Winding down......

Happy New Year!!!
My best to everyone out there. It has been quite the year...loooonnnnng in getting through, but it is almost done! I hope all my friends out there in Bloggerville have a great evening tonight as they celebrate the coming of the New Year! Here's to 2009!!

More Holiday Fun....

This was the view outside my picture window on Christmas morning! Yup, we had a white Christmas! I can't say I was particularly happy about it, as at the time, I was up to my chin in snow! I was tired of not being able to drive where I wanted to drive, watching every step like an old lady, being cold, and shoveling snow!

This was Miss Megan on Christmas Eve. Her mom let her open one present to tide her over until morning.

"Naughty" Tara got into the act, too.

The good "elf" Beau opening one also. They received some very nice PJs for Christmas Eve!

Happy as clams they were! (Notice, Tara's hat says she is nice, now!)

This was the Nerf Squad on the day after Christmas! It was a NERF Christmas for these kiddies. From left, Megan, Briley, Beau and Taylor.

Our "Princess" Raegan looked very nice in her new LEOPARD outfit from Grandma Trini.

Miss Raegan opening her Christmas present at Tiah's on the 26th. She had so much fun!

Here are all my kiddies at Tiah's on the 26th! Left to right, Beau, Taylor, Briley, Megan, Raegan and Tara.

Cheers to all! It is now OVER! On to the New Year and a new beginning!!! Love to all! We opened Calli's favorite wine she brought back from California a year ago last July! It was soooooo good! Now, we need to find it here in Pendleton, Walla Walla, or ?

Royalty Visits the Chamber!

The 2009 Pendleton Round-Up Court visited the Chamber of Commerce yesterday and presented us with signed calendars! We enjoyed seeing the new court and their new haircuts!

From left to right: Amber Pack, Ashley Kannard, Mackenzie Beard, Kristin Hoeft, and Queen Tiffany Aliverti


Here is our Executive Director, Leslie Carnes, with the girls.


Leslie presented the court with a "Pendleton Charm Trail" bracelet full of western charms. They were well received! Oh yes, Mackenzie is the daughter of our Membership Manager, Leslie Lovell! Thanks girls for stopping by!

Christmas Cooking at Tiah's

Tiah was very busy yesterday cooking treats for everyone! She does a wonderful job...and has lots of help, too!

Tiah always makes her Crispix Mix (caramel, cashews, popcorn and crispix cereals) mmmmmmm!

Tara was helping put the peanut butter between the crackers for the next treat.

Meg's did a great job, too! She is very fast!

Time out, Tiah, for a sip of coffee! Isn't she in the holiday spirit with her cute apron?!!! Tiah made fudge, tiger bark, dipped peanut butter treats, crispix mix and no bake cookies. Whew!

Boy...did it snow yesterday!!!!

This was taken this morning when I walked the bank deposit over. I thought it was a pretty tree with the old buildings in the background....and LOTS of snow!

Welcome to Pendleton Snow!

Yup! This was downtown yesterday afternoon. No wonder many events were called off last night. We even closed the Chamber at 1 pm! Wow! Let it snow...let it snow...let it snow! Merry Christmas!

Baby, it's cold outside...and WHITE!!!!

This morning I had Yolanda take a photo of me out in the snow. It was just beginning to snow huge flakes.

This is downtown when it started snowing. Needless to say, it has changed...lots more snow and it is STILL snowing!

Couldn't resist our Chamber sign. Just thought I would share our snow with everyone. Enjoy!

Christmas Program at the Elementary School in PR

This is Megan singing as her class performed their songs. It was lots of fun to watch the kids (all the kids) perform...they act much differently when they are dressed up! The singing was wonderful and it put everyone in the Christmas mood.


This is Beau's class. Very good job!

When we got home after the program I asked Beau and Megan to pose for me by the Christmas Tree. They looked very nice all dressed up! Thanks kiddos for a job well done!

Pilot Rock Christmas Night Parade!

We enjoyed the Pilot Rock Phest last Saturday! Here Beau is singing with everyone as the Community Christmas Tree was being lit. Beau loves to sing and has a beautiful voice! I think he got his voice from his Great-Grandpa Eddie Estrada or perhaps his Great-Auntie Sharon!


The Night Parade was awesome! The truckers did a great job decorating their logging trucks and Sanitary Service Truck. Good job and KUDO to everyone involved!

I've never seen a more beautiful Sanitary Truck!

Another great truck.

Who ever knew that logging trucks could be so beautiful! Thanks guys for all your hard work!

See ya next year!

The Living Nativity...what a treat!

The annual Living Nativity is such a gift from the Faith Center to the people of Pendleton. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is a traditional thing for my family and we look forward to this every year. If you haven't seen it, plan on doing so next year!

All the scenes were so realistic. The "models" did a super job holding still and becoming the scene.

The young men who play the role of Christ are unbelievable. It was sooooooo cold (15 degress) out and they held still for 20 minutes at a time. Wow!

What a beautiful manger...animals and all!

The kings bowing down to the Christ Child. The llama was so pretty, but put his head down when I was ready to take my picture.

I loved this scene. They were getting ready to light the fire in the center when I took this photo. I think they welcomed it very much!

This was the scene that welcomed us as we began our journey. The snow made it extra magical!

See you next year!

Vacation Time...

Last week I took an Adventure Tour with Aunt Shirley and Cousin Sue. We spent a night at the Columbia Gorge Hotel, toured the Pittock Mansion in Portland, and went to the Singing Christmas Tree at the Keller Auditorium in Portland. It was such a wonderful trip...lots of nice people on the bus and many intersting things to experience.

When they presented the Christ Child...it gave me shivers! The music was phenominal!

They changed scenes on a whim. Very quickly...I think they projected the images.
This was the opening with Santa. All of the voices together was really something

Here is Aunt Shirley with Kathy, our Tour Director.

Here is Sue at the Pittock Mansion. We sat out in the yard and had an awesome view of downtown Portland and Mount Hood. Wow!

The Pittock Mansion.

Downtown Portland view from the mansion.

Mount Hood and Portland view from the mansion.

The Christmas Tree that greeted us as we entered the lobby of the Columbia Gorge Hotel was really something! It was huge and so elegant.

Our evening at the hotel was celebrated with a "complimentary" champagne. Cheers!

After our dinner, Sue and I walked outside on the grounds and took a photo of the beautiful light display that they put up for everyone to enjoy.

My word to everyone who hasn't stayed at the Columbia Gorge Hotel....YOU MUST!!! It was great. I loved my trip with all the ladies and gents...it is a "must do" again!