winter piano recital

the kids had their piano recital tonight....they have been practicing hard and all the hard work paid off, they did really well.  they played two duets songs together (good king wenceslas and jingle bells).  and then riley played a couple solos (the first was his improve of carol of the bells and the second was rocking around the christmas tree).   hopefully the link below works for the video so you can enjoy the performance, but just in case i added a few pictures as well....enjoy!!                 http://youtu.be/-V9LPaUZsXM  (duet)   http://youtu.be/txiYRuPNZyg  (riley's solo)  

we were pretty proud parents tonight. 

the most wonderful (and busy) time of the year

the holiday season has been as usual very very full.  here are some of the highlights.   early snow (right before thanksgiving technically but who's keeping track really) with some fun sledding...

     ....the hood river tree lighting (and first santa sighting)

      .....breakfast with santa

     .....tree decorating

  ....cookie making and decorating

     so far so wonderful...and of course there is more to come!!

soccer

it's now december and i realized i never got around to posting a few pictures of the fall soccer season.  riley played on the travel team this year.  he had a great season.  historically a striker, he tried things at the opposite end and played goalie as well.  he actually did really well in both positions, sometimes saving goals and scoring goals in the same game.    the season ended mid-november and riley is already looking forward to next season...

   the boy loves this game.....it was so much fun to watch him play!!!!

october

october was a big month with lots of adventures and visitors....and don't forget that fun little holiday on the last day of the month.     there was mushroom (chantrelles) hunting...

  a very short visit from grandpa dierker and grandma lynn but we managed to sneak in the pumpkin patch when they were here 

...we had our friends the chowns and the glatters over for some pumpkin carving

  ....then a visit from grandma judy.   we celebrated her birthday while she was here.

...another adventure in mushroom hunting.

....some pre-halloween scenes.  simba sunning herself in front of our halloween decorations. and a little bobbing for apples. 

....and of course the big day.  lucy was a beautiful peacock. 

riley was his favorite soccer star lionel messi (in his argentina uniform). 

we had a wonderful time trick or treating.  

it was a happy halloween!!  

hope your october was full of fun as well.

yellowstone part two

okay here is yellowstone part two.....   so a blog post about yellowstone wouldn't be complete without some shots of the wildlife.  lots of beastly bison, a few majestic elk and one of riley laying on his belly looking at wolves through his binocs (big highlight...huge!).

the sweeping landscape was stunning...i can only image what the views looked like when the plains were full of animals.

   ....the last day we spent in canyonlands of yellowstone with amazing views and waterfalls. there were a few hikes, one down to the river (that's me and the kids down there)

 ....one hike lets you stand right on top of the waterfall.

 ....the view downstream

and upstream.....

.....and on the other side of the canyon you can hike down (some 308 steps...we counted) and get gorgeous views of the lower falls.  you can even see all the people at the top of the falls.

the final stop that day was artist's viewpoint which is understandably one of the most photographed spots.  

 overall a really wonderful trip.  we have been home now for over a month but just looking at these pictures warms my heart.