First "storm"

Expect the unexpected. I know that's what I should expect. And as soon as I think I know what's going on, a big ol' storm rolls in and what was expected is out the window. Let's see, when I left off, Kevin had a few days left in Tule Lake and then was heading up to Bend to start the highline job til the end of January (with Christmas/New Years off). He was supposed to move Thursday and start Friday, but an "atmospheric river" decided to dump buckets and make wind and create havoc in California and Oregon on Wednesday night. So, Thursday turned into Kevin's first storm call.

He got a call from his foreman on Wednesday telling him to get his stuff packed and expect a call. That call finally came Thursday around ten in the morning. He packed his storm bag, left the trailer in Tulelake and headed to the normal show up to wait for his crew. 

Waiting for the crew.

After about an hour of waiting he was instructed to head up to Medford and he met up with his crew there. They were out on storm for 30 hours, finishing up early Friday afternoon. With Bend being up in the air, he decided to drag the trailer home until Christmas at least. It's really cold where he'll be working by Bend and he was worried about getting a the trailer snowed in. So, after not sleeping all night, he did what any logical person would do and started the 11 hour trek home. 



Leaving California

Hoping he can say goodbye to California until a vacation!!! The 11 hour drive took quite a bit longer with some random roadside naps and black ice. I was just ecstatic to get daddy home unexpectedly for a few days!

We went and saw Santa, had a nice fun dinner, and drove around looking at Christmas lights. I'm so glad Kevin was able to spend the weekend with the kids. He got to see Kj's newest fettish, puffy dresses and her cowgirl princess hat. 

Santa visit.

Santa's Reindeer

Hugs at dinner

Bathroom selfie.

Sissy's weekend attire.

Kevin starts in Bend (actually by Crescent) Tuesday and it sounds like he'll only be there til Christmas, and then onto the list of available apprentices. Who knows though!!! They're splitting a three bedroom condo, so that'll be a nice change of pace than being solo in a trailer. 

Christmas tree update

After being angry that the tree was difficult and not perfect for a few days, I finally got over myself and my crappy attitude and it turned out pretty sweet.

Oh Christmas Tree

Kevin had Saturday school in Eugene this weekend so the kids and I tried to stay busy. Weekends without daddy are the absolute worst for some reason. We make it through the week, and then we (or maybe it's just me) are sad that he's not there for the fun on the weekend. 



Kj heading out to run errands. 



We were only going to be gone a few hours...

Saturday was a busy day; we got our bountiful basket in Deer Park and then went to the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center's open house to see some owls and hawks close up. Kjersten was so scared of the birds, until we found a baby owl and then she got all excited. 

Kj looking at the baby owl.

Drake checking out the snakes

 

After seeing the snakes, turtles, turtoises and birds, we went to the McDonald's in Hillyard for lunch. McDonald's seems a lot grosser when you go into one in a questionable neighborhood on a rainy day when the floors look unjustifiably filthy. We survived, so far. The rest of the afternoon was pretty laid back; cleaned the house while sis took a nap and Drake played, then we went out to Thai food for my aunts birthday. 

Sunday I had slated to get our Christmas tree because it looked to have the best weather of the weekend. Normally Christmas tree hunt day is my favorite day of the year. We all get bundled up and go out as a family in the woods looking for the perfect tree. Sometimes it's beautiful and snowy, usually it's just cold. This year, it was wet. Not even super cold, just soggy and wet outside. I've been thinking a lot about this day, knowing that Kevin may or may not be able to join us. His plans to come home next week changed and now he won't be home until right before Christmas (more on that later), so I knew I had to just suck it up and do it. 

Drake borrowed my dad's little saw and proudly wore the sheath on his belt. I brought the Chariot to help carry it back in one piece and not covered In mud. We set out from the house looking in the woods. Oy. It was hard to find one in foot with two small children. 

Christmas tree expedition

 

Through the woods we go.

 

Good enough!

Drake took this picture of me cutting the tree.

Sis watching me cut the tree.

