Friends!

We are blessed with wonderful friends and were happy we were able to see some of them during our week up in Washington.

We were able to see the sweet Teasley family while we were in Ellensburg. Levi is a dear friend of Tyson's from high school and we always look forward to seeing he and his wonderful wife, Stephanie when we are home. Here is a picture Kai having fun with their girls Ezri and Eden at the high school gym while the daddies played b-ball.

We were excited to see the Mauss family on our way home. Trevor and Tyson were roommates in college and Tyson is in his element when with Trevor! I love seeing them together and the way they laugh and joke but also have great encouraging conversations. Kai and I love to see Kristen and Belle too so it is good times all around! Kai and Belle have such fun together and played quite the duet on the piano:)

We were also able go to church where another roommate of Tyson's was preaching for the weekend. We were briefly able to see Rory & Jenn and their sweet little girls and felt blessed to hear Rory teach! Then we called Jaime, another roommate of Tyson's, last minute and had lunch with he and his wife on our way out of town!

It was so wonderful to see friends even if only briefly. A bitter-sweet time, sad that we won't see them again for two years, but blessed to have the chance to see them and blessed by who they are and how the love us and those around them! Thank you friends!

Boppa

We were blessed to be able to spend a few days with Boppa, Tyson's grandma. When Tyson was Kai's age he would say Boppa instead of Grandma and it stuck. What is funny is that Kai also says "Boppa" instead of Gramma for Tyson's mom so the name continues through the generations:)

Boppa is such a wonderful woman. She is 90 but I swear has more energy than I have. She spends that energy serving the Lord and others and is always an inspiration to us. It was special for Kai to spend time with his great grandma and I loved seeing them together. They started this little game and every time Kai would look at her he would say "boo" and she would say it back. There were always giggles from both of them afterward:)

Christmas!

We had a wonderful relaxing Christmas. Although we had a great time, it was way more quite than normal and we missed our family who couldn't be with us this year! It just wasn't the same with you Taryn, Troy and Kari...we love you!

We had a lazy slow Christmas which was great. We started the morning with the Christmas story and Kai, Daddy and Gramma acted it out with the Little People Nativity set as we read it out of the Bible. We opened stockings and a few gifts, took a nap, opened a few more gifts and ate a yummy, yummy meal. It was a wonderful day hanging with family and celebrating the birth of our Lord!

Another Favorite Activity

Kai spent many hours at the pool table this last week...what can I say, this kid loves balls! We would even turn out the light and we would find him in the pitch black room belly up to the pool table.

Tractor Ride with Pa

One of Kai's favorite activities this week...

Merry Christmas from our home to yours...

Sweet Face

I caught Kai by the window in some great light this afternoon and had to take advantage...I love this kid!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Last night some friendly neighbors talked us into a little night time walk in the snow. It was cold but also beautiful and quiet and perfect. They had a little sled for their granddaughter so we bundled Kai up in it and he went for a ride. It was a fun memory and way worth the cold noses!

Relaxing...

We arrived in Ellensburg Friday and have been enjoying our time relaxing and hanging out. It was a long drive here with much snow, chaining up and driving slow, but we are so very happy to be here. There has been a terrible amount of snow in McMinnville and Portland since we left so I am glad we left early!

Kai is in heaven here at Gramma & Pa's with tons of room to run and play and rooms to hide in. He is especially happy hanging with his pal, Tess, the most patient dog in the world. I am typically not big on animals, but this dog I love. Kai is either chasing after her, taking her ball or riding her most of the time and she deals with it all with a little wag of the tail. Here are some pictures of Kai enjoying his time so far:

Hanging with Tess
Licking Gramma's frosting bowl

Enjoying a little reading by the fire

Riding the rocking horse

Tyson and I have been enjoying our time too. It is so relaxing here and it is nice not to have a zillion things I should be doing...well, there still are a zillion things I should be doing but they are at home so I can't do them...and it feels great. I even took a nap yesterday...yay! Today I am working on a cape for Kai...I have seen the idea a couple places and thought it would be a great gift for Kai that he could take it to Peru since it will fold up small. One of the places I saw the idea was from my friend, Jenna, she has beautiful baby items including blankets and tata tents...check out My Sugar Nut. All that to say I am currently trying to make his cape...it is nice to have some time to do it. From the thread on my sewing machine I can see that last Christmas

was the last time I have sewn and it was Kai's baby blanket. Wow, time flies!

The snow has continued and last night we got a bunch more. I wish I had more time to take pictures of the beauty that is the snow in McMinnville right now...I finally pulled out my camera when I was up at the church this morning and got a few shots.