Spring?

We are back in Portland with no other trips planned for the near future... and it looks like Spring outside. It's a little defeating to know that it is not the season of flowers and growing warmth, but rather months and months of cold rain that await us. :) Our piles (soooo much!) of snow have dwindled significantly. I was able to drive to church today without chains, and Josiah and I even took a walk in the 'hood to get some fresh air!
Whew! This little family has had a really awesome and really intense last month of life. Our time in MN was sooo GREAT. (minus the flu -- which Patrick and my sister also received in our time there... sick.) We were able to spend a good chunk of time with my brother Tim's family and hang out with the kiddos. There was a lot of cookie baking, coloring, and even a little sledding (it was about -15 the whole time we were there, so going outside for longer than 10 minutes seemed a little life-threatening).
Then the whole fam came together on the 20th to celebrate our LORD's birth early. We sang Christmas carols, opened presents, and shared a great meal. My family (on both sides) are some of my FAVORITE people... seriously some of the most fun, loving, funny people I've had the pleasure of meeting and Patrick, Josiah, and I are SO BLESSED to be tied to them FOREVER. :) It was really hard to leave this year... and I am counting the days (not quite literally) until I can see them again.
Some really BIG, FUN news is that Josiah FINALLY decided to start walking!!! My mom and I were chillin' in her living room, playing with Josiah - when he just got up and walked across the room. (I KNEW he was holding out on us!) It's been fun to see how much he has improved - Patrick even has him kicking a soccer ball now. It was a great gift that my parents were able to be part of a milestone in Josiah's life... Patrick was three days late. :(
After a three hour delay in Denver (which was NOTHING compared to what others survived during ARTIC BLAST 2008) - we arrived bumpily back into Portland. Our pilot bravely drove that huge airplane over drifts of snow to get us to our gate. Some amazing people dared the roads of ice and came to pick us up and bring us home. (At first I thought everyone was really pansy about all this snow - but once we got home and found the inch of ice covering our car I realized I'm glad for the pansiness) ;)
Our plan to head up to Patrick's side for Christmas day was postponed as we searched everywhere for chains and thawed out the car (and our apartment). We received the GREAT JOY of Patrick's brother's family staying with us at Patty and Bill's -- so it was a party the entire time. Josiah was hooked up with sooooo many books.... and some other pretty awesome toys, too.
I think the best Christmas present Patrick and I received was getting to spend time with our families over the holidays -- it was such a JOY. I'll try to poke at Patrick to get some pictures up from our journey!
Now we are settling back in to life and anticipating the arrival of our friends, the Stepanians, this weekend!!!