Wrapping up our time in Bend

Maleia, Jon, Daniel, Katherine, Brian and Patty hit the slopes on Friday to wrap up our last day in Bend.  As usual, we hung out at the house and played with Josiah and Aviah. They came home early and made a stop in the hot tub to warm up.   

The rest of the day included more lego time!

Christmas Day in Bend

We spent a relaxing Christmas day at the house in Bend, with an emphasis on family time, not gifts.  The O'Neil siblings drew names at Thanksgiving and so they exchanged gifts.  Michael (Shannon's older brother) and his wife, Emilee, who were in Atlanta with Emilee's parents, are expecting a baby in May.  We all participated in their gender reveal over Skype.  The box was wrapped in both pink and blue paper and inside was a giant stuffed kangaroo.  Inside the pouch was a little baby kangaroo wrapped in a BLUE diaper.  They were so excited with the news of the first O'Neil boy, who could be Michael Charles O'Neil IV.  

Of course, there were a couple of small gifts for the kids, but, not surprisingly, they had the most fun with the boxes!

VW popup tent camper for Josiah

Lego set for Maleia--just like her Daddy

Lunch was an amazing turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  Quite a feat when you're all just visiting!  Thanks to Shannon's mom, Patty, for bringing most of the food with her.  Surprise, surprise, my contribution was two pumpkin pies.

The cranberries were Aviah's favorite dish

In the afternoon, Aunt Katherine helped the kids add (eat) candies to the gingerbread house.  

We finished off the evening watching "It's a Wonderful Life," and then playing games.  

Merry Christmas 2014 from the Parris and O'Neil family.  

Merry Christmas Eve

Beautiful, wet snow fell this morning here in Bend.  The  kids loved playing in it and then enjoyed jumping in the hot tub even more.

Special day watching the trains

Daniel, Jon, Maleia and the rest of the O'Neills got up early and headed to Mt. Bachelor to ski.  Shannon, Stephen, Josiah, Aviah, Shannon's dad and I stayed home.  

Last night when we stopped for pizza, I picked up the local paper and read a story about a man who had set up his Lionel trains at the public library.  We went this afternoon and Josiah was mesmerized by the 6+ trains that moved around on tables set up in the children's area of the library.  It was amazing!

Beautiful Bend!

Daniel, Maleia, Josiah, Jon and Stephen and I left at 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning and the kids were awesome travelers, enjoying their sticker books and the 9:30 a.m. second breakfast stop at McDonalds.  

We made the eight-hour drive from Sunnyvale, California to Bend, Oregon yesterday and the weather cooperated perfectly--only rain, no snowing and not even any snow on the mountain roads so no need to put on the chains.  

We were 15 strong at the vacation home in Bend last night.  It is an amazing 6 bedroom house with plenty of space for all of us.  

This morning nine of us took a walk around a beautiful neighborhood in Bend.  It felt good to get 5,000 steps in today after not having time to walk much in Kansas City.