Christmas, Christmastime is here....

I love Christmas time. Love it. I love decorating the tree, Christmas goodies, Christmas music, and mostly, the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. This year I was determined to get a Christmas tree seeing as it would be our last Christmas with a fir tree for a couple years. However, I found that Christmas is creeping up fast and we are leaving next weekend and it was really not worth getting one at this point. So I did get out a few decorations...

I put the ornaments in a vase instead of on a tree....
And I got out my favorite...our nativity set. This was given to us by sweet Joed for our wedding. It is always so special to get out. This year was extra special as I explained it to Kai. Thanks Joed!

I also managed to decorate my blog so I've got that going for me;) Really, it is great not doing much for Christmas. We have scaled back the last few years giving more to charity then anything but this year is more then ever. I have done no gifts so far and although I will make a few things we are doing very little. No stress, giving to those who need, remembering the real reason we celebrate--Jesus, this is how it should always be...but that is a whole other post. Or perhaps I will just direct you to a few friends who are like-minded but write much better: Matt, Melissa, Heidi, Kari, AdventConspiracy.com.

Merry Christmas!!!

The 29th Olympiad...

I'm a big fan...huge! I love the Olympics...the competition, the drama, the stories. I love it all...especially when the ones I am cheering for win. We have been staying up late every night watching the games...at least as much as I can. I went to bed early the night our US men won the 4x100 Freestyle relay in that amazing race and I vowed I would not miss another moment like that! Thursday night I really wanted to watch the Women's Gymnastics All-around so Tyson suggested we sleep in the living room...so that is just what we did. We pulled our mattress into the living room and I made an espresso milkshake at 11pm and I stayed up to watch our women take gold and silver until 1:30am. Tyson slept through most of it but would wake up and let me tell him what was going on here and there...such a good sport!

I think my favorite part of the Olympics is the stories. I know, I'm one of those people, but it is so cool to hear about where they come from and that they are really just normal people. And the other part I love it to see moms in the stands cheering for their kids and crying tears of joy at their victories. I am way too old to dream of being one of the Olympic athletes...but I can somewhat relate to their parents and the joy they must feel. I mean, Kai has not won any gold medals (yet:) but he is pretty amazing and every time he does a new trick or says a new word I am amazed that he is my son. I'm sure that is how the parents feel a little bit times a million:)

My least favorite part of the Olympics is the announcers. Not all of them...and not all the time. Just those few times that they sound ridiculous. For instance, the gymnastics announcer who at least 3 times during the men's team competition said: "Gymnastics 101: (insert dumb thing here)"...the only one I can remember is "Gymnastics 101: Grab the bar"...or when there is a slight mistake and he says "this is a disaster". DISASTER?? Really?? I also feel bad for all the other US swimmers with the whole Michael Phelps thing. Don't get me wrong, I think Michael Phelps is doing a fabulous job and he seems like a good guy. But, the announcers keep bringing everything back to him...like when they were interviewing the 4 guys that won the gold in the 4x100 Freestyle and asked one of them how it felt to help Michael Phelps break the medal record. Are you kidding me? I'm sure they are happy for him but I think that was the last thing on their minds. Anyway...you get the idea.

Next up...Track & Field...more of my favorites! Hope you enjoy the last week of this, the twenty ninth Olympiad!!!

Facelift

I gave my blog a little facelift (as you may have noticed). I have tried to do this before but always run into problems. I saw a friend has used a site: thecutestblogontheblock.com...I tried it and it worked great!

1984 called...it wants its party back!

Last night we had a super fun combined birthday party for Tyson, Caitlin and Matt. We had an '80s theme, a white elephant gift exchange and a great game of Bag of Nouns. It was a fun time with great costumes!

Happy Birthday Wishes~

Happy Birthday to Taryn today!!!
And Happy Birthday to Troy yesterday!
We love you guys and hope you had days full of blessings!

Precious

What is it about the nights that Tyson is gone? Tonight he is at the recording studio. When he is home I feel the need to go to bed at 9pm...feeling exhausted. When he is out late however, I can not get to sleep until he gets home. It is almost 11:30pm, way too late for me. But, I am wide awake thinking of how much I need to go to sleep but not being able to do to it. It is not really a matter of being nervous or scared because I have never been that way. But the house does feel very empty when he is gone. And I find that I am totally drawn to Kai's bedroom. Every night when Tyson is gone I feel this need to risk it all and go look at Kai sleep. I never do this when Tyson is here. But I creep in as quiet as possible knowing I will probably trip or hit something and wake him up...but I can't resist the urge. He is so precious sleeping there, and I just wanted to make sure he is there and okay, I cover him up (again very risky) and make sure his Ogie is near. I stare at him sleeping, half wanting him to wake up so that I can pick him up and rock him...but I know that he is not one to be rocked...to interested in what is happening to rest his head for very long. What a precious sight he is, so peaceful, so precious. How blessed I am to be his mother! I hear a car door...Tyson is home, I already feel myself relaxing...I think I can sleep now.

