Cookie Day: Christmas... and Cards!

With the "Elf" soundtrack in the background (great CD, by the way!), we decorated holiday cookies Wednesday afternoon in the CE2 kitchen.


After, several students stayed after class to create awesome handmade Christmas cards for friends and family. We spread out stencils, crayons, paints, pens, stamps, stickers, paper and card stock and they let their imaginations go.
What a fun way to spend an afternoon :)
-Liz

Ha!

Did you see it?

Did anyone watch "The Amazing Race" finale last night? I knew CBS' race-around-the-world reality show was ending in Portland, so I assumed I'd see some familiar spots on TV. But I didn't know that the contestants, vying for a $1 million prize, would also be competing on the high-ropes course at Camp Tilikum!!

Brad and I both grew up going to and counseling at that camp. And since it's owned by George Fox University, many of our friends have worked there through the years. I credit Tilikum with much of my spiritual formation, as well as my love for nature.

Check out the GFU Web site for more information, including online video.

How exciting!
-Liz :)

Turkey Day and Black Friday

Thanksgiving was spent with family and friends at Eryn's newly remodeled house. Yummy!
After the turkey has settled, it's tradition for dad, Eryn and me to hit the stores early for Black Friday. We were up at 4 a.m. and traveled around the region to get the good deals (just doing our part to stimulate the economy, you know!). We got some funny looks...

He's a good sport! :)

In the evening, family gathers at our place to kick off the Christmas season with leftovers and our annual viewing of "Christmas Vacation." Best movie ever.

I hope your Christmas season is off to a great start!
-Liz :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

So what are you thankful for? At yesterday's potato feed in my CE2 class, the students started listing on a big white board things for which they were thankful. It was very touching, so I thought I should continue the theme with my friends and family.

Here are a few of the MANY (too many to ever list!) things for which I'm thankful every day:
-Liz :)

Cookie party!

In case you haven't caught on, I really like baking and I really like hanging out with friends. Combine the two and you have a winner!

Thursday afternoon started as a playdate for me and Kendra. The plan was to bake sugar cookies at her house and then bring them back to my place to decorate during our weekly "The Office" party. The guest list quickly grew, and Kendra's house was full of laughter and chatter (and wedding planning... congrats, Chris & Theresa!!) from a whole bunch of ladies. A couple guys also got in on the fun.

We packed up and several of us moved to my house to continue the party. More men were added, and we had a great evening of veggie chili (thanks, Lindsey!!), cookies, cheeseball (thanks, Kendra!!), and good times. By the way, I've never seen such artistic care taken to decorate a little sugar cookie!
YAY!

-Liz :)

Cookie Day: Pumpkin Pie

OK, apparently I'm a sucker. Kryistal convinced me that we needed to make pumpkin pies for Cookie Day this week... six of them... with real whipped cream! Together with Lisa and Sarah, we created six beautiful pies and fed the class a yummy pre-Thanksgiving treat.

-Liz :)