Our very own Portlandia

Well, it hasn't been all work and no play for us in our new town. 
In the month before the house sale closed and we got busy, we socialized and explored to our heart's content. 

Here, we visited our friend Brandy and Jason's son in the hospital. He was accepting visitors like royalty, sometimes dozens a day. T accepts his illness with amazing grace and style. He's an inspiration, as are his parents. 

Here was our Christmas dinner, wedged into our friend Brad's small little house. Remarkably, it was very enjoyable and relaxing. Our Christmas tree branch (in lieu of a whole tree) providing some holiday cheer and we even lit a fire in the fireplace, which is usually unloved and unused. 

Jess was home from college and we tried to take the time to take her out to meet Portland. Crazy girl, doesn't she know there's no phone in that box? Oh, that's her cell phone. 

Below, we visited the famous Peacock Lane - one solid block of Mega Holiday Lights. 

And we're meeting new people and trying our best to form new friendships in our new town, not an easy thing in a city so large. But our friend Debbie has proven useful for this, as has Brad. 

We're still not used to be so close to the oldest two kids and with the house needing so much work we haven't had the opportunity to make the most of the proximity. But that will come with time, I'm sure. Meanwhile, Sarah and Trusten introduced us to an amazing Russian restaurant with hundreds of varieties of vodka on the menu...