Merry Christmas 2014!

We kicked off the Christmas season with some annual traditions - I took Sunny to Zoolights and to Alpenrose Dairy the next day - she loved her neon frosting donut. 

 Then Sunny's school had a family dance, with a bubble machine, TP streamers, and lots of dancing.

Sunny danced til she dropped, and her buddy Ania is tending to her here.

 Popo and Daddo delivered a very special tiny Christmas tree that Popo planned and assembled. It has dozens of tiny figurines, micro storybooks, and "props" from stories all over it. Sunny treasures it!

 Sunny's school put on a winter program - they were dressed as farmers. Sunny rocked her hat.

 We've loved having our rescue buddy, Timothy Bunny. But we realized that our surprise pet would be better off in a bunny-centric home.  We also wanted a animal friend for our aging cat, Sun-Kitty. She and the Bunny get along, but it's not really a friendship. On a Friday night, I talked with Sunny and Max and possibly re-homing the bunny, to get a pet that's more our style - a second cat.  They were shocked since I'm allergic to cats. But I'd done some research and learned that some breeds might not trigger my allergies.  Once we'd agreed as a family that we'd trade the bunny for a cat, I researched local sources for the breed I wanted/needed: a Siberian.  It's hard to find a purebred rescue  cat! A gal in Gresham breeds Siberians, and she looked reputable.  So I called her right up, and found out she had 2 new Siberian kittens that would be available to bring home in February.  We visited her home and all the cats (moms, dads, and kittens) the following morning.  To be sure of my reaction, I petted the adults like crazy (since they produce more allergens), and then I rubbed my face and eyes with "catty hands." No reaction! Amazing.  We asked Michelle, the breeder, to match us with a kitten who'd be a great friend for Sunny.  She recommended the black and white one.  We named her Panda Bear. We put down a deposit and began planning to welcome home our kitten.  First up: build a cat tree to keep her entertained and busy, since Siberians are super athletic, and I don't want her to climb the curtains or couch backs.
We posted Timothy's picture and story on Nextdoor.com and found her a forever home with some neighbors within a couple of days.  They were super excited to welcome her home, since they'd been looking for a sweet bunny to be a special friend to their autistic daughter.  It all worked out so well!

Here's baby Panda Bear - she looks like a cartoon kitten!

 We went with Grandma and Grandpa to the Belle Mansion - it was fun enough to be a new tradition.

 Everyone's excited it's Christmas Eve! 

 And then on Christmas morning, the cookie and milk were missing, next to Sunny's letter...

 Sun-Kitty was very curious about who came down the chimney and made a mess with ashes.

 Nauntie and Uncle Sean surprised Sunny with a soft new friend, whom she named Snowball.

 We all took turned examining specimens under Sunny's new microscope. That little viola flower was studded with golden crystals all over the petal, and the stem/sepals were covered in teeny hairs. Cool!

 We met our friends for breakfast downtown -  Uncle Scott organized it all. Adolf, Brandi and Claudia were visiting from Alaska.  Dana and Isaac joined, too.  After a tasty breakfast, we walked to Pioneer Courthouse Square to see the huge tree.

 Sunny loves her "Chinese New Year outfit" from Papa - he got it for her in China. Here she is proudly posing in front of the Chinese New Year mantel decorations she'd just hung herself.  It'll be the Year of the Sheep, but we'd rather decorate with dragons than sheep;!

As always, we welcomed 2015 with a bunch of sparkles and explosions on New Year's Eve. Timmy and Maggie came over to join the fun.  It was freezing, but the fireworks show was worth some numb fingers.  2015: Here Comes the Best Year Ever!