Christmas Joy

We had a wonderful Christmas with Tyson's family up in Ellensburg. We had a nice long weekend relaxing, playing games and being with family. One night we went Christmas Caroling to retirement homes with the church. Another night us "kids" had a serious game of Risk where we video taped confessionals during the game...very entertaining. On Christmas Day we had a house full of 19 family members...it was so good to see everyone and catching up. Here are some pictures from our weekend.

Kai bringing some Christmas joy to one of the men in the retirement home. Snuggling with Gramma
Center of attention with Uncle Troy and Auntie Taryn

We woke up Christmas morning to this beautiful sunrise...what a wonderful way to start the day celebrating our Savior's birth! Attacking Cousin Eric

Kai chilling with his new Shrek that Gramma & Pa got him...he is now in Kai's crib and keeps him entertained in the morning until we get down there. They also had a small wrestling match before Kai went to bed last night:)Kai with his Great Uncle Kent

Kai and Daddy putting together his Radio Flyer Rocket Pa and Gramma got him

Auntie Taryn trying out the Radio Flyer Rocket
Kai and Great-Grandma Boppa

The many faces of Kai

I came across these pictures while going through the huge amount of pictures taken over Christmas. Kai is sitting with his Auntie Kari and showing off for all his other aunts and uncles (he was not lacking an audience this weekend). I was amazed at all the expressions caught in the span of a few minutes and knew I had to make a slide show out of them.

Kai's First Snow

Kai was able to experience snow for the first time this weekend in Ellensburg. We bundled him up in a thick suit, but a pair of dad's socks on his hands and let him enjoy the snow for a few minutes. He didn't know what to think at first but I think he liked it...at least when he put it in his mouth. I think he was more interested in his new friend, Tess the dog, than he was the snow. Here are a "few" pictures of those few minutes.

Attention to Details...what's the big picture?

Sometimes I pay to much attention to the small details and not the big picture. I was reminded of that this week when I was preparing to the Tyson's college worship team over for dinner. While Kai was napping I decided that I should finish the final touches on my Christmas decorations before the dinner...I got caught up in greenery and cranberries only to have Kai wake from his nap an hour before everyone was coming and realize I had a pretty centerpiece but my house was still a mess and I had not finished prepping the food. Ha! Well, it all worked out fine in the end...Kai got fed, the house got clean and dinner was ready when everyone arrived. I did just cause me to remember my childhood days of cleaning my room but getting caught up in organizing one tiny aspect while the rest of the room was a mess. I also thought about how this affects other parts of my life. I never want to get caught up in the details of life and forget about the big picture God has for me. Anyway, some random thoughts from me. I thought I would post some pictures of what I wasted my time on...ha:)

We did end up having a great time with the team. Tyson has been blessed to be surrounded by wonderful musicians who have a passion for worshiping the Lord. Here is a "crazy" picture of the team!

Now Tyson has a couple months off of worship because of Christmas break but also, most of Linfield is gone in January...actually, I think almost all of the team is going to one country or another over JanTerm. I look forward to a few more evenings with Tyson over the next month but we will miss our college group too.

Suprise Visitors

Tyson's mom and dad were able to come down for the show...a last minute decision because his dad had business only a couple hours away. They came in time for the show and left in the morning after being able to spend a couple hours with us. It was a fun surprise for us and we look forward to spending more time with them at Christmas.

Thanks Pa and Gramma for coming to see us!

Music To My Ears

Chase The Age...doesn't that have a nice ring. That is the name of Tyson's band consisting of he, Daniel Duran on electric guitar and keyboard, and Matt Smith on drums. They played at Union Block Coffee Shop last night and it was a great show. Tyson and Daniel have been playing together for almost a year and Matt as joined up with them. It has been such a great thing for Tyson to get to do more with his music. He loves writing and playing so much and it is wonderful for me to get to see him do what he loves with great guys. A few weeks ago Tyson and Daniel played at a coffee shop in Newberg and a man there offered to record some of their music. He is a great Christian man who had someone do this for him when he was younger and now he does it for other young artists free of charge. It has been a dream for Tyson to get his music recorded well and we are so blessed to have Gary offer. I have not seen Tyson much this week with recording and practicing for the show and he has apologized many times. But, I honestly don't mind, it is a blessing to me that he is able to pursue this passion. Last night they played about 9 songs, all original. It was so cool for me to hear a final product of the rifts I hear Tyson start and work on...and all that the other guys bring to it. It was fun and we are hoping they will get to play more often. I will try to post some of their music when they get it done.

