Snow and Ice

If you follow the news, you've been reading about the ice and snow back east. It finally hit the mid-atlantic. Snow fell most of the day yesterday with about 2 inches accumulation. So soft and powdery! I was able to sweep our porch and a path on the driveway. Last night freezing rain fell and created a sheet of ice on everything! Here's a view from our door. Not the same as Oregon had at Christmas! Warm rain is due this afternoon to melt it all away!

Tim Has Laser Eye Surgery

Tim had the PRK last week at Bethesda Medical Center. Midshipmen get this surgery during their junior year to qualify for pilot. Tim describes the not-so-fun process on his blog if you want hear more. Grandma and Grandpa Steiner, here's the address to type in: http://midswatch.wordpress.com/ When I took this picture Tim said, "Mom, I can't believe you are going to use the flash!" So I turned it off :) Not the best photo but it gives you "the look" he had. He's doing pretty well at this point since he's sitting up "in the light"! Our dark basement was his refuge!

The rest of Jeff's birthday

Tim had liberty Friday night and invited a fellow mid home for dinner. Only trouble was, we went out for dinner! But, Chris enjoyed eating "off the yard" and we enjoyed getting to know him. Jeff had a great day. Hearing from all his kids is the best gift of all!

Jeff's Birthday January 16, 2009

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband! I am so thankful for such a kind, caring, godly man for a husband! Yes, it's just the two of us now doing the birthday breakfast in bed tradition! I made Jeff oatmeal and toast for his big birthday breakfast! He got to open his gift this am because I knew he would need it for our very cold weather! It was 10 degrees when he left this morning! Jeff has wanted a wool overcoat for a long time since he wears a suit and tie to work. Walking to meetings downtown DC can be very cold! So here he is with his new coat....and hat! On his way! Tonight Tim gets to come home for liberty so we'll celebrate together!

Back to Maryland 2009

Jeff and I flew back to MD on Dec 31st. In fact, we rang in the new year just after landing at BWI! Cold but clear! I got the stomach flu two days later so it was a rough beginning to '09! We did enjoy just relaxing and enjoying our Christmas decorations for a little while longer....sigh...it's so sad when it all comes down. On Sunday, Jan 4th, Tim flew back since he had to report by 10 pm. A fellow company mate needed a ride from the airport so we were happy to help! Here's Tim and Tanner as they arrive back for the new semester!

Highlights from Christmas 2008

Eating and gifts! Mike made the boys "Corvallis Caps" just like the one he made for himself! And playing with play dough from Aunt Jill the next day:)

Highlights of Christmas 2008

More from December 26th. Waiting. The little boys watching for Uncle Mike. And then Uncle Mike arrives!

Highlights of Christmas 2008

Here are more photos from Dec. 26th as we hung out playing games and cooking while waiting for Mike to come.

Highlights of Christmas 2008

After all the fun at Dan and Anna's we went BACK to Jill and Nolan's for Christmas day! Dan's family were going to Anna's folks for the day. I'm sorry to say we have no pictures from that day at Jill's. It was a relaxed day. I made chili and cornbread. Tim and Mike came over for the afternoon. The kids got to each open a gift since our official Steiner gift time was to be the next day on the 26th when we could all be together. These photos are from the 26th. Mike had to work all day so we waited till he got there to eat and open gifts. Before hand we played games and cooked! Jill and Catherine made Christmas tree breads and I cooked a ham dinner.

Highlights of Christmas 2008

More of Christmas morning at Dan's. Dan and Anna gave the boys a Star Wars tent that they loved! Here's a picture of them glowing from inside! And one of Cami....on the outside! Too fun watching them immediately know what to do! They were so appreciative.

Christmas Highlights 2008

On Christmas Eve Jill and Nolan went to Morning Star for their service and then spent the evening with Nolan's sister in Salem. Due to no power and 18 inches of snow at his parents house in Portland they had to postpone the Nelson family time. Jeff and I went back to Dan and Anna's to spend Chrismas eve with their little family. After dinner we all went to Salem Heights service and it snowed while we drove home! So pretty! The kids all got to open a gift and we put out cookies and milk for Santa! Oh, it is magical for the little ones! So fun to watch!

Highlights of Christmas 2008

Jill and Nolan had a beautiful tree and it was so nice of them to allow us to do all our wrapping there. The tree was full to say the least!

Highlights from Christmas 2008

We stayed in Salem at Dan and Anna's for the first part then planned to go to Jill and Nolan's on the Sunday before Christmas. We woke up to the whole area encased in ice. Dan's church was even cancelled. Jeff and I were so thankful to have arrived in Oregon before the ice arrived! By the afternoon it looked like we could carefully drive to Albany. Getting our car de-iced took an hour! We loaded up and made the slippery drive out of their neighborhood. Main roads were sanded and I-5 was fine. In fact, once we got out of the hills the ice and snow were gone! So we made it to Albany and spent the next few days getting ready for Christmas! I had shipped a lot of our gifts to Jill's and the piles created a fun hiding place for their cats!

Highlights from Christmas 2008

We had such a great time in Oregon! From Cami's first birthday to the many days of Christmas! It was very icy on the day of Cami's party so it was a smaller crowd. Not everyone was able to get there to due icy roads but we had a wonderful time. Josiah and Micah enjoyed all of Cambria's gifts while she just had a good time hanging out enjoying the bows and paper! The boys decorated her cake with pink and brown polka dots!