Snow Day -- Take Two

Once we started getting our snow, we got one snow (and ice!) storm after another. And while other parts of Portland certainly got hit harder than the Vancouv, we got a record 8-plus inches of the white stuff at our house. This is the most snow I have ever seen in Portland, and it was perfect for the holiday season. The best part was that it all melted away while we were away celebrating Christmas so we didn't have to see the ugly melting stage. :)

A neighbor snapped this picture for us:


Lilah enjoys Simon and Daddy howling together


Awwwww,,,,,

Lilah feeds Daddy an ice chip

Our backyard, where we have a green bucket buried half-way into the earth to cover the metal pipe that our clothesline connects into it. (It's broken now and for safety we covered it with a bucket until spring when we can fix it) The bucket stands about 8" out of the ground, but you can't see it because of all the snow. Nick said that if we had anyone into our backyard, we'd have to warn them they might kick the bucket. Ha-ha-haaaaaaa

And more snow was still on the way when I took this pic...

To entertain a snow-bound toddler, Lilah and I did her hair. This was the final product:

Then I took pictures of her and showed them to her. Here's one:

A very Christmassy scene! There's no place like home...

(Nick did most of the Christmas lighting)

And speaking of Christmas, I have about 200 hundred Christmas pictures to go through. We will get our favorites posted soon!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to the copious amount of snow in the Portland area, we jump-started our Christmas holiday by leaving for Hood River last night to avoid another snow storm coming through Portland. We have about 8 to 9" at home, and the next storm was supposed to bring another 6". I have wintry/Christmas pictures to add to the blog, but can't get into my pictures from here. Our trip through the Gorge last night was uneventful. Since Gorge residents are prepared for snow storms, the roads were all plowed and the truck didn't slip once. Let it snow!


The Tyrrell Jr. Family '08

We spent part of Christmas Eve day with family in Parkdale. There is several feet of snow here and as I type the snow is still coming down in large, fluffy flakes. It is beautiful! Tomorrow we plan on sledding and spending more time with Nick's side of the family. We still plan on going to the Roundhouse at this point, but if the weather holds we might cancel.

I wanted to say congradulations to the Heimer family who had their first child on 12/15/08.
Meet Lilah's new boyfriend Blake!



My sister's heart surgery last week went well, and for good or bad, the doctors did not find anything wrong. We celebrated "Christmas Eve" with her and her husband, along with my parents in Beaverton last night.

Nick and I are still working on a potential move to Central Oregon. We'll keep you posted!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

luv, Nick, Heather & Lilah

Snow Day!

The White Wall of Death finally arrived, exactly one week after everyone else in the Portland-area got their first snow! We took Lilah out in our backyard to enjoy the winter wonderland. She thought the snow was great, but didn't want Nick or me to get too far away from her. She was quite a little marshmellow in her snow outfit!

Lilah makes a snow angel, not by choice...

And here's our proof that she really IS a little angel.... :)

Let it snow!

Lilah meets Santa...

I am stunned into stillness by our strange new visitor...


Who is this? Even Simon looks apprehensive...


Okay, things are going well so far....


Just kidding! Baby Melt-down Alert!! Let me outta here!!

-Lilah Rose

Hmmmm....

I think Lilah, ever helpful, had something to do with this picture. Sophie-the-cat hasn't been living indoors since last Spring, but with the cold weather we've taken pity. She has pretty much been in this same position for the last week, and she's been on her bestest behavior in the house.

(She's still going right back outside though once the weather clears up!)

Indeed the White Wall of Death has arrived.....

We were at a party Saturday night and people were talking about the weathermen on TV being so sensational about the impending snowstorm. People began joking about "the white wall of death" in ominous tones. It is those people that actually did get several inches of snow, while here in the 'Couv we got this:

We've been cheated I tell you!! I want snow dammit!

Aggghhhh!!

We definately have our hands full with this one.... Lilah recently visited her grandparents in Hood River for a couple days. On her return, she has decided naps are no longer neccessary and that she will only sleep with us at night.

Nick and I know how whiny and miserable she gets if she does not get her naps, so we're still trying to get her to sleep in her crib for both naps and at night.

So far, I think she's winning.

We've been trying the cry-it-out method, as well as the Super-Nanny's method of sitting by the crib. For two days she cried for over an hour without ever taking a nap, and at night she'll cry for over two hours before petering out.