Kai is 8 Months Old!

That's right, 8 months, he is 2/3 of the way done with his first year...too fast I say! Well, Kai turned 8 months on Sunday and was still quite sick so I tried to take a few pictures a few days later but he was still not cooperative. We took him to the doctor on Monday and he was 17 lbs 5 oz. I don't know if he gained anything in the last two months but the doctors said it was normal especially since he had been sick. He was also 27 1/2 inches so I think he has grown in that way. He speeding around the house on his hands and knees and pulling himself up on everything. He is catching onto "no" quicker than I thought although he still tests us, of course (I think I would be concerned if he didn't). Here are a few pictures I tried to take...I will try to get more later in the month...he's got to be in the right mood I have found. He can be quite stubborn in smiling when you want him too. And, as you can see he was a little distracted by the shining tree:)

O Christmas Tree, Part 2

During our sick weekend we managed to get our Christmas tree decorated. We were lacking energy and less enthusiastic than I had hoped but we had a good time anyway. In the past I have been a bit of a Christmas tree nazi. I am quite particular about which decorations should be used and where they should go. After I confused Tyson by telling him we had to come up a with a plan before starting (is that just me), I decided I needed to practice giving up control of the tree. I have always been afraid that when we had kids I would not let them help decorate or that we would have to get a separate tree just for me...ha:) So, after I had put on a few decorations I stepped back and just "prepared" ornaments for Tyson to put on. I decided I will have no problem letting our kids decorate later in life...I can't wait to see what they come up with. We had a fun time, sang some Christmas songs and Kai even helped put ornaments on. He loves the tree and is often headed off to try to play with those lights...so tempting for a little one. He is learning that is it only for looking but he still tries at least once an hour:) Here is a picture of our tree.

So This Is Parenting

I had that thought many times this weekend. This was honestly one of the hardest few days I can remember. Kai was sick, need I say more...but I will. He has never been sick before, ever and this is the weekend it happens. Tyson and I were supposed to spend the weekend with other members of our Student Ministries at Sunriver for the annual retreat. Our dear friends Jeff and Kari were graciously willing to take Kai for the weekend so we could go (thank you again guys, you are a blessing!) Unfortunately Kai got the stomach flu Thursday and just when I thought he was getting better on Friday evening a wave of nausea came over me and I was throwing up for the next 12 hours...literally every hour. Tyson took care of Kai all night and even slept downstairs to avoid the sickness but he woke up Saturday morning sick as well. Needless to say, we did not go to Sunriver. Saturday was such a hard day. Tyson and I were both so weak and tired and sick that it took everything we had to care for Kai and pray that we all survived. Kai was still not himself but no longer vomiting and we knew he was not dehydrated. By Sunday Tyson and I were feeling better but still recuperating but with our minds a little clearer we realized Kai was still not better, he was just lethargic and tired and not himself. Monday morning as I got ready to go to work and Tyson was feeding Kai he threw up again...I took him to the doctor and he will be fine. He has the stomach flu and is just taking longer to get over it than I thought. He is still not back to normal but is on the mend. I just keep reminding myself to enjoy that he wants to be held and snuggled since he normally wants to be off and running.

Did anyone need all that information, no. But I did. I just needed to process and remember this weekend. Last night I was reflecting on the last 5 days and realizing this was the first really difficult situation we have had with Kai. I am spoiled and God has been so good and given us such an easy child. We never had a night of inconsolable crying as a newborn...he just wanted food and went right back to sleep. He slept through the night at two months old. He is content to play by himself when needed so I can get things done. He is really just a joy. Yet, I still lack patience at times. God worked on me this weekend in a few ways. One, He taught me patience. Well, I guess I am still learning it, but He showed me that with His help, I can be patient. He also showed me again that I need Him, that I don't have it all figured out. He has showed me this many times before but I needed it again. I did everything I should have but Kai didn't just get better, I had to hand him over to the Lord again and say, he's Yours and you alone can heal him and I need Your strength. I'm amazed at how gracious God is to me and how He is willing to teach me again the lessons I should already know. Will I be patient to my son when I have to reteach or remind him of the things he already knows? There is no way I will be as patient as my Lord is to me, but I am glad I have the best example of a loving parent in my Heavenly Father.