Abby and Lucy take up residence on the green couch with Sheri. 

The stockings we're hung by the chimney with care...

Our lovely tree that mom came over to help decorate when I wasn't feeling well. 

Christmas morning tradition! Arabic Date/Farina 'cookies' - not too sweet. 

Slowly getting moving Christmas morning. 

Don't forget Uncle Fred!

We kept the dogs busy munching on treats - there were four of them!

William and Thor showing me some Christmas stoke. This is right before Thor really started to head downhill. 

A gift that really make us laugh: custom his/hers Nutella jars! Mom and William got some too. Aunt Julie picked them up in London. Really fun!

I was impressed that my christmas table came out looking so festive. Domestic, wifely hosting skills = A+ (at least for this go around)!

And all filled up with Christmas cheer! William carves the prime rib like a pro! 

What's a family holiday without a little movie action? We were a slow crew - so we spent the day watching classics that not all of us had seen. A Christmas Story (you'll shoot your eye out!) in the afternoon, and A Princess Bride in the evening.

a day after christmas I started to feel peppier - so Will, Mom and I headed out to dinner. This is 12-hrs before William came down with the dreaded bug. 

New Year's Day. We were both feeling well enough that I dragged Thor out for breakfast at a tasty little fresh food cafe called Harlow. Doesn't he look sweet? It was a nice, relaxing, mellow way to kick off the New Year. 

Happy 2015 Everyone!

Thanksgiving in Baja

We had the greatest time in Baja for Thanksgiving with Anna and Dad! We had decent weather, swam with whale sharks, got to go out fishing - the only down side was Dad cracked his back the second day in when he was sitting on the deck and we dropped into a deep trough and then the deck came back up and smacked him. Ouch. It will heal, but a real bummer for sure!

  

It was a real treat getting to hang out with Anna on the boat - and we even caught some great fish too! Here are some pictures from the trip. 

Thor waits in the 90 customs line on the way into Mexico. 

Check out this crazy, narrow stairwell where we had breakfast on our first morning!

This papaya! They were so big there!

Thor- rolling down the Malecon when we switched from the hotel to Fisherman's Fleet on the second night. 

Anna- so cute! On our way to go swimming with whale sharks on Sunday afternoon. 

Success! Life dream complete. Anna swims with a whale shark!

On Monday we headed to Magdalena Bay for four days of fishing. Here's Thor playing the first fish. We had a lot of windy, choppy weather or first day. 

I fought the only marlin of the trip! It was probably about 100 lbs and soooo hard to real in. I was a little thankful when it broke off. I thought my biceps we're going to explode. 

Three banditos huddled for warmth on the run out to the fishing grounds. 

Sunrise view from camp. 

View of camp from the boat. We slept in the green house and ate under the grass-roofed area. 

Anna and Thor went out in the packraft looking for bait fish. 

Fortunately the fog burned off!

Me with a Sheepshead, and Thor with a Yellow Tail. 

Check out those gnarly teeth!

Snorkeling in the wide open, deep Pacific. Anna

 

Holiday Cheer! My Husband Loves Me.

This evening we were supposed to continue tiling the bathroom - but I got all nostalgic about the PIR bike lights and so  Thor decided we could put aside the work and head up to the track to ride around and partake in something festive. We barely made it - we squeaked in at 8:30 and were some of the last people on the track. We barreled around and sang The 12 Days of Christmas at the top of our lungs and had a great time. Xoxo -Thanks Thor!

Cutie pie!

One of the new light displays - there were quite a few more lights this year, but this wreath and poinsettias was my favorite. 

12 Drummers Drumming! Singing aloud as we ride along is one of my favorite holiday traditions!

 

October Overview

Happy Halloween! Here's a quick photo update of October:

Celebrated my birthday - 34 is going to be great!

Did some packrafting on the McKenzie River. 

Got in some high-country riding in Bend. 

Decided to start running at lunch again after over a year off - picked up some flashy new kicks that I am SURE make me run faster. :)

Gorgeous sunrises on the way to weekend adventures. 

Riding with great friends. 

A little more packrafting!

And the start of my third Whole 30!

Mmmm. Kalua Pork. Mmmm. You have to make it. so easy. Soooooo delicious. 

Elk burger with wilted kale, self-picked chanterelles, and homemade mayo (with avocado oil - so good). Yuuuum!