Catching Up

Greetings!

It seems forever since I've sat down to update. I'll just say we've been "preoccupied"!!

It has been VERY cold here in Oregon this week. Monday night the temperatures dropped to below zero....the first ever since we have lived here. As I was showering on Tuesday morning before I went to work, I realized it was merely a trickle....and mentioned it to Bill, and it turned out that the well side of the pipe before the pressure tank was frozen. The only water we had was what was in the pressure tank....which is why I had a low pressure shower. However, I was very thankful for the shower. The rest of the family did without water until late afternoon. Praise God as we only did without water, and had no damage. We did put a heater in the pump shed, and wrapped up some pipes. A more permanent fix is in the future.

Last weekend Bill & I got away to Elizabeth St Inn in Newport. It was our traditional Christmas shopping weekend. The weather was cold but sunny and beautiful. Our room had a beautiful view of the ocean and Yaquina Head Light House. We spent Friday doing some shopping, and of course hitting our favorite place to eat, Gracies Sea Hag.

Saturday was a lazy day, and we enjoyed the sunshine and finished up some Christmas shopping.

Sunday we headed home, and stopped on the way to celebrate Alexis' birthday. She turned 9 this last week (we share a day apart birthday), and after a yummy lunch, and some birthday festivities, we headed home to pick up Kristin from Grandma Alice's and settle in for the afternoon to get some lessons prepared for this week and for Bill to study for finals.

This last week has been full of finals for Bill (which, we are waiting for grades, but confident that he did very well--his grades thus far have been A's--Yahoo for Bill), we are very proud of him, and the hard work he's put in this term. Now he has until the 4th off to take a break from studying, and to get some long awaited projects done.

Hoping to get our Christmas letter done this weekend. It's been a struggle to get things in order! The kids & I have gotten some of the decorating done, and we need to do the tree yet.....but it was frozen in the bucket, and Bill was able to get it out, and chip off some of the ice, but we have a ways to go before it can come in! Too funny. Guess we've been spoiled living where it never usually goes below freezing!

Until next time....