Merry Christmas from the Harding's!

We wish you all a very

Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year...

Rob, Debbie, Nicole and Amanda

The Harding Christmas!

Today we celebrated Christmas with Rob's mom, grandma, sister, and Jason (Kate's boyfriend). We had lunch at the Claim Jumper and then came back to our house to open presents. We then took Jason to the airport and sent him on a plane to spend Christmas in Sacramento, CA with his family. The rest of us toured town and looked at Christmas lights. Our original plan was to go to the Grotto...but we got rained...I mean poured out!
Great Grandma with her two great grand daughters.
Nicole with her new sock monkey PJs & slippers.
Amanda was thrilled with the High School Musical 2 pack she received.
Jason gave Kate a beautiful diamond necklace!

Christmas With Mick!

Our nephew Mick, and his mom Rhonda, celebrated Christmas with us on Saturday the 22nd of December. We had a great afternoon together. We had tons of Chinese Food, Pie and presents!

Mick was so excited...Grandpa & Grandma got him an I-pod!
Rhonda with one of her new angels.
Grandma and Grandpa with their 3 grandchildren.Mick and Rhonda!
Our favorite nephew!

Christmas Tree & Lights!

Okay...I know...I am really far behind on blogging. So here it goes!
On Saturday the 8th, we drove to Sandy to a tree farm and cut down our own tree. The last two or so years we bought our tree from the Boy Scouts...but the girls wanted to go and do it "like we use to do!"

The four of us in front of our tree at the tree farm.

Nicole trying to cut down the tree!

Amanda trying to cut down the tree...although, it is kinda hard when your sister and Dad are laughing at you so hard!

The best part of the day was that although it was cold and windy...it was NOT raining!

The decorated tree...the girls want everyone to know it touches the ceiling!

This isn't the best photo...but it shows that the girls also convinced dad to get the lights up on the outside of the house!

No Decision Today!

No Decision! The committee met today to decide who should be the forever family for the twins, but apparently a family member has come forward showing interest in adopting the twins.

We know very little...but this we do know. We are in a hurry and wait stage. You are probably asking some of the same questions we asked...Where have these people been for the last 3 yrs?...Why did the committee even meet today for over 4 hrs?...How long until we know?...etc. They said it will probably be sometime after the first of the year before we have an answer either way. A family was chosen today...but we do not know who. Oregon State law requires that all family members be given significant time before an adoptive family can be considered. (Remember we are working with the state...gov...)

So, we will continue to look at other children as they become available and pray that God will find the right "forever family" for the twins.

Independence HS Youth Retreat

Goverment camp...Firday Nov 30-Sunday Dec 2, 2007...13 people...and tons of snow!

Snow...snow...and more snow!
Andrew Hastings gave Rob's car a "mohawk"!
Look at all the snow that fell!

It was funny to look outside because we had all

three of our vehicles there...and only 2 licensed drivers! :-)

Nicole's Snowman...she put him on the hood of the car! He made it almost to Sandy on the way home...had we not had so much rain on the way home, he probably would have made it all the way home!

Dad and daughter in front of the place we stayed. It was really a nice place.
Out playing in the snow!
April and Nicole!
Rob said he wanted proof that I was out playing in the snow...doesn't happen often!
Nicole and her master piece!

Amanda Won A Limo Ride!

Last Thursday (yes, I am a little late on the posting!)

Amanda went on a limo ride with other kids from school.

They rode in a Excursion Limo to Wall Street Pizza

and were treated to pizza, garlic rolls and a soda.

Here she is in the limo!


Here she is with the others that won a ride too!

I was lucky enough to get called to be a chaperone!

Congrats Amanda! Thanks for letting me come too!

5 States...9 days...

a Honda Odyssey van, 2 adults, 2 seniors, 1 teenager with a permit, 1 tweenager, a roof top carrier, a loaded ice chest, 2 boxes of food, 6 bags of luggage, a walker for grandma, i pods, cds, dvds, mountain dew, diet coke and a lot of gas money made for a fantastic trip! We started out at 5am on the 17th and headed out thru Oregon, down thru Idaho and into Utah for our first nights stay.

The Mormon tabernacle.
Our photo with "Jesus"...which none of us wanted,

but they insisted upon.

Another shot of the tabernacle.
Salt Lake City Utah's State Capital.
Amanda's dream conquered...we ate at a Sonic!

Antelope Island, on the Great Salt Lake in Utah! Beautiful!
"Lola" as we called our navigation system, making it look like we are in the middle of the Great Salt Lake, when in actuality we are on a cos way!
The second night we stayed in Utah as well, and then it was on to

The Dam!

The Grand Canyon!
Another shot of the Grand Canyon.
The four of us!

The third night we stayed at the Grand Canyon and then headed to Sun City Arizona!

Arizona sunsets!

Cactus...rock...cactus...and more rocks!

Amanda and Uncle Bob...Sun City AZ allows these golf carts on the main streets,

you see them everywhere.

Amanda and "Scooter"!
One of the many meals we shared as a family.

We wore shorts, capris and short sleeves and slept with the windows open in November!

Palm trees and 80 degree weather!
Scooter...a very spoiled and loved dog!

Saturday the 24th it was back in the van and up thru Arizona, into CA and up the I-5. We mad it home late Sunday evening...and back to the real world of cold weather, school and work!

Thanks so much Uncle Bob and Aunt Wanda for a marvelous time in Sun City, AZ. We love you guys! Thanks too, Jeff, for spending so much time with us. It was so good to see you.

(By the way, you should know, we are freezing to death! It is 36 degrees for a high today,

east wind and rain!) Gotta love those Arizona winters!

We are Home!

Here is all of us with our great relatives in sunny Sun City, AZ!

We had a great trip! More to come...

There Is Progress...

Okay...the cupboard is back in...

the tile has been sealed...
Shower curtain up... toilet working!...
mirror and light up...
not to mention a gorgeous floor.
We are close to being finished!

Isn't it amazing...not to mention looking good!