Successful kill.

I let Drake pick out a small tree to bring home and decorate,
 while we're out with our tree killing saw...

Drake carrying his tree home.

Loaded into the Chariot and a kiss for sis. 

 

Next was the easy part, just had to get it in the stand and into the house so we could decorate. Turned out to be not so simple. I had no idea what I was doing but obviously it wasn't working. After a childish temper tantrum that involved kicking the tree followed by a sobbing shower, I finally gathered my wits enough to get it standing up enough to bring in the house. Once inside, it became obvious that it had more flaws than I noticed outside. 

Decorating went about as well as getting it into the house. 

There are currently random ornaments strewn about the house from the kids. I'm sure we'll be finding them in April. I know it's not about the looks of the tree, but about the memories and love that goes into getting it. And I'm sad to report that most of the day I was cranky and upset that Kevin's not home. Hopefully the kids didn't notice that part and will have fond memories of this year's tree adventure. It really was an adventure. 

As for Kevin, he's still down by Klamath Falls and after being told a date to be laid off, he was told the next day that instead he was going to a highline job south of Bend. He thinks he'll be home on 12/23, which will make it the longest we've gone without him home. The weather where he's going is colder and they're working five to seven 10-hour days, so it's going to be a rough couple weeks for daddy. 

Daddy's fun Sunday chores.

Thanksful

Thanksgiving is such a good reminder to be truly grateful for all the awesome things in our lives. I love that it always revolves around family, food, and shopping. Three of my very favorite things.

I spent the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving telling the kids about Thanksgiving and what the day is all about. Drake is probably so tired of me asking him what he is thankful for. Every time, he would answer me, "I'm thanksssssful for _____". ____ was his toys, our car, our house, our dogs, and Mr. Turtle. If you catch me saying "thanksful," I blame Drake. It was too cute not to pick up and say.

When Kevin signed us up for this crazy lineman gig, I learned pretty early on that I should get used to him possibly being gone on holidays, birthdays, etc. We were so, so blessed to be able to have him at home the entire week of Thanksgiving this year, including for his birthday.  The week was pretty laid back. I worked in the office two days, so Kevin got to hang out with the kids. Tuesday was Kevin's birthday and we went out to Chinese for dinner, just the four of us.

Waiting for Papa to pick them up for a Thanksgiving Rhino ride.

 

Sis loves to swing.

 

The kids swing every chance they get.

 

We had Thanksgiving at Kevin's parents this year. His mom (the craftiest lady ever) made the cutest place markers for the table. It was nice and low-key, just ate and hung out.

 

 

 

I went on the annual family Black Friday shopping outing with my mom, sister-in-law and my aunts, cousins, and grandma. This year wasn't as crazy as years' past, I think because now a lot of the stores are open on Thanksgiving.

 

Over the weekend, I got the Christmas decorations out of storage and put up. I love decorating for Christmas. Most of our decorations are hand-me-downs from my mom, so I look forward to the day that I can walk into Costco or Target and just load up on decorations that I really, really love, although the hand-me-down ones are very special to me.  

Lantern from my BFFs wedding, real glass antique ornaments from my great-grandparents,
and battery LED lights from Shopko on Black Friday.

 

I love this silver nativity my mom gave me (she has one too), and the silver sparkly trees.

 

Nothing makes a living room more cozy than stockings hung by a crackling fire.
Thank you to my mother-in-law for sewing the stockings for us.

 

Home sweet home.

The last night before daddy leaves is always so bittersweet. It is full of snuggles that are so sweet, but so sad knowing that the following night we'll be hundreds of miles apart.

 

 

This is hopefully Kevin's last trip down to Southern Oregon this go-round. They scrounged up a little more work down there to last another couple weeks and at this point it's looking like he'll be heading home with the trailer (that hasn't been home since August, and that feels so strange!!) for a layoff in mid-December. After that, he waits until the apprenticeship finds him more work.

 

Mt. Hood in the distance.

 

Kevin working, thanks to Colby for the pic.