A Happy New Year shout out-

Just kickin' it at the house tonight, playin' it safe. My lil' thug Chase wants to wish everyone a happy and safe new year! Lots of love-

CHEERS-

The Beardmores

Christmas in Belfair

Christmas Day is our day to drive north to Belfair and see my mom and dad and family... this year we got an extra special present... new babies & 900 feet of snow! That's right, not just my baby Chasers... but Erika's baby Keegan too! He is SOOOOO cute! I always love getting to see my family and it makes me realize how very far away they actually live... (Kentucky...wah-wah!) 2ndly, we actually didn't make the drive up until the 26th because of the tremendous down pour of snow we had. Quite nice actually and even nicer, how quickly it all melted! I know I'm probably one of the few who loved it, some not so much, but hey- what are you gonna do? Can't control the weather eh?

Anyway, it was a very nice drive up and only a sprinkle of snow; to add to the foot and a half already on the ground. Great company and yummy food- I was so excited to give my mom her present I made her. I had been working on it since May and spent just over 70 hours creating it. It was a homemade calendar of all her kids, kids' spouses & grandkids with all their birthdays, the age they would be or anniversaries and the year to be celebrated in 2009. Rather than just print it out, I snapped pictures of all respective celebrators and pasted it on their special day. Hence the upwards of 70 hours... but so worth it. I think she loves it as much as I loved making it for her! This year I also finally got my dad a present he was excited to receive... cuz he is hard to shop for, so it was nice to see him like his lil' gift.

All in all- great year... great holiday and a great family I have! I feel very blessed. Hopefully the new year rings in great things for you and yours for all of 2009.

CHEERS!

Amber

Christmas in Vancouver

Christmas night is time with Nana & Bapa. We had a great time... yummy honey baked ham (who doesn' t love honey baked ham?) And it came with some dynamite honey turkey too, again... YUMMY! My Thanksgiving tradition of homemade mac-n-cheese (this year was the first year) was shifted to Christmas dinner, as there are already so many things to eat at the Thanksgiving feast, we pushed it back a few weeks.

Coopy got a basketball hoop that he loved, and continues to play with, but the show stopper was his garbage truck... which he proceeded to break not even 24 hours into ownership. What's he goin' to do with his first car when he's 16? Better get him a pinto :)

Hope your holiday was as happy and fulfilled as ours!

Much love-

AMBER

Christmas Eve MORNING-

Since tonight is Christmas with Nana & Bapa, tomorrow is hopefully (weather permitting) christmas with Grammie & Grandpa, we thought this morning would be a little festive with ourselves. We let the kids (ryan included :) Open stockings.

And yes... I know our stockings hung up spell "CRAC"... and accident I promise, but funny nonetheless.

Cooper got rainbow licorice, new shoes, triangle crayons, a lightning icepack and those magic foam capsule toys... you know the ones that you drop in water and they expand into a lil' sponge toys. Sadly, they were lame and didn't work, but the other items were a hit, especially the licorice.

Chase got a nice new sweater that he'll wear in his 6 month pictures next week. He also got new pants & sweatshirts. ( I know, the glamour of being 6 months old at Christmas... I mean really it's the only time I can get away with giving practical things as a gift right?)

Anyway, more to follow- Enjoy your holidays with one another too!

CHEERS-
Amber

Who needs the gym?

Welp... if you can't get yourself to the gym, bring the gym to you! I decided that if lifting weights was out of the question, I'd lift snow- and proceeded to shovel the driveway... oh yes all 16'' of it (of course, only 1/2 of it... what am I... superwoman?)

Anyway... I'm so proud of my cleared concrete I had to share. I'm sure my abs and back will be screamin' at me in the morning. I'll keep you posted- no pun intended... get it ... posted.. posting it on the blog... okay, i'm officially bored!

Ciao!

Snow anyone?

Think it might snow today? Hmmm... it turns out this is the most snow that we have seen since 1968. Currently we are at about 12'' and it is still snowing as I type. Although, I'm enjoying the gorgeousnous! I mean really, I can't control it anyway, so might as well soak it all in. I have to say the whole travel/airport situation is a bit irritating as my younger sis and her family (brand new baby in tow) have been stuck and trucked to BFE and back trying to get to Belfair for Christmas. I think they're on the right track now, but who knows what mother nature may throw into the mix at this point.

It all kinda makes me laugh... I went to college in a place that was like this ALL the time... I suppose they're prepared for it though right? Anyway, just the way the whole town shuts down over snow and ice- it's safe I know- just kinda funny.

All in all we got some good pics of Cooper eating ice, Ripley frolicing in the snow and Ryan striking a pose. Chase was napping while we galavanted in the backyard. Hope this finds you warm and well.
Much love-
AMBER

Chases first snow-

Not only was this Chases first experience with snow, but it ended up being Cooper's first time to be able to actually PLAY in the snow. He was too young to play in it last time it snowed in Vancouver! Yeah snow!

Just the beginning-

Welp... little did we know this was just the start of all the snowfall to come. (See more photos in additional posts...)

Hangin' out during the holiday-

Had to post some cute pics of the boys- we were just kickin' it at home today (like every other day really) but this one we decided to catch on film... moving I know.

Anyway- hope the holidays are bringing you happiness!

Much love-

AMBER

Family photo-

Well, we don't get the opportunity to have a family photo that includes all four of us. So I thought I'd post it for everyone to see an updated pic. I know it's got Cooper looking off to the side and I'm pretty sure Chase blinked... and Ryan and I... well... it's a picture regardless. Hopefully we'll have more organized and focused family pics to share in the near future.

Hope this finds you and your families doing well and enjoying the holidays so far this season. I know how blessed we are to have the friends and family in our lives that we do, and we certainly wouldn't have the fulfillment and happiness without you in our lives.

Cheers to you and Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

All of us; Ryan, Amber, Cooper & Chase

Double Fisted!

This morning, Cooper and I had the luxury of having our own one one one time. We stopped by a friends house quickly, then put Chase down for his morning nap and headed to a local donut shop. Now, I can't say I was thrilled with the donuts (or their price)... but the 'experience' for Cooper was... enjoyable. See for yourself.