Part 2 of 2 (Finally).....

Ahhh, finally, my part 2 of 2.  These start in October of 2010 and end about three days ago.  We had a lot of fun during our first holidays together and while I don't have pictures of everything, I tried to include all the events I've got on camera.

On the 23rd of December we went to Mt. Hood for some tubing at Skibowl.  We had a lot of fun and look forward to doing it again next year.  My brother, best friend Derick and I stayed late after the girls went home to do some night skiing/boarding.  It was a lot of fun while it lasted, which wasn't long, because I fell pretty hard and knew right away something was wrong.  ***WARNING***  I'll spare you the literary details, but wanted you to know there's some x-rays and "body shots" about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way through.  I apologize for the repetition if some of you have seen these already, as I've posted them other places.

So, here we go...   Starting with Halloween time!  Enjoy!!!

October, obviously...  why would you carve pumpkins any other month?

Fatima, scraping out her pumpkin's guts.  She enjoyed every second of it.

Fatima's finished gourd.  She wanted a "happy" looking pumpkin, not a scary one.

Fatima and her finished work.

Maria's masterpiece.  She wanted a "scary" looking pumpkin.

Maria and her finished work.

Valerie, cutting out the mouth and getting "just the right angle" to maximize light output.

Deep in thought.  The designs just come to her, no forethought necessary.

A table full of guts...  three pumpkins worth.

The finished products, on the "test table".

Outside, on the porch.  Very nice.

Fatima and her good friend Avery were both Fairies for Halloween.
Avery was the Tooth Fairy, and Fatima was Tinkerbell's Cousin.

In November on a "business trip" to College Station, TX, I passed through 

Caldwell County.  Wonder if we've got family there?

Unfortunately "Valerie Ln" is just outside Caldwell County.
It would be REALLY cool if it were IN Caldwell County.

Of course, Caldwell County does have a Caldwell Rd.

I stopped by the Co-op Bookstore at the University of Texas in Austin.

"Bevo" the Longhorn is in a lot behind the bookstore.  "Bevo" is about

10 feet tall at the tip of the horns, by my best judgement.

This is going to be my new FB profile shot.  Actually, while staying at my

Brother-in-law's house in Texas I decided to put on my Niece's hat.

I'm B-E-A-utiful!!!

This wasn't the MOST snow we got at the end of the year, but it was the 

FIRST  dusting, and the girls HAD to go outside and have a picture taken.

The Oregon Zoo has a "Zoo Lights" production every Christmas season.

This year the girls took a friend of theirs from school.

The girls on the train that makes a loop by many of the displays.

Outside the petting zoo at another display.

Fatima and her friend inside the petting zoo.  Maria wasn't too keen on it this time.

The "Gingerbread House".

Fatima LOVES penguins, and we couldn't leave without a picture of her and

the Penguins!

At a raised portion of walkway, overlooking a large display.

Another portion of display from the raised walking path.

Outside the gift-shop there is a large stuffed bear we HAD
to get a picture of.

The top of the "singing" christmas tree at Woodburn Company Stores.

At the base of the singing tree was our GREATEST

Christmas gifts!

Maria wanted to get inked, so we told her it had to be
girly...

She chose a very tasteful "tribal" like dolphin.

On 23DEC10 we took my brother and the girls to Mt. Hood's Skibowl and
went tubing.  We had a lot of fun and look forward to going again sometime.

Me, Valerie, Fatima and Maria at the top of the tubing run.  The last day I
didn't need metal permanently affixed to my skeleton (more on that later).

Christmas Eve, in their Christmas Jammies, by the tree (obviously).

Our tree after Santa came to visit.

Not sure why this is so blurry.  Maybe Fatima is just "that fast".  Opening
her stocking Christmas morning.

Maria, and the contents of her stocking.

Me and my injured self, enjoying the fun (as much as
painfully possible)!!!

Valerie must have ended up on the "naughty list" this
last year.  She got some coal in her stocking.

Not sure why we didn't have any pictures of the girls opening
their gifts (maybe cause Mommy was handing them out and
Daddy was broken), however, this is the "haul".

I wonder who these belong to?  Fatima got a Penguin
"pillow pet" and "Fur-real" baby penguin.

My take for the day.  Don't remember if I was faking being
asleep, was too tired, or just plain drugged up.  The girls
did the layout and mommy took the pictures.

Mommy (Valerie) and her haul for the year.

The four of us at a good friend's New Years party.

Long story short.  23DEC10 I fell snowboarding and broke my collarbone.
This picture shows the bruising on my left side, and the obvious disfigurement.

A closer shot of the bruising, at it's worst.  Never got black and blue, but the
"bump" between my neck and shoulder is the end of the bone sticking up.

The upper left part of the x-ray shows the broken bone.  Ouch.

Titanium plate and 9 screws (2 horizontal and 7 vertical).

The "zipper" scar left from the incision and 16 staples (which were removed
the 17th of January).

Grandma Bev came to visit, and although both girls ADORE "little guy" he's
too small and old to try and get on the top bunk with Maria.

Our Kung Fu kids before Rank testing in December.

Our girls were doing so well in their Kung Fu class they were asked to "audition"
for the "Black Belt Club".  They had to perform in front of the entire testing group.

Fatima, proudly showing her third testing stripe (red) allowing her to get her
Orange belt.

Maria, showing off her stripes.

Maria, performing with the other "graduates" in January.

Fatima, performing at graduation.

Our official notice the girls were accepted into the Black Belt Club was at
graduation where they were called in front of the entire group.

Fatima, Sifu Steve Larson, Maria, and Mr. Jimmy.  The girls were given
trophies for being accepted and advancing into the Black Belt Club.

It's mah Birt-day.

Hard to tell, but no, I'm not 3 years old anymore.

Maria, learning a new technique with the "Bo" staff.

The Black Belt Club, taking a knee for Mr. Jimmy.

Fatima, rejoining the group after putting her Bo away.

The girls love Kung Fu and their new Red Gis.

We considered sending her to school like this, which
is why she isn't smiling very big.

With her hair done, showing off the toothless smile we love so much!

The girls, ready and waiting to head out the door for school!

I had just finished putting some "grip tape" on the girl's Kung Fu bos and
put the blue tape I was using as a guide on Fatima's forehead.  I thought it
made for a great silly photo.

Of course, Fatima thought I would look even better with TWO pieces of tape.

It was only a few days ago that Fatima lost her other front tooth and is now
"toof-wess".

I know I've missed some things here, but with everything going on and the huge amounts of pictures I had to sort through, this is the best I could do.  I know there were other things that happened between October 2010 and three days ago, but these are the images I have.

We hope you enjoy our updates (which will hopefully come more frequently) and thank you all for stopping by!