Snowapolooza 08

I got a kick out of a story I read in the Oregonian newspaper today, where the writer referred to this storm as "Snowapolooza", "The Snowpocalypse" and "Snowmageddon" 2008. I loved that. Never have we seen a White Christmas quite like this one in the Pacific NW, nor will we EVER see one like this again! We've been snowed in pretty much for 11 days now. P-town is just not equipted to handle snow like this. I think we have 3 snow plows for all of the Portland Metro area. Can you imagine? I bet those boys are busy!

In our neighborhood, we have about 15 inches, maybe more and more is expected tonight. Chains are required to drive. Portland has pretty much shut down for the last 2 weeks now. Which is not good timing for the holidays. Our plans to drive up and spend the holidays with my brother and his family in Kent and with the cousins, aunts, uncles and my Grandpa in Enumclaw, WA have been foiled. We're not going anywhere anytime soon according to the forcasts. Oh well. We will manage. Thank goodness we have shelter, warmth, food and each other. So many other people less fortunate are really suffering through this weather. My heart goes out to them.

We were going to "go green" this Christmas, to save money and the environment. So we didn't put up lights and we found a place where we could "rent a live tree". We could't get downtown, so we are without a tree. But we've gotten pretty creative with a poinsettia! Memories in the making. "Remember that Christmas when it snowed so much we were snowed in for 2 weeks and Santa had to put our presents under a poinsettia?" :) Memories! I'll never forget the Christmas when we lived in Hawaii when I was a kid. My dad built us a tree out of some boards. It was painted white. It had shelf like things where we set Xmas knickknacks and candles on it. I don't remember any other Christmas trees growing up, but I remember that one, clear as a bell.

I hope you all are making wonderful memories too, for when all is said and done. That's what it's all about. We might not always have the "live" version of our loved ones, but we will always have the memories of them for as long as we can remember with our hearts and minds. Enjoy your holidays and make it memorable.

xoxoxo
Shauna

I'll leave you with some photos from our neighborhood...

Our house with my mom's PT Cruiser, "Leon," in front of it...
The view as you look up the street at Forest Hills Park from our driveway...
The view from our driveway as you look down the street...The park around the corner where Simba loves to play ball...
Spencer, happy that he hit his target with a snowball....
His target (his sister!), not happy with is aim...
A tree in our yard...
My mom's car parked in front of our house (all photos taken on Monday, Dec. 22nd)...
Simba wondering where his ball is? It's lost in a snowdrift!
Simba prior to losing his ball...proof that he's the Happiest Dog in the World!!!
The fire hydrant at the end of our street, just before you turn the corner to the park...
Stay warm, dry and SAFE!!! xoxoxo