It only takes a small act to make a difference

Our family is well aware of how lucky we are to have a roof over our heads and food in our refridgerator and pantry.  Please take the time to watch the video below.  We hope you will share with us in doing something for others this holiday season.  It only takes a small act of kindness to make a difference.

Weekend update.....

What's up at the Tishendorfs this weekend???  Ryan's basketball team had their first tournament.  Saturday Ryan played 2 games......and we headed out to Red Robin.

Matt (assistant coach this year) on lower left, next to Ryan #21

Sarah offered to take photos of the basketball game..... first shot....her shoes.

Second shot....interesting angle...she said she was photographing the newspaper....

Sarah hanging out with her wild haired Barbie

Sunday Ryan had his last game in the tournament.  Then we headed out to our favorite restaurant The Oswego Grill for lunch.  Ryan actually fell asleep on the way home while we took a short road trip to look at some homes for my cousin, who will be moving to town next week!  I tried to get a photo of him sleeping but he heard me unzip the camera case.

What's that smell????

 "Sniff....Sniff....... I smell roses!!!"

Going on a tree hunt

It is officially "Christmas Season" in the Tishendorf house, so this morning after Ryan's basketball practice we headed out to 3 Bears Tree Farm in Aurora to find the perfect tree!!!

Statue at the entry of the farm...

Going on the tree hunt.....

Had a bright idea...."Hey, everyone look at me (and straight into the sun), so I can get a great Xmas photo"....oops.....

Ryan, Ryley and Brandon

Matt was under the tree sawing away (everyone got a turn, accept today's photographer...hee hee).  Tyler, Tori and Ryan came to the rescue as the tree began tipping...

Thank goodness we have so many kids or we would never have made it to the car!!!

Matt challenged the family to the left of us to a "tree race"......they won!

The tree on top of the Subaru.....we only had to stop once, when it began sliding off to the passenger side on the way home.  Thus the reason for taking 2 cars.....they needed a spotter!

In the afternoon Matt and I took a trip to Cascade Station along the Columbia River in Portland to get some tree trimming supplies!!!  The trees on the river are GORGEOUS along the river!!!

A photo looking east....

This evening we brought the tree in.....

We cranked Pandora.com for Xmas tunes and trimmed the tree!

Our finished tree...which will be a work in progress until Christmas. 

Then it was time to try and take some photos for our Christmas cards.....One of our outtakes....

.....and another outtake

And another.....if the doggone kids would stop laughing and telling jokes it would make this photo project much easier!!!  Of course, we aren't posting our actual photo...you'll have to wait for your Christmas card to arrive!!!

One of our favorites.....Sarah and Tori.....It is so good to have a sister!!!!

Lots to be thankful for.....

We have SO much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving....most importantly that we are all healthy, and happy and all together on this holiday!!!   This year Thanksgiving included a HUGE surprise....when I rolled out of bed in the morning, and walked into the kitchen I found Tori at the counter finishing up the deviled eggs, and Brandon putting the turkey in the oven!!!  That is right......my 11 year old and 13 year old had taken over the kitchen.  Brandon had already prepped our favorite appetizer "heart attacks on a stick"  (bacon wrapped cocktail wieners covered in a thick layer of brown sugar) and he was getting ready to put together the 7 layer dip!!  So, what did they need me to do I asked.  NOTHING!!!  I was told to take the day off, relax, enjoy a book and a bubble bath and they would handle EVERYTHING!!  They weren't kidding...we'd planned the menu earlier in the week and I'd done the shopping, so they literally cooked everything.  After dinner, Tori got to work on desserts....she made brownies, white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies and candied cherry fudge!!!  It was ALL delicious and truly the best Thanksgiving to date! 

Under the Moonlight

It is our FAVORITE time of the year in the Pacific Northwest!!! It is chilly outside, the rains have arrived, and that means there is a constant fire in the fireplace and always something yummy on the stove or in the oven!!!

I was awaken this morning by a windstorm with pouring horizontal rain hitting my bedroom window .... which sounded more like objects being thrown non-stop with an attempt to break into our home. I was smart and snuggled down deeper into my covers..... because it is Sunday, and Sunday IS my favorite day for sleeping in. (Actually, I love sleeping in EVERY day...and being as I live a life of leisure....well, it is something I do on a regular basis. But, enough about me!)

The highlight of today was SURPRISINGLY NOT Matt's and my grocery shopping trip in preparation for Thanksgiving -- Why is it we can fill 1 cart with groceries, get to the checkstand and need 2 carts to take it out of the store???? (Have I mentioned it is FABULOUS FOOD season???) The actual highlight was our (Matt, Tori, Brandon and I) trip to the local Cinema to see NEW MOON!!! Yes, the 4 of us have read the Twilight series and are diehard fans!!!

Bella, Edward and Jacob

Edward...the Vampire.  Unfortunately nobody in the family is on Team Edward anymore.  In fact, when Edward came on the screen shirtless....Tori said "Ewwwww". 

Tori is now officially on Team Jacob.  She is a giddy, non-stop giggling middle school er since seeing the movie.  It is SO good being 11 years old, and in love with a werewolf....Who knew????

As for me....Well, I am on Team Mike....  That's right.  I'm cheering for the guy that the werewolf referred to as "a marshmallow".  And, yes, I know how the series ends....but someone has to root for the underdog (no pun intended).

League Champions!!!

Last weekend, Ryan's Junior Varsity (7th and 8th grade) Football team took 1st place in the playoffs!!!

The team watching the game prior to theirs....waiting for their chance to become Champions!!!

The team getting ready to start!

After receiving their medals...Ryan is #23

The team and their head coach

Ryan with the team trophy!

It feels good being on a champion team!

Matt (who was one of the many assistant coaches on the team) and Ryan -- Great memories!!!