VITA-MIX BLENDER!!!

One of the best Christmas gifts we got this year was a Vita-Mix blender from my folks. For those of you that know what this is, you know how awesome it is. For those of you that don't, think Jamba Juice or something of that sort. It's the blenders that they use to mix up some of your favorite treats. Well so needless to say, we were pretty pumped about this. It has totally changed the way we eat. See I am one who has to have a treat every evening. It may be cookies, some cake, ice cream or a mix of all three :) Well we have begun concocting up some of our favorite treats with this blender. We all sorts of fruits and veggies. We've made several smoothies, soups and even pancake batter. It's amazing what this thing does. You put in cold stuff and it makes it colder. You put in hot stuff and it makes it hotter. WAY NEAT!!! Anyways, one of my friends suggested that I try a smoothie that her daughter loves and she loves to give to her. I call it the Green Smoothie.

So this is what it looks like (the blender that is). In the green smoothie I put: 1 pear, 1avacado, 1 apple, 8 ice cubes, 1 can pineapple, 2 cups green spinach (the leafy kind), 1 scoop soy protien powder and about 1 cup of whatever juice I have in the fridge. This makes enough for a big glass for both Jason and I and then a sippy cup for each of the girls.

The Vita-Mix does a great job of crushing everything to a pulp so there is no...pulp :)

Rilee LOVES it!

Taylor asked for more when hers was gone...so as the mother, I had to share mine :)

One of my favorite features of this Vita-Mix is that it is it's own dishwasher. I put in 5 cups of hot water and some dish soap. Turn it on high for about 2 min, rinse off the soap and air dry. THAT'S IT!!

Anyways, just thought I'd share. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Who would have thought that kids would want to eat all these fruits and veggies...it's all in what's mixed with it right??!?!!

Slide Show

More Christmas Pics

Lots of Relaxing for Poor Jason
Loving the Grandma time
Angel Rilee

Christmas Pics

We couldn't even get to the plug to turn the lights on.
Mom and Dad sure did their part to help the economy this year :)
Rilee actually taking the time to open a gift on her own.
Princess Taylor

It's Christmas Time in the City!!

This Christmas was a mixed bag for the Young's. It started out GREAT! We went to Corvallis on Saturday to celebrate with the bunch down there. We all had so much fun. It was a nice relaxing trip with no to-do's for once...although I did have to go to work for a little while. Anyways, Christmas was in the air for sure down there. Bev had the house all decorated and music playing when we arrived. We went downstairs to watch the Muppet's Christmas movie which the girls loved and I got a nap. Then we continued the tradition of King Tin for Christmas dinner. I LOVE THAT PLACE. After dinner Jason and his dad went to pick up some chiropractic equipment that Jason had found for sale (he will be done with school in 6 months), Teri watched the girls and I helped Bev with some final holiday wrapping. We then met for the traditional Christmas reading and gift exchange. Sadly, I don't have any pictures down there of the festivities as we shot mostly video, but trust me, it was fun!! The girls LOVED opening the presents...Taylor more than Rilee. Rilee would just take them once they were opened. So thanks for the good time Gene Young's :)

On Sunday we went to church with my folks. We were a bit worried about the girls and their adjusting to nursery, but I guess what they say is true...the church is the same everywhere. The girls went right in and Jason and I were able to enjoy the Christmas lessons. I was amazed. Then we went to my parents house to get ready for Christmas Eve dinner. This was the first time in a long time that my sister and her family (minus Jessica and Gage), Michael and his family and us had been together for Christmas. Although my brother was sicker than a dog, he and his family made it. Dinner was great and Jason was able to say something that he never thought he would be able to say "Please pass the Prime Rib"!! The food was amazing!!

Monday we got up and did our Christmas with the girls. Taylor had been holding her hand up to her ear all night Sunday night asking if we heard Santa. So she was pumped to see that he had eaten his cookies and left her some gifts. The kids are so fun!! They really make Christmas. We then headed to our traditional Christmas breakfast. We always open our stocking and Santa gifts then mom made us get showered and shined because she hated when all our Christmas pictures were of us looking all nasty :) So that's fun. After a great breakfast at Shari's, we opened gifts at my folks. This is what all my pictures are of. I just could not believe all the gifts that were passed out...granted my sister had brought all of her gifts up...but still, it was INSANE!!! After gifts and a light lunch we laid around.

Jason had been feeling a bit tired, warm, cold, snotty...all of the above. It started Christmas eve, but we thought he just needed some rest...well no. We ended up in the emergency room on Christmas. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! It ended up he has the Flu...strain A. It has since begun it's cycle through the family. While it stinks to be sick on Jason break from school, it's nice to get it done so that when it's time for him to go back, we will all be healthy.

Anyways, so that's the mixed bag Christmas. We had a blast, but it stinks that Jason was so sick.

If you got through this blog...good on you. Sorry for the long winded blog, but it will serve us well as far as remembering stuff.

I will post pics of this blessed event. For some reason it's not doing it now.

Pics to go with the last blog

This is the group that we trick-or-treated with. SO FUN!!!

My chicken and cow.

Mom and her "second set" of grandkids first thing in the morning.

My girl doesn't like to get dirty :)

The kids enjoying the outdoors...even though it was rainy and COLD!

Aaaaannnnnd We are Back

After a little break from blogging, we are back and going strong. Our lives have just been so super busy that major holidays have past and I haven't gotten photos up for all to see. Sorry about that.

Anyways, we have had Halloween. The girls and Jason dressed up for the Halloween party at WSCC the Friday before Halloween. Taylor was a chicken, Rilee a cow and Jason dressed up as Old "Black"Donald. They were super cute. I had to work at the massage clinic that night, so I wasn't able to participate in the festivities this year :( The actual day, the 31st, we dressed the girls up and took them trick or treating. It was so much fun. They LOVED it!! After every door Taylor would yell "Mommy, LOOK! I got Candy!!" She's just so cute.

Thanksgiving this year was great. We kicked off the holiday by spending the day with Jason's family. This was the first time in 7 years that his whole family has been together so it was an awesome thing to be part of. We did family pictures, played with cousins, ate lots of snacks and did our "thankful fors". It was great. We ended up leaving there at about 5:00. Yes, we missed dinner, but we had to make it down to Roseburg before bed time. Once we got to Roseburg, it was dessert time and lots more playing. On Friday we had Thanksgiving dinner with my family. It was so nice. I'm so glad they postponed their Thanksgiving dinner so that we could be a part of it. Boy are we blessed with great families!!

It was a nice break. We needed a little change of pace. Roseburg gave us just the right amount of family, rest and fun. Taylor and Rilee love the property that Drea has. They went exploring, rode on the riding lawn mower, rode with Bryce in his John Deere, and took turns in the wagon. This time that they were occupied with their Aunt Drea and cousin Bryce, Jason and I were able to hit up some of the Black Friday sales!! YIPPEEE!!! Jason then went to see the new Bond movie and the kids and I with my family went to see the Festival of Lights. It was awesome. What a great way to start off the Christmas season.

Sorry if this seems so random. We are catching up on our shows that we missed while we were gone. Grey's Anatomy...Love it

Below are some pics: