Portland is the Land of Ice and Snow

And we are making the best of it. We have had an amazing past couple of days, filled with lots of things winter and Christmas.

SATURDAY
Saturday we headed to the North Pole, or Pioneer Place Mall as the locals call it, to meet Santa for the very first time. Liam reacted as we expected he would, OK while we waited



and then terror once we got too close

Is it mean to hope that we would get this reaction? I mean, there is something about a picture of a kid crying on Santa's lap, am I right??

After Santa we decided to take advantage of the very few people out downtown and walk around. We went to Pioneer Square Mall to see the big tree

and walked around a little before Liam turned into a little Popsicle.

SUNDAY
We woke up and realized it had snowed all night so we were not going anywhere. The news said that we had about 8 inches in Portland and I don't think there has ever been the much while I have lived here (13 years). The good news is that there is a perfect hill for sledding one block up. So we bundled up Liam
and headed off.

Sean took the first run with Liam

After three sled runs and some walking around it was time to head home

Now to prepare for Christmas, let's hope the weather allows for us to pick up our last couple of things for dinner and that Grams and Gramps Taylor make it in from Colorado Springs.

In the meantime....

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TAYLORS!!!!

Long Time No Blog

I apologize if this post seems a little random, only because if something we have done lately pops into my head I want to get it down on paper. Only, nothing is coming to me right now......

Portland has been hit by an arctic blast. For those of you in MI, it's a typical winter day. But Portland is not used to that so better to close things down than trust people driving. So that is what happens. Portland goes silent until the storm passes. We are supposed to get hit with 2-4 inches Wed evening. Again, let me preface, that is BIGTIME here, in a city that uses dirt for traction, not salt.

Sean was in Breckenridge last weekend. He was meeting up with Adam and Jay, some close friends from UofM. Jay had to back out last minute, he is some high hifalutin banker guy but Adam was still in so off Liam and I sent Sean. Sounds like they had a great time skiing.

In the meantime Liam and I ran errands on Saturday and took a nice walk. Sunday was when the storm started so we were house bound the entire day. See, I bought boots for Liam but he SCREAMED whenever I put them on. His way of telling me that that ain't gonna happen!

The company I work for had some layoffs and benefit cuts but the good news is I still have a job!! I am very thankful for that.

Liam is not talking yet but loves to point at something and say that. He recently had started to spin in circles in the living room and laugh when he realizes he is dizzy. Liam and Emmett are getting along great now that Liam lets Emmett lick the food off his face. And Liam LOVES LOVES LOVES books!! YEAH!

We have Grams and Gramps Taylor coming in to spend Christmas with us so we are very much looking forward to that. Sean is busy planning the menu and I follow Liam around making sure he isn't destroying the house. I wish I had more to tell ya but as a rabbit once said. "That's all folks". For now.

Tennis Anyone?

Thanksgiving is a distant memory, it's below freezing outside and you have plenty of energy - what do you do? Tennis of course. Liam found an open court (imagine that) when we spent the holiday at Black Butte Ranch in central Oregon.

Channeling the raw fury of Boris Becker and the relentlessness of Ivan Lendl, Liam quickly had his da-da running all over the court just trying to stay in the game. There were many calls that the two of us didn't agree upon, sometimes generating long discussions on the rules of tennis.




But as everyone knows its best to respect your fellow opponent and as the match progressed we saw evidence of this, including small exchanges of pleasantries at the net.



All in all, it was a great game. Who says you can't play tennis in November.

A Visit from Nana and Poppa Joe

We had a great time and the weather behaved perfectly!! Mom and Dad flew out on a Wed night and Sean and I took some time off work to enjoy the time with them. We had a great time going on walks, an afternoon at the Children's Museum, an adult dinner out and playing around the house with Liam. We were sad to see them go but will see them again this summer at the Lake House in Michigan. Thank you Merritt's for flying to Portland to spend time with us!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Here we are at the 2 and under area at the Children's Museum

Here is where Mom and I thought that Dad and Sean might be having a little more fun than Liam

Liam's favorite was the water area. He was VERY upset when we decided it was time to move to a new area. That kid could have stayed there all day!

