tree decorating

Jason and Connor set up our fake Christmas tree, while I got out all our totes of Christmas decorations.  Connor had a blast going through the tote of tree ornament's.  His favorite ornament's were the one's from Aunt Staci.  Every year she picks out a Hallmark ornament for Connor that represents that year.  Every box he opened he would ask "And who got me this ornament mom?"

He did a great job decorating the tree!  While Connor and I were hanging ornaments, Jason was trying to figure out why the lights were not working on the top of our pre-lit tree.  After replacing bulbs, which burnt out as soon as he plugged the tree in..  he gave up and wrapped a strand of white lights around the top of the tree.  We've had this tree for 9+ years.  I think next year it might be time for a new tree.

Our stocking are hung by the fireplace with care.. and Connor even has goodies in his purple stocking!

Staci's Birthday

We started the celebration with a 4 course dinner at the Davenport Hotel's Safari Restaurant.
I thought it was funny that Jason, Tony and Jeremy ordered caesar salads and Staci, Jenna and I ordered green salads.  Our appetizer was a tomato pesto flat bread and mushroom truffle flat bread.  For the main course I ordered a teriyaki salmon and Staci ordered the BBQ boneless ribs and we split both (double yum!).  I think everyone ordered the chocolate peanut butter pie for desert.. except Jason and Jeremy who ordered cheesecake instead.

2nd stop- The Globe bar and grille

 Happy Birthday Staci!

I think I was the only sober one... I had 1 glass of wine with dinner.  I lost track of how many beers Jason drank.  He felt it the next morning though!

3rd stop- Bistango Martini Lounge.  This was my favorite!  It's a very small, but classy lounge with a black ceiling with twinkling lights, great music, amazing drinks, a beautiful waterfall cascading down the wall next to the bar and a fantastic atmosphere.
4th stop (no pictures)- Gibliano Brother's Dueling Piano bar and Music House.  Jenna told them it was Staci's birthday and the guy on stage playing the piano tried to get her to sit on the piano while he played her a birthday song.. didn't work though.  Staci wouldn't get on stage. 
Jason and I decided to call it a night and go pick up Connor, who was playing at the Trantum's.  Staci, Tony, Jenna and Jeremy finished the night playing pool at the 5th bar.

Dalles Museum

On the way home we stopped at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center to stretch our legs.

A life-size, 13-foot Columbian Mammoth

ice age exhibit.  Giant beaver skull compared to modern beaver skull.

Connor checking out an old style telephone

Land Ahoy!  They had a great play room with crafts, puzzles, dress up clothes, a big ship to play on, sand box to dig in... lots of fun stuff.

After we spent an hour exploring the museum we let Connor pick anything he wanted out of the gift shop.  He's been asking for a plush bat for a few weeks now.  We were thrilled that he finally found one.. and a pretty cool one at that!  It's a finger puppet.  Your finger slides in where his body is and the wings are a cool shear material that flaps in the wind.  Connor named him Small Bite after the bat on his favorite show Wild Krats.  Connor recently added feathers to the list of objects he likes to collect.  Double bonus.. he found a Native American purple/pink leather pouch with feathers.

Connor loved the 45 minute Raptor Experience- Birds of Prey show.  We learned about the red tail hawk, falcons, owls and eagles.  When the lady asked "What is the fastest animal in the world?"  Connor yelled out "the peregrine falcon!"  That's one of his favorite animals.   The peregrine falcon can fly 200 mph!

The Great Horned Owls have forward facing eyes that permits the greatest sense of depth perception for low-light hunting.  Their large eyes take up most of the space in their head and the eyes are fixed in their sockets.  The owl must turn its head to change views.  They can rotate their head 270 degrees in both directions.  Most owls weigh less than 4 pounds!

The Red Tailed Hawk has a wing span up to 57 inches!

Thanksgiving

Jason's sister, Sue hosted Thanksgiving dinner at her house.  Jason and Cameron woke up early on Thanksgiving day to run in the Turkey Trot. 

 Connor and Cameron chillen' on the couch

 Jason and Cameron's Turkey Trot race numbers

 Jason got a shirt for Connor (even though Connor and I didn't go)

 Grandpa, the newest Charette member- Isaiah, and Connor

 Our Thanksgiving feast

 Connor and Grandpa wrestling around

 4 Charette generations: Grandpa, Taylor, Isaiah, and Mark

 I'm thankful for my wonderful family on Thanksgiving... Connor decided to be a stinker and turn his head just as the camera flashed.  I'm so very thankful to have such an amazing little boy in my life to make me smile and laugh daily!

 Connor's rein as the youngest Charette has come to an end.  The newest Charette, Isaiah Adam Charette, 6 months old.

 me, Al, Jason, Connor and Jeannette

 Connor's quote from school... he's thankful for dragons.  He loves "Toothless" from the How to Train Your Dragon movie.  Silly kid.

His adorable hand turkey from school

OMSI

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry!

We spent all day Wednesday at OMSI in Portland.

 Jason found some chestnut seeds on the way there.  Something new to add to Connor's acorn seed collection.

 First up, the blue ball room

 Checking out electricity in the science lab

 I'm not sure who had more fun exploring.. Connor or Jason.  I had a hard time keeping an eye on both boys, who seemed to always be going in opposite directions.

 The number arch my boys made

 me and Connor checking out the inside of a rocket

 Grossology!

 Connor wasn't so sure he wanted to see what was inside a nostril

 But he did find the gastrointestinal tract to be interesting

 dinosaur bones are always educational

After a long day of exploring OMSI we stopped off at Costco for a late lunch.  We actually stopped for something else, but since Connor loves hot dogs we decided to stay for lunch.  Connor ate his entire HUGE Costco hot dog too!

The "Grand" Charette's

We spent Thanksgiving week in Longview/Kelso with Grandma and Grandpa Charette!  They recently moved into a retirement home there.  Connor had a great time visiting them.

 Connor and Grandpa playing

 Connor was quick to grab grandma's seat when she got up

 We took them out to Apple bee's for lunch.  The following day we had lunch at their retirement home with them, which was really good.  The chef is excellent.

 More play time with Grandpa

 cuddles and tickles from Grandma

 Jason spent most of his time finding things to fix or adjust in their new home.  He lowered the shelves in the kitchen to make it easier for Grandma to reach.

 We bought a shower seat and shower suspension caddy that he put together and installed.  He also worked on her computer and hung a plant from the ceiling for them.

 We met Jason's friend, Lee and his family Debra and Faith for dinner.

 Connor posing by the huge fish tank by the entry of their retirement home.

 Connor got to ride on the seat to Grandma's walker, which they both thought was fun.

 Connor showing Grandma his Tag book and how the pen reads the story

There are always daily events going on at the retirement home.  A group of choir singers came to sing some Christmas songs.  Jason was out running some errands with his dad, so Jeannette, Connor and I went to watch the singers.  Just before they started Jason and Al got back.  Al opted to take a nap, but Jason joined us for the show.  There were probably about 25 members in the group (mainly women), who thought Connor was adorable sitting in the front row patiently listening to them sing and then applauding after each song.  The ladies kept looking and smiling at Connor.  He leaned over to me in the middle of a song and whispered "Mom, I think they are singing this song to me!"  The ladies told us after the show that Connor was the youngest person to ever watch them sing and they were so impressed with how well mannered and polite he was.