Santa and Snow

Wow...it's been a while since my last post. 'Tis the Season! The snow has finally arrived and it is a Winter Wonderland around here. It's definitely feeling A LOT like Christmas (ie. temps in the teens and even below zero at night) and if you know this California girl I tend to act like the bears and hibernate in these months. We have ventured out some and even got to visit Santa at the mall and play in the snow a little. Here are some pics!


She was not too sure about Santa, so I squatted down and propped her up on his lap! You can't even see me!

And a few of Liv in the "know" (AKA Snow)...












The view from my in laws house, this is their street!


California and Cabo here we come!! I am learning to love the snow but I'm looking forward to a little warmth and some family fun!!

Cutting our Christmas Tree

Yesterday Brian, Livi and I drove about an hour away from home to cut down our Christmas tree. This city girl was out of the city for sure! The drive was so beautiful and when we finally (and I mean FINALLY, but that's another story for another blog entry) found our spot it was super fun!!


You must obtain a permit to cut a tree. Only five bucks...not too shabby for a whole tree! Take that Home Depot!



This was a waterfall we stumbled upon...amazing!



Yeah this is pretty much heaven on earth for my husband...he LOVES the great outdoors!!



Self portrait




Yes they were THAT big. I was in awe!



Livi lookin' for pine cones. That was her favorite part and I just had to keep them out of her mouth. Didn't want her ingesting any deer poop before dinner.





My hunky lumberjack. After searching and searching we found her and got 'er done! Ok I've been in the woods a little too long...



Well, really we rescued her. She looked fuller amongst the other trees but we'll spruce her up! It's all about the experience right?



One more of our drive home. A great day and a family tradition started. Really, there are perks to not living in the big city...after days like today I believe it.

Thanksgiving Day Fun!

On Thursday we headed over Chinook Pass to Brian's Aunt and Uncle's house. It was a fun day with lots of food, football and family togetherness! Livi especially enjoyed playing in the big backyard...there was a trampoline AND a swing set. She couldn't get enough and thankfully the weather was perfect. Unfortunately we didn't get any family pics, but here are some of our girl enjoying the backyard ammenities!




Brian had to get a shot of the static!







After dinner we drove to Mill Creek, Brian's hometown. We spent the night in a hotel and the next morning met Brian's good friend Sven and his wife Kelly for breakfast. They just had a baby boy Trygve (prounounced trig-vee, it's Norwegian like his daddy's is!). With one of the babies either crying or sleeping we never got a photo of the daddy's and their kids (I could kick myself).

We drove around Brian's old 'hood afterwards. He loves this place and points out all the spots he used to ride his bike, where his school was, who lived on what streets. It's definitely an idyllic place to grow up. Tree lined streets, manicured neighborhoods, beautiful homes with pathways to walk on and a pretty park here and there! Don't get me wrong So Cal had its perks (ie. sun) but this is a neat little neck of the woods to raise a family. Brian said it was a surreal day for him, being in his childhood town, eating breakfast with an old friend as they held their babies...ahhh, don't you love it when the men get sentimental!?

Defintely some days to be thankful for!

oooooo...Olive!

Our little Olive sure loves her olives - which happen to be my LEAST favorite food. Last night we ate at The Olive (seriously) Garden...hooray for soup, salad and breadsticks. It's really the little things that make a pregnant woman happy! Any way here are some funny pics of our night at The OG!

Headlines and Highlights from our trip so far..

-Buying a ticket on Thursday to leave to LA Saturday...gotta love the spontaneity you can have with being a stay at home mom (thank you Brian!) and having one kid.

-A not so fun last hour on the plane, flying with a walker is way different.

-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BATTLES DEVASTATING WILDFIRES...ahh some things will never change!



-Tanks and flips in mid-November. Never thought I'd appreciate this!



-Seeing Olivia love on my parents



(noticing the food trend?)

-Spending quality time with good friends...I appreciate and miss them so much!!

-Walks outside at the Commons in Calabasas, I think Olivia thought this could be the happiest place on earth. She just ran around and laughed and laughed



Good times!!!

Pregnancy Part Two

We are so excited to tell everyone that we are adding another McCown to the mix!! That's right folks...we will be the proud parents of two kids under two. I'd be lying if I said that doesn't take my mind in a million different directions when I think about the reality of it, but I am thankful!

Please keep our baby in your prayers as he/she grows! I'll be eager to blog my journey with this one oh and don't worry, I won't let it overshadow our little Livi. She just gets cuter, funnier, smarter and at times more challenging by the day, but I love her to pieces!

Stay tuned for pics from my fun weekend with the girls..Andrea and Jen came up to see me and we had a great time! Andrea took some GREAT pictures of Olivia and our family! I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am for these friends and all they mean to me!

Halloween!