(anybody notice Sean in the background playing too?)

The last stop of the day was the tree house. This was a great picture taking opportunity.



Liam with his Nana and Poppa Joe

The Big Day, Halloween 08!

So in case you didn't know, Liam was a Lion this year. We didn't take him begging but we did dress him up and let him run our block to show off his cuteness.

Our neighbors also love the holiday and show their fun Halloween spirit.

Pumpkin for the Pumpkin

Every trick or treating friendly house needs a good Jack-O-Lantern so we had ours, compliments to Sean and his helper Liam.

Sean and Liam Love the Fall

and all the leaves that come with it.

Blogging Break

We are having our basement painted so the main blogging terminal is out of commission. For all of you Liam fans (and we know there are a bunch), the Halloween images will be forthcoming. In the meantime, Sean is in Las Vegas helping his company expand into new and interesting markets by manning a booth at the APPEX/SEMA show. Last night I went to Texas de Brazil for dinner with a co-worker and his wife. The place is awash in different kinds of meat, all being thrust upon you by strolling Brazilian meat carvers. The place was interesting but after you gorge yourself full of 5 different kinds of steak, the allure wears off fast. The same thing can be said of the city as a whole, there are just so many days in a row you can wake up and walk through smoke filled casinos to get to your job - - Ahhh Vegas, let's not meet again for a very long time.

Fall in Portland

Liam has a thing for leaves. We hope the weather holds up some more for him to enjoy a nice big pile to jump in.

And even when he has a bad day, and puts Mom and Dad through the ringer, somehow his laughs makes everything all right again.

A Typical Sunday Morning in the Taylor House

I think this about sums it up quite nicely,

After Mom and Dad clean up all the 'fun' then we actually run around the house and play with toys.

From My Baby to A Little Boy

Today was Liam's first haircut! We went to a great place called LITTLE CLIPPERS, they only do children's hair. This place was awesome, the toys, the balloons, the distractions. Well Liam had no interest in sitting in a super cool VW Bug to get his haircut so that meant Mom's lap.

I think Sean summed up the experience the best when he said, "I didn't get any pictures of Liam smiling but I did get some of him not crying." It was not horrible but I don't think he much cared for it. The lollipop was a solution for about 5 minutes.



I was so preoccupied with Liam that it didn't hit me until it was all over, the tears came for me when I was paying. He no longer looks like my baby!!!



Introducing the new, I can't believe this is my BABY, Liam Taylor......

And if the pictures aren't enough, enjoy the video, it's like you were there.

Pumpkin Patch 08

The past weekend was awesome! Weather, events, friends, everything you can ask for. Saturday was the Pumpkin Patch with the Brislins.

Take a good look people because you are seeing the future Mrs. Liam Taylor, and man is she a smarty! She has the greatest Lion, Lizard and Fish you have every heard. Liam was very generous in his hugs and kisses for Ava...That's my boy!

Needless to say that Sean found the perfect pumpkin and was one happy boy himself

and Liam could not have been any cuter if he tried!

Grace Ellis

A BIG HELLO TO GRACE ELLIS!!! Thank you so much for reading our blog about Baby Liam, it makes it a lot of fun knowing people all over the country are reading it. Can you believe your Mom and I have known each other for 20 years!

Hunger Pangs

How do you know when your toddler is hungry? When he climbs into the refrigerator, pulls out a yogurt, puts it on his highchair and then attempts to climb into his highchair. That is your first clue.

The ankle is slowly getting better, the swelling is going down and the bruising is coming out, all signs of healing. Sean is out of town on business and my son Liam was a perfect angel last night. Perfect on the drive home, eating dinner, during bath time..the whole shabang. We have plans for the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday with friends, Annie McGinnis is having a 1 yr old birthday party on Sunday and then we have dinner plans with Tim and Julie and their son that evening (Tim and Sean were classmates at Cornell). When am I going to get the house decorated for fall??

