Christmas with the Raines Family

This year my side of the family(The Raines Family) decided to get together on the 26th. Sometimes it's hard to gather everyone together when we have two emergency room nurses and a fire fighter in the mix. The upside is that if anyone gets sick or chokes we got it covered. My parents drove up from Nampa ID on Christmas day(Mom worked Christmas Eve). They said the worst part of the drive was between Pendleton and Umatilla.

Myself, Jake my brother & Jill my sister

Mom & Dad

The Boys are ready

YEA!!! I got to buy for girls.

Kayla

Sami

Merry Christmas

This year Ryan had to work at the fire station on Christmas Day, so things were a little out of order. Our family has always opened gifts on Christmas Morning. This year however with Ryan working, we had to do it on Christmas Eve. I did get to sleep in on Christmas Morning. That was cool. Of course I would not have wanted to sleep in if we had not been up till after midnight playing with our new Wii.


Every year Ryan does everything he can to try to surprise me with something for Christmas. This year my Christmas present was a new camera that I helped to pick out. Of course this could not be good enough. He thinks I always have to have a surprise. So this year he got me a kitten. Her name is Izzy. She is the perfect kitten. She eats and sleeps and that is about it.

We spent Christmas afternoon at the fire station. Ryan and the other fireman baked a ham and the wives all brought sides. It turned out very well. Of course afterward the other firefighters couldn't wait to break out Colby and Cameron's new present the Wii.

Christmas Eve Eve

This year the Savage family decided to exchange gifts on December 23rd. That way everyone could spend Christmas day at home with their children. The festivities took place at Grandma and Grandpa Savages house in Umatilla. Ryan has 5 siblings who were all able to make it accept his brother Cory. He was home sick with the flue, but his wife Sammy and the kids came without him.

We started the evening off with the children exchanging their gifts.

Cody, Maria and Layla

Kennedy unwrapping her gift

Ryno tucking in his gift card

All the Grand kids accept for Ryno.

Kasandra, Jesamine, Cody, Taylor,Colby,Kennedy, Maria, Preston, Cameron &

Kaylee

After the kids are finished, the excitement really gets started. For the past few years we have been doing a gift exchange where everyone brings a gift and then we draw numbers out of a hat to see who gets to pick from the pile first. When your number comes up you can pick a gift off the pile or steal a gift from someone else. It can get a little crazy sometimes but fortunately no one was hurt.

Bowling with a bunch of Savages.

One thing the Savage family loves to do together is go bowling. In the old days we used to be able to get 2 lanes and that would be good. One with bumpers and one without. Not so these days. We had to have four lanes. Three with bumpers and one without. Just kidding!!! One with and three without. Boy when you get us all together these days with husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, we are quite the clan. Probably a little scary to those looking at us from the outside.

Ryan's little brother C.J.

Ryan's other brother Spencer and his wife Amber.
Ryno and his girlfriend Kayla

FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Late December always means the end of year party for the Fire Department. Everyone dresses up. Women put on their bling and the guys try to remember how to tie the tie they haven't worn since last years party. This year however a couple of the guys decided they were going to have their own theme. I have not yet narrowed down what that theme was, but they dressed up for the occasion in their own special way.

The big news of the evening was Ryan winning the Firefighter Of The Year award. What an awesome honor. Captain Bill Harris (the winner of it last year) gave a wonderful speech about Ryan and did the presentation of the award. Bill even got a little choked up when he was giving his speech.

Mickey, Tony, Ryan & Me

Bill Harris Presenting Ryan's Award

Ryan & the Chief.

Me & the Firefighter Of The Year.

Echo Plays Irrigon.

Thursday Night Ryno and the Echo Cougars played Irrigon. Some of you may know that Ryno went to school in Irrigon when he was just a little guy. It was kind of weird e said playing some of those kids. Echo did very well winning by 10 or so in the end. Ryno was lead scorer with 15(Good Job Ryno).

We went over early that day to hang out with our friends the Timpy’s, whose daughter Jessica goes to Irrigon High. We had Pizza and I helped Geneva get her blog all up and running.

Ryan’s parents Mel & Karen met us at the High school for the game. So Ryno had quite the fan club as usual.

Ryno wins the jump ball.

Fighting Scott for the rebound.

Colby & Cameron meet the mayor.

Tuesday night Colby and Cameron had the opportunity to go to City Hall and open the City Council Meeting by leading the pledge of allegiance. After that they got the chance to meet the mayor.

They were so nervous. They talked on the way over about how they had butterflies in their stomachs. The cool thing was it only took about 10 minutes and we were out of there.

Dinner with the Matthews Family

Tonight we had dinner with my sister Jill and her family. Dustin made his famous spaghetti that was totally awesome. While we were there we took pictures of their family with my new camera and helped her get her Christmas cards ordered.

This is the only one that I am going to blog because I am sure she doesn't want me to show them off before she gets the cards in the mail.

Oh ya and this one. It didn't make the card.

Sunnyside Christmas Light Parade

Saturday Night, Sunnyside put on their annual Christmas Light Parade. The Parade is started off with a group of runners that run the route (about 1 mile). This year Ryan and his co-worker Mickey decided to run it in their full firefighter gear. That includes their air tanks. The whole get-up weighs about 30 lbs. Ryan finished with a time of 8min and 7sec. That’s pretty good even without all the extra stuff. The funny part is they got a trophy for best costumes.

The rest of the parade was great too. Many of the farmers and businesses in town decked out their equipment with lights. Some of them really went to extremes.

This one thinks he is Rudolph

Check out the Santa hat on this guy.

Coca-Cola pulled out all the stops.

Ryno plays Stanfield

Ryno’s first basketball game of the season was last night in Stanfield. Ryno had an awesome game. Unfortunately they lost, but it wasn’t because Ryno didn’t give it his all. I have no idea how many rebounds he had, but I do know he had 16 points that included two 3 point shots. The team suffered from first game jitters. That caused them to only have 6 points in the first quarter. 3 of them were from Ryno. I am sure if they could have come out of the blocks stronger, it would have been a different outcome. Ryno had a great game though and we had fun watching him. We are excited about the season and can’t wait for more.

Ryno is #12 in the white.

The Plan of attack.

Wow!!! Those other boys don't stand a chance at that one.

The foul shot.

For 3 from the sideline.

The rebound.

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Treee.

Decorating the Christmas tree is a big deal at our house. We picked up the tradition from my side of the family. Every year we plan a night that everyone is home and we put up the tree. We start off by going and picking out a great tree. Then there is the battle with the tree stand. After the tree is up and the lights are strung out comes the food. We put out all kinds of munchies from veggie trays to little smokies. I am a little disappointed because this year I forgot the sardines (I think Ryan didn’t remind me of that on purpose). We munch out while we hang all the ornaments on the tree. Then after the boys have gone to bed, I re-hang all the ornaments on the tree so that it’s even. I wonder if my mom did the same thing?

That's a nice look on you Colby.

I have no idea what that is about.

I overate again..

What is it about the word Thanksgiving that makes me think I have to eat until I am ready to explode? Why is it that the pumpkin pie is barely put away and I think I have to have a turkey sandwich? Then there are the hours of discomfort, the unbuttoning of my pants, and the inevitable triptafan induced nap. Man if I were anymore thankful someone would have to shoot me and put me out of my misery.

All joking aside it was a great Thanksgiving. We love spending time with friends and family.

I don't feel so good!!!!!

Kaylee liked it.

Cameron and Preston