A Few "Don't"s From My Day

1. Don't let my newly walking/still learning baby wear slippery socks in the kitchen...he will fall...again.

2. Don't wear Crocs while running errands in the rain...my feet will get wet.

3. Don't let my errands run an hour longer than expected and let Kai get overly tired...he will get loopy!

I'm actually having a great day so don't think I am complaining...just funny things that I learned yet again today:)

As I was writing this I heard a bang and then crying from Kai's room...yes, all that craziness in the crib led to yet another fall...

Where do all those socks go???

So I just posted that picture below and after I looked at it I noticed he has two socks on. You may wonder why that is interesting to me. Let me tell you. Yesterday I took that picture, it woke him up, I set down my camera and picked him up, wrapped his blanket around him and sat down in the rocking chair that is two feet away and rocked him while he woke up all the way. A few minutes later I realized he was missing a sock. I looked for that sock everywhere, under the crib, around the room, I lifted the bumpers in case it was stuck under one. It was nowhere to be found. I thought maybe he lost it before I put him down for a nap...but apparently not, the picture clearly shows it was on his foot two seconds before I picked him up. How does that happen, how do socks constantly go missing. Am I the only one this happens to? And it is not just Kai's socks, every time I do laundry I end up with at least three of Tyson's mismatched socks at the end! Well, I guess I will just keep looking, I am set on finding that sock now...it has got to be there somewhere...

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.

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.

Arizona Sunset

I arrived home yesterday evening after a wonderful weekend in Arizona. I left early (4:15am) Friday morning to meet up with two of my closest friends to go celebrate the marriage of our other close friend....what a wonderful start to the weekend...except for that 4:15am part. We arrived in Phoenix in the afternoon, checked into a gorgeous resort and prepared for Miriam's bachelorette party. That evening we headed to Tempe (I think...right by ASU) to PF Changs and then to a great piano bar. The bar was Big Bang and it was so much fun. Great piano players doing cover songs and they even got Miriam on stage...along with the other bachelorettes in the audience.

The next morning we went to a wonderful brunch at Miriam's parents house and then went and got manicures and pedicures...I can't remember the last time I felt so pampered. That evening we went to the rehearsal and dinner. It was great to finally get to see Jeff (Miriam's husband). I had met him once before when they came to Oregon to visit (they live in Boston) but it was very brief. Seeing them together again reminded me of what I thought the first time: He is perfect for Miriam.

I moved in with Miriam when I first moved to McMinnville and boy, did God know what he was doing! I didn't know her at all but we connected right away. We shared a room...the first a last person (except my sister) I shared a room with until I was married. We had so many memories that year with a lot of laughs and a lot of fun! Mir graduated and went to live in different countries...Austria and Mexico. The next year she came back to the states and lived with me again (lucky me!) and two other friends who were in the wedding, Erin and Jeannie. We lived in a house in Lafayette and that was the most fun year as far as roommates go. We did everything together...all four of us. We had so many fun memories that year: making a video when Mir applied for Survivor (she got a call back too...really), sleeping out in the backyard in a kiddie pool, roomie Thursdays at the UB, camping at the Gorge with unexpected trains nearby...just so many laughs, inside jokes, tears and great times. This was also the year that Tyson came into my life. While we sat around hanging out I would spend hours on my email trying to find the perfect words to write to Tyson (that's a whole other story). They supported me and teased me and loved me. It was an amazing year.

Miriam is a proud Lutheran which we for some reason always teased her about...I think it must be because she was so proud of it. She would always say things you could predict like "Yay, bed!" when it was time to go to sleep...and "would you still be my friend if (fill in the blank...with something ridiculous like, turn on the light). She is positive and energetic, honest and loving. She loves the Lord and was such a great example to me that first year I moved up here. I could have easily moved in with someone who said they were a Christian but did not live it. Miriam lived it and I am so thankful God placed me in her apartment. Back to the weekend. Yes, Jeff is perfect for Miriam. He gets her jokes, is sweet to her but can dish her the sarcasm right back, was raised Lutheran as well, so understands her fondness of being so. They make a great couple and that was evident in the few days with them.