The weekend festivities should provide some great photo opps so stay tuned.....

Cankle

This is what happens when you fall down the front steps.

I do not recommend it....

The Good News and Then the Bad News

The good news? Another fabulous weekend! Saturday Sean and I had a date, a date like he opened my door for me kinda date. We had a drink before dinner at a bar, went to our favorite but so not kid friendly Indian restaurant, and then over to the NW area of town and walked around. He held my hand, like a real date!!!

Sunday we headed to Philomath, OR. Why? Because Spindrift Cellars has a winery there and when your friend is invested in and works at a winery you go see him. Norm has been a good friend to Sean and I so we packed up Liam and made the journey. Liam slept for 30 minutes, not enough. We managed to get a tour of the winery, taste some excellent wines and brought some back for the Holidays.

The bad news? Emmett had to go to the vet today, he has been acting lethargic and walking weird and now we know why. Emmett ruptured a disc in his neck, they think. He has to have very limited activity including no stairs. Have you ever met Emmett, or seen our house? We cleaned up the garage, which thankfully was not that dirty and got him all set up out there. I feel horrible about this but know it is for the best. MY POOR BOY!!! If he is not feeling better in 1 week he has to go back to the vet and they will want to do an MRI on him. My poor dog has not had an easy life and it doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. Think good thoughts for Emmett!!!

Weekend Review

We had yet another fabulous weekend, thank you very much for asking. Saturday we had our friends Audrey, Tim, and their cutest, 10 month old, little girl Ava over for dinner. All those of you with children can appreciate this...We had dinner at 4:30! Sean made Indian food, Ava sat and played, Liam ran around poking people and whining. Oh, and he was fascinated with pulling out Ava's binky. Sometimes he got it back in, sometimes not and she would let us know when he missed. I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO BRING THE CAMERA OUT!

Sunday was a 'book club' with the girls, some great snacks and even better girl talk. After church the babysitter came over and Sean and I went out to Sushi! I dare anyone to find the last time Sean and I went to Sushi together sans Master Liam. Since it was a Sunday there was no wait (bonus), and sushi was so yummy (excellent). It only took an hour so the options were go home or find somewhere for a drink since we had the sitter for 2 hours. Going home was not going to be the option we choose. The first place was closed but we had a glass of wine at our second chance.

Some video Sean shot while I was at book club. Liam took a liking to the broom and instead of giving him ours and risk him knocking pictures off the wall we got one his size. Liam got a kick out of using the broom to make Sean dance.

My name is KIDDDDDD!

Busy busy busy last weekend, as least for Annie!

Friday was KUFO's Rockfest with bands like Five Fingers of Death and Rehab. Forget about them, I wanted to see the headliner Kid Rock. I know what you are going to say, "but Annie, you and Sean have already seen Kid Rock" but I couldn't help myself. Andrea, a friend from work also born in MI, is a big fan too, it was an outdoor venue, and there was stress to be released....and that we did. It was so fun. We skipped all the other 'bands', got there at 8:00, spent an hour in the beer tent and then Kid Rock came on at 9:00.

You see that white speck in front of the bright, white light? That's Kid Rock.

Saturday was the MICHIGAN vs ND football. No commenting necessary.
Saturday was our neighborhood block party! About 80% of the block participates so it is lots of fun and food. We left at about 6:45 because it was beddy-bye time for Liam. After getting him settled in the for the night I was off to the 5th Annual Maier Wine Tasting Party! So much fun. 12 bottles of wine, all from Washington, all tasty.

Sunday was a much welcomed day of rest. Or as much rest as you can get with an ever moving, curious one year old in the house.

Introducing Lily Grace Santos-Merritt

She was born on August 30, 2008 at 7:05 pm

Weighed in at 6 lbs 11 ounces

Length of 19 ¾ inches

She joins her big brother Ian as Chicago's newest Bears fan!!’

We love and miss you Steve, Clarita, Ian and Lily

Sunny Day

Another picture perfect day at the Oregon Coast.