Christmas-ing in Pendleton

So this year we decided to have a quiet Christmas at home but not seeing any family would be just too sad so we decided to go to Pendleton for a little before Christmas partying.

We celebrated Joe's birthday...

Going back to my home town is always a treat. I love spending time with my grandma and other extended family. This time the kids took turns having sleepovers at my grandma's with their cousins Aby and Pochito. The girls one night, the boys the other.

Pochito and Camden can't get enough of each other! When Pochito first saw Camden he said "Hey Camden is five now because he is as big as me!" Pochito is five, Camden is three...They had a great time together, they went on a journey looking for dinosaurs.

They also helped Joe do some outdoor decorating...

The girls made cookies with Joe...

We took the kids to see the Christmas lights which was fun especially when we would hit a dead end and almost went down a cliff.

I was able to have dinner with some of my childhood friends. I loved reconnecting with these wonderful ladies. Even though we are all old now, it's so neat to talk to people who knew me way back when...when I was becoming who I was going to be ;)

One of my favorite memories of growing up was eating Peanut Butter Butterflies from "Up With Donuts" or  "Up Your Donut" which is what I remember calling it. Anyway, I took Aric on a little date there, he was impressed not only with the size but the yummy-ness!

Whenever I am in town I love to see what project my brother Ben is working on (he builds houses). He is currently building a 3800 sqft house. It is beautiful, he has some skills, that baby brother of mine :)

I was able to go on a couple of long runs. It was lonely but fun to run around my old stomping ground seeing it through grown up eyes.

Another cool Pendleton attraction is the food vendors that roll into town. From the first moment Aric laid eyes on this truck he couldn't wait to eat there...

Well he had to wait a few days but he got his foot long corn dog...

The best part was when he paid for it with a ten dollar bill, this is the change he got back...

$2 bills, Silver dollars and fifty cent pieces.
SERIOUSLY??

The night before we left, we had a fun family Christmas party. It was so great to hang out with my extended family, I love these people!!!

Me and Tia Lucy

Eden got to play Santa...

Camden rocking out with his sweet new guitar...

The girls loved their Aeropostale gear that they got...

Every year I try to do some homemade gifts. This year it was my Tia Ines's turn to get a homemade goodie from me. She has never had a real church bag to hold her scriptures and manuals in so I made her this special one.

She loves roses so I found this rosey fabric for her and the most special part of this bag is the button. When my Abuelita Tina died, all I wanted was her sewing basket. At the bottom of the basket were some buttons that she had saved from clothes she had worn. I found this button and thought it was perfect for this special bag.

I love taking a bunch of fabric and ribbon...

...and turning it into something pretty and practical.

And that my friends is how you secure your spot as the most favorite niece.

One of the things that happens in Pendleton, that cannot be avoided, is running into someone you know everywhere you go. Knowing this fact, I sent Aric into Walmart as we were rolling out of town. It needed to be a quick stop so I stayed in the car with the kids....until I saw my friend Jenny coming out of  Walmart with some of her family! She had just gotten into town from Utah. So I jumped out of my car screaming her name, it was a fun reunion in the parking lot.

It was a very pleasant trip to Pendleton. It was the perfect way to kick off Christmas! This is my favorite picture from the trip...

C with my Tia Lucy...LOVE IT!