We started off with a Thanksgiving morning neighborhood soccer game. It was pouring rain, but that only made the outing more fun. We're sure one of the teams won, but don't ask us who! Click here for game photos.
After a little exercise, we focused on bulking up with turkey and all the fixings in preparation to hit the ground running on Friday to kick-off the official start of the holiday season. Black Friday is definitely NOT our thing, so we opted instead for Portland's xmas parade, a trip to the tree farm, and the annual tree lighting in Pioneer Square.
Click below for more photo albums detailing Friday's adventures and the rest of the weekend...
ALBUM 1
ALBUM 2
We may have overdone the tree a bit this year. It took us almost 4 hours to find, cut and drag it back to the car. What with its 8" diameter trunk, it covered the entire top of our van and nearly hung off the sides. It was a good 10" too tall and barely fit through the door, not to mention being a tight squeeze for our tree stand! It was the deal of the century at just $15, but the cost savings only lasted so long... the lights we had on hand only cover the top 1/3 of the tree. Needless to say, the 35+ feet of cranberries Emily worked so hard to string didn't make it very far either! It appears to be growing as it settles into the living room. Other than that, it's absolutely PERFECT!
Saturday was all about getting the tree fully decorated, dinner with friends, and taking in a really fun Improv Show called "Puppets v. People". For Jake and Emily it was officially classified as "research" for their Destination Imagination team, but mostly it was just insanely funny. 
On Sunday, Jake's Lego Robotics Team, the "Biker Bunnies", had some community service work to do... here are photos of the group installing "Idle Free Zone" signs at their school as part of their campaign to reduce air pollution and encourage kids to walk to school instead of driving.
Also included in Album 2 above is some of Drew's recent handiwork as part of his Tech. Ed. class. If Santa is planning to add any elves this year, Drew should definitely be in the running!
For us it's been a wonderful holiday weekend - great weather, great friends, great adventures, etc. None the less, we can't stop thinking about the really unfortunate passing of a great neighbor, friend and colleague of Pat's last Tuesday... Nancy was the victim of a homicide that has yet to be solved. We're so very sorry for her family and the loss of such a wonderful, vibrant person. We walk past her house daily and will miss her greatly!
On a happier note, Happy Birthday wishes to Aunt Judy, and later this week, to our good friend Martin in Quebec. Happy Holidays to all!
