HAPPY 2007!!!

Well, it seems that we've put 2006 to bed and are now on to a new year that will be full of many exciting things for us! Of course, there's Jess' wedding in August, our 25th anniversary and cruise to Alaska, a trip to Tennessee for another wedding and Josh and his family moving back the this side of the country! We look forward to it all and whatever else 2007 throws our way!

Christmas...what a great time we had with family to share it with. Josh, Miranda and Jayden arrived in Seattle on December 13th and were here until the 27th...so we enjoyed our time with them, especially watching Jayden! She's such a cutie (we're not biased or anything!!) and what a personality...she's got spunk and a mind of her own. One day we found her sitting in the kitchen on the floor with a stuffed bunny and a babydoll and her book, and she was "reading" to them. On Christmas day she opened a doll from Terri's parents and she was instantly drawn to it, picked it up and cuddled it and then was "feeding" it with the bottle that came with it...she already has that nurturing instinct. Ooooh, how we'll miss her these next months until they move out our way. Of course, we had to share Josh, Miranda and Jayden with her family and that was fine...I know how much we enjoyed our time with them and I'm sure Miranda's family loved having them there as much as we did. Rick's parents were also here for the holidays, so it was a "double delight" to have such a great gathering. They enjoyed getting to know Jayden as well and spending time with Josh and Miranda. Jess and Sean were here quite a bit during that time as well, so it was just perfect to have both our kids and their families with us so much last month. On Christmas eve we had Terri's cousin, Tara, and her boyfriend, Ivar, join us as well and it was great to share that time with them. They just bought a house in Seattle and are in the midst of remodeling it...and we're dying to get up and see it as well as their plans for the renovations.

Terri's birthday was great fun...we had everyone here and went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. When she ordered her drink (margarita...her favorite!), Josh and Miranda pulled out a GIANT margarita glass and asked the waitress to fill it up...and she did!! PHEW...that was was big drink, but Rick helped her with it...good thing!!!! At the end of the meal, the wait staff came out with a sombrero and Terri got the "pleasure" of wearing it while they sang happy birthday to her in Spanish...a first for her! It was a great birthday...and fun to share it with the kids!

New Year's Eve found us shooting a wedding during the day. It was held at a local facitilty and so we didn't have to travel far. Jess popped down before anything started, just to look around and get ideas on flowers, decorations and cake...to start her planning for her big day! The wedding was very nice and the couple was beautiful...we enjoyed our time there and now are working on getting the proofs ready for the newlyweds to see. After the wedding, we were pretty worn out, so were in bed by 10 pm that night...not making it till midnight to "ring" in the new year!

It's been wet, windy and cool around our area the past month or so and the storms have been relentless! We have been very fortunate and had no damage and just one time without power, but many haven't been as lucky. Rick's company keeps busy when there are storms, so his staff has been working long and hard hours. At times the winters get depressing around here, but we have to remind ourselves that all this brings beautiful springs and summers, so in the end it'll be worth it. And, on those days that the clouds break, and Mt. Rainier peeks out, it's all worth it and we feel blessed to live here! Of course, the forecast for the next week is mostly rain, so that means we'll be indoors, but there is plenty to do...with a new year, we're always eager to clean out closets, drawers, cupboards, etc...so we've got plenty of time for that.

January doesn't hold many plans for us, but that is just fine...we'll find enough to keep busy. Rick's birthday is at the end of the month and we're going to celebrate with Tara and Ivar by going somewhere we've not been before...stay tuned for photos next month on that! We'd love to get a day trip to photograph in the snow, but who knows if the weather will cooperate for that...we'll have to wait and see.

Here are a few photos from our holidays...enjoy!

We hope this finds you all having had a nice holiday and looking towards the new year with bright hope!

Love,

Terri & Rick