This past week has been the hardest parenting days for me. I ache to comfort her when she's crying, but I know it won't help the situation. On the flip side, I also get very frustrated and pissy when she wouldn't sleep!

I do have to say, however, I had been enjoying the co-sleeping at night. There is something that is so peaceful about sleeping with your sound-asleep baby. :) Plus, I know this period will eventually pass, and I'll probably miss the extra snuggle time with her!

Life behind the Blog...

Up until now, I've kept this blog pretty superficial. It's been mostly pictures and stories! I realized, though, a lot of what is really going on has been kept off the blog. So in order to fill in the picture, here's a little update:

I have completed my interviews (I think) with one barn located outside of Sisters. I've also managed to secure great housing over there, so if and when we get the "yay" call, we'll be renting our house out and moving. I'm hoping to hear from them this upcoming week. If I don't hear back, I'm planning on teaching lessons on the side in Clark County. My trainer has offered a horse to me to use, so I would have two lesson-horse quality horses.

I met with my OB doctor about two weeks ago. After 15 months, he told me it would be best if Nick and I adopted if we wanted more children. I didn't really want to go through pregnancy and birth again anyway, but I am surprised with how sad both Nick and I are to hear this. Even though we both kind of expected it, we will have to come to terms with it. It's interesting how life throws curve-balls --- I grew up thinking pregnancy and childbirth would be no big deal. Nick and I both originally wanted to have a large family, but now we think just Lilah will be fine. She's perfect anyway! :)

We are gearing up (or down?) to Christmas now. I am sick to death of putting ornaments back on the tree after L has pulled them down. In fact, our tree at this point is mostly undecorated. We will spend Christmas Eve with my parents, Christmas Day in HR with both sets of parents, and then travel to the Roundhouse for Nick's family Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving '08

Well, here is the overdue download on Thanksgiving '08.

Thanksgiving '08 got kicked off with an after-hours trip to Urgent Care, due to one (possibly two) infected ears of one Lilah Rose Tyrrell. Being a toddler, she quickly bounced back and was able to enjoy the rest of her weekend.

L on Thanksgiving day:


My sisters all came into town (THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING!! It wouldn't have been the same without you. We were so happy to see ya'll!)

Here Lilah and I are with the latest grandchild -- AJ!


Lilah checks out her Texas cousins Ava & Lauren


All the grandkids together. Hey, this isn't a bad picture for five squirrly kids!

Yours truly....

The men-folk:

Getting ready to play the Wii

Simon-the-dog also got in "play time"

Lilah & AJ (Lilah is sporting yet another outfit picked by Nick...)

Cute baby alert!

The Heidinger girls:

Lilah also played with cousin Miranda:

We enjoyed a long holiday weekend with the fam in town. I'm looking forward to the next time we all get together.....

Lilah's NEW favorite activity is ....

pulling Christmas ornaments off the tree!



This year I only put the non-breakable ornaments on the tree. So far, however, she has already broken two "unbreakable" ornaments. And it's only December 7th!

Swweeeeetttt.....

Sweet...... Can we potty-train her now?

Pictures Galore!

There are so many great pictures from the month of November and I wanted to post some of them that didn't get posted! So here is a slew of pics!




I put L in this super-cute outfit to go to the barn. Upon arrival at the barn, she immediately sat in a mud-puddle, thus thoroughly soaking the outfit. So the outfit survived this picture and a car ride. Luckily I got a picture of it!


Whoever's genes kicked in the blue eyes -- THANK YOU! We love Lilah's blue eyes! (from her green-eyed parents!)


BAD BABY!! BAD, BAD, BAD! (Jeez, how did she even get up there so fast?)

Okay, not a GREAT picture but thought I'd post it for comic relief: (I'm modeling riding clothes, can't you tell?)

Lilah taking Daddy for a walk on a grungy Saturday work day!

Lilah helping Mommy get ready for an interview....

Awwww.... How cute is this picture?!?!? Lilah with cousin Tara

A family shot at Nanny Tanny's birthday party

Lilah likes to grab my purse and wave bye-bye, like she's going somewhere. :)

A quick picture 'cause believe or not I even get motion-sick on swings!

Lilah loves slides and....

she loves when Nanny Tanny goes down with her!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I will get pictures up of our fab Thanksgiving soon!

-H