The next morning we got up early to go to church...Miriam's dad is a Lutheran pastor and we were able to attend their church...although he was not preaching due to the wedding. After church we went back to the hotel and got ready to head to the church (a different one) to get dressed. Miriam's colors were "Arizona sunset". The maid of honor had a red dress and the bridesmaids had burnt orange.

It was a beautiful ceremony that honored the Lord and reflected Miriam and Jeff. The reception was at the resort were were staying at. It was amazing with wonderful food, drinks and lots of dancing. It was such an honor to be a part of their wedding and witness their love for each other and for the Lord. I felt so pampered and taken care of. Miriam was so well planned that we didn't really do anything but hang out and be in the wedding. It was such a blessing to me to be able to spend the weekend with close friends. Thank you Miriam for letting me be a part of your wedding and for all you did for us this weekend!

Mommy's Leaving On A Jet Plane...

That's right. Tomorrow morning I am headed down to Arizona to celebrate my good friend, Miriam's, wedding. Tyson's mom and sister are coming tonight so they can watch Kai while Tyson is working. As I sit here this morning and try to think of "everything" I am trying to remind myself that it doesn't really matter. Kai will be just fine and quite happy without me. Is that what is hard for me? Do I wish he would miss me just a little...yes. But I don't think he will and for that I am glad too. We have tried our best to raise an independent boy. Not independent like he makes his own meals, but independent so that he does not need Mommy and Daddy all the time, that others can step in at times to care for him and it doesn't crush his world. He has had lots of different people watch him and has always done great. And now, the times comes I have to leave him for four days and I know this will be way harder on me than him...and for that I am glad. I only have to worry about my mommy's heart that will miss him and not that he is home crying inconsolably because he wants mommy. I think the reason I am going to miss him so much (other than he is my son and I love him) is that I am pretty sure he will be crawling when I get home Monday and for that I am sad...I don't want to miss that milestone. He has made huge strides in the last few days so I know it it coming soon. He is getting himself places, as awkward as it looks right now. He can get himself onto all fours and then "crawls" backwards, he can get himself from his tummy to a sitting position and he can hold a push up position for quite a while. Right now I am watching him drag himself across the floor in our office to get into some of Tyson's papers. We have a rug down that is sort of shag so he grabs onto it and pulls himself across. Here are some pictures I took of his new "mobility".

The other day he woke up early from his nap crying. He does this sometimes so I just leave him crying and within 10 to 15 minutes he is back to sleep. Not this day...he just kept crying so finally I went to check on him (I don't do this right away because once he sees me he won't go back to sleep). Anyway, this is how I found him...his first time sitting up in his crib. I had to leave the room and go get the camera because I sort of found it funny how pitiful he looked and that made him even more mad...I know, I am a mean mommy:)

Here he is in a crawl position. He was on our bedroom floor while I was getting ready and I looked over and he was holding this position. Then he just kept holding it forever so I had to take a picture.

Here he is in his push up position...show off!

So, I will let you know if my prediction is right and Kai will be crawling when I get back. I know I am going to have a great trip and I know Kai will have a great time with is Auntie and Gramma (and Daddy of course). This is really just a great reminder of not holding on to him too tight. He is the Lord's and not mine and I need to be reminded of that ever so often. I praise God that he has trusted Kai to us to raise. Thank you Lord!

Asking For Help

I can do it myself! My mother heard those words from her little girl's lips repeatedly as a child. I was a stubborn and independent child and that has continued into my adulthood. I have made a step in a different direction. This last month the last six months of being a mom, wife and employee all at the same time caught up with me. I felt overwhelmed that I was getting behind at work as that had never been the case before. Tyson caught me on the way home from work and once I verbalized it to him I realized I needed to ask for help. And, I needed to ask for it now, if I waited even an hour my stubborn "I can do it myself" would come back. So, I made a call to Tyson's mom. She has always been so willing and has offered to help many times and I finally took her up on her offer. Last Monday (after an extremely busy week herself), Georganne graciously came down to stay with Kai while I put in a few full days in the office. What a blessing! I was able to catch up on a lot of things and not have my focus divided on work and Kai. He is always such a good boy in the office but he can only handle playing on the floor in my cubicle for so long. It was so wonderful to get caught up and also for Kai to get to spend time with his grandma! So, hopefully I am learning to ask for help more often and next time I won't wait so long! Thank you Georganne for having such a willing heart and for taking such good care of Kai! He had a great time and hopefully you did too:)

I wish I had some pictures of their time together but since I was at work most of the time I don't. But, I do have a picture of Kai playing in my cubicle so just imagine him having way more fun!

I am also going to include a picture of him playing with his new toy grandma got him...he loves it!