Go Tell It on the Mountain (video)

This year Keenan was invited to play his ukelele in a Christmas band along with Christie on vocals and Sean on percussion (among other friends). It was fun for all of us because it meant we were constantly singing Christmas carols at home, and we really got into the holiday spirit. The name of the band is Pokey Twig and the Yuletide Kindling. (Pokey is the founder, and they've been doing this for eight years.) Below are some clips I put together of a few songs at one of their performances.

Disclaimer: Please pardon the poor quality of the video and audio. Sometimes I had to shoot holding the camera in one hand while balancing a 2-year-old on my lap. (Oh, and they are just acting drunk in the first song. Really! ;-)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Merry Christmas to our dear friends and family near and far. We are thinking of you tonight.

Flavor Country

Just a quick post to share photos from our non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner: Seafood Paella followed by delicious desserts (dark chocolate torte and coconut cake). It was truly a team effort! For the full "play-by-play" (and an introduction to The Welshes adorable new puppy, Penny), you can view Christie's slideshow here.

Hello Christmas

We never get our Christmas tree Thanksgiving weekend, but this year our tree came to us! A neighbor of ours who is a Boy Scout came knocking at our front door last night saying that he and his dad went to a Christmas tree farm this weekend and brought back some trees. He offered to sell us one for $10. It was a Christmas miracle! ;-) Keenan walked three houses down and brought us back a six-foot tree. Needless to say, Mia was very excited to help decorate it! The first ornament? Hello Kitty, of course!

Welcome Baby Boy Douglass

Congratulations to our friends Troy and Sarah, who today welcomed a beautiful baby boy! He was two weeks past his due date, and it shows: 9 lbs. 3 oz! They haven't settled on a name just yet, but Mia can't wait to meet her new little friend (and neither can we). Best wishes to the new family!

Mia in MIA

It's 49F and raining in Portland today, but just a couple weeks ago we were in sunny, hot Miami. It was Mia's first time in the "pantano," and  she got to visit with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and close family friends. She also got to taste a lot of yummy Cuban food. She was very excited to meet everyone (and to go swimming!). Tia Ale even flew all the way from Spain for the occasion! Of course, we took tons of photos :-) The full slideshow is posted here.

Los extranamos muchisimo!

Un abrazo fuerte!

Two Years Old Already

*Open Letter to Our Baby Girl*

Dear Mia,
A few weeks ago you turned two years old! You are your own little person now. You are very funny and make us laugh all the time with your funny faces. When you look back at your childhood someday, we thought you might want to know what you were like at two, so here are 10 facts about Mia:

1. You say your Ls like Ys (as in "yittle" and "vioyin").
   
2. Your favorite characters are Hello Kitty, Dora and Elmo.
   
3. You get the hiccups when you laugh too hard.
   
4. You can dress yourself pretty well and very often get the shoes on the correct foot. (If we'd let you, you'd change your outfit 10 times a day.)
   
5. You love to sing and dance. Your favorite song is Fibber Island by They Might Be Giants.
6. Your favorite books are "The Big Red Barn," "Buenas Noches, Luna," "Dora's Book of Words" and "Si Le Das Una Galletita a Un Raton."
7. Your bedtime friends (stuffed animals) are Pink Teddy, Cookie Monster, Easter Bunny and Hello Kitty (recently arrived from Japan and immediately inducted into the club).
   
8. You are VERY independent. You like doing everything yourself including fastening your seat belt, getting in and out of your high chair, going potty, washing your hands, dressing/undressing, eating, etc.
   
9. You talked mommy into using one of those ridiculously huge grocery carts with the little toy car attached to the front. (Now we have to use one even if we're just running in for milk and bread. ;-)
   
10. You love your dog Mona very much. You help us feed her every day and tell her goodnight every night before you go to bed.
    

We are so proud of you, Mia! Thank you for making our lives brighter.

With Love,

Mommy and Daddy