Photo update

First, I must apologize for the laziness that I am responsible for with The Chesnut Chronicles.  We have been busy with one thing or another, so I have decided to update you all with photos and captions in chronological order of course.

Laney and I catching and observing Bull Trout in early January.  As we were standing in the middle of the river I noticed Laney's custom knit boot made by her aunt Mariah floating down stream of me at a high rate of speed.  And then it was gone...

We had our first official game night in February.

It was a handful with all the kids, but

the guys managed to beat the gals.  I

am sad to say that the gals dominated the

guys in the second official game night...

Delaney started her first swimming lessons in February.  Lora was with her on Tuesday nights and I had Thursdays.  She obviously enjoys the pool.

On February 11th we celebrated Delaney's first birthday at my parents house with lots of family.  The ladies did a great job decorating and baking.  Thanks to all the family that traveled so far to come.

Last weekend we had a guys weekend fishing trip at the Coe cabin.  Jeff and Carl won the card games and I caught a few fish, but no steelhead.  The high point of the trip was hitting drivers off doug bar road, a couple thousand feet above the Imnaha river.  Shows how good the fishing was when play golf instead.  Jason Peterson is hitting and Jeff Bishop and Carl Wheeler are shivering in the gallery.

Today Laney took her first serious steps.  She has taken steps before, but it was much more purposeful and extended today.  And yes I realize my movie production skills are less than stellar...  Apparently I cant rotate hd video...

Matt, Lora, and Delaney

Holidays are over!

 Hey oh! the holiday travels and craziness are all over and we are finally enjoying a quiet weekend to ourselves.  So why not blog...

We started our Christmas travels with a trip to Sumner, WA to visit my grandparents.  The first night Delaney's favorite toy was grandma's basket of Christmas letters.  After she took all the letters out she would put them all back into the basket and repeated the process a few times to the amusement of Great Grandma and Grandpa.  Delaney received a WSU hoodie from my mother and was forced to pose with all the family cougar alumnists. 

On the 23rd we went to a Christmas light show at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium with my parents.  It took 30 minutes to get to the zoo entrance and another 30 to get parked, but all in all it was worth it.

                                                                                                                                                               On the 24th we departed Sumner for Monmouth, OR and Lora's mothers house.  At some point in Sumner I discovered the greatness and challenge of Angry Birds.  At some point in Monmouth I discovered that I had developed an addiction to those damn angry birds.  The family attended Christmas eve service at Lora's cousins church and had a nice evening despite being the disruptive group in the congregation (crazy kids).  At 9:30 Christmas morning the family could not wait any longer for Delaney to wake up to open presents and stockings, so for the sake of the family we were forced to wake the sleeping beauty.  Quinn and Delaney were both a little overwhelmed with new toys and gifts, although the wrapping paper may have been just as much fun as the toys for Delaney.  As always our time in Monmouth went by too quickly.

Our last stop on the way home was in Wilsonville for Lora's Uncle Mick's 70th birthday at McMennamins pub.  Her uncle Rich and his Irish folk band were the featured entertainment and as usual their concerts never disappoint. A Fine Mess, the bands name, obviously earned a new fan.  Lora and I did feel a little bad though, because that little girl kind of stole the show for a little bit with her dancing and clapping.  With all the activity and attention we knew the   inevitable  breakdown would come and at 9:15 we were probably the first guests to depart.  

The trip back to Milton-Freewater had it's exciting moments caused by some heavy rain and hydroplaning.  I am not sure which was worse the hydroplaning or Lora stressing out and giving me her driver education course.  Anyway, we did finally make it back home from Delaney's first of many overly busy, yet completely enjoyable Christmas Vacations.