Sick time

Big girl brushing her teeth with a mammoth bruise on her forehead.  That's what a corner wall does to a sweet little noggin.

 When your 2.5 year old wakes up from her nap and all she wants to do is put her head on your shoulder and go back to sleep, you know she is not herself.  We have been blessed that Claire has been a fairly healthy little girl - no major colds or illnesses.  Well, the bug found her a couple of weeks ago.  She was so sick and miserable, with a 102 temperature and a terrible cold/cough. We took her to the doctor and found that she had a little bit of pneumonia AND an ear infection.  Paul was with her at the doctor and they ended up giving her an IV of fluids.  Talk about traumatic.  Claire kept saying, "don't get my arm daddy!"  So glad I wasn't there.  I would not have been the least bit helpful!  But antibiotics are wonderful and she is back to normal - yeah!

 

In the midst of our sick week, my mom turned 65.  I'm so thankful for her and hope that I am as young as she is at 65!  My mom has figured out a pretty good birthday gig - buy yourself a few things that you want and then meet your girls and dear friends for dinner.  Happy Birthday Mo!

The Friday before Claire was sick, I took the afternoon off and Paul and I took care of some "to do" items that are just not easy to do on weekends.  We found ourselves walking in downtown Portland, holding hands, and enjoying the 60 degree sunshine.  I, of course, can't seem to do anything without making sure I eat good food (no shame in this!)...so we had headed to Boke Bowl.  Since it is one that is only open for lunch, it was a good time to try it.  Exactly what I was hoping for - long tables, big windows, a diverse group of diners, and good food.  Yum.

A Good Start

Front

Back

 March really did arrive like a lion and it was beautiful!  What makes it even better is the school district was wise enough to send us to school.  Claire and Mary were able to play outside with Isaiah and Kiela, and then it was gone by the afternoon.  I like these type of snow days.

 Friday Andrea drove down and spent the afternoon in Portland and then I met her after work, at Powell's of course (she was on her second trip)!  We headed to Chinatown and enjoyed happy hour at Ping.  We ate so much and it was so good.  Our top pick was the spicy mama ramen (seems fitting for us).  I would go back, just to eat the ramen.  The service was great and the company, even better. 

 

 Dessert was on the agenda but we had to do some walking (and maybe a little shopping).  We found our "birthday" gifts at Anthropology and I found some fall gourds on sale at West Elm (and somehow managed to leave them in Andrea's car).  After a treacherous drive - Andrea following me (I still feel bad), we made it to Pix and stocked up on chocolate, macaroons and coffee before she headed back to Olympia and I headed out to the farm.  It was such a good day.

Engine 14

And what's the weekend without a party?  We joined many family and friends on Saturday night to celebrate Travis's 40th birthday.  Our friends are turning 40.  Still wondering how I should feel about this...

Seasons

 One thing I need is God's grace.  Growing up I remember being on the outside of difficult situations and wondering how someone could make it through.  God's grace.  It's there exactly when we need it and how we need it.  God's grace - "the power of God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves."  Although our fears, concerns, and challenges still exist, it is a season and God's grace is sufficient for this season and all seasons.

 This is a season for enjoying every moment of sunshine.  A several days ago Mary was sick and Paul was on duty - it was a mommy day!  The sun was shining (somehow it is March tomorrow and it has been snowing the past couple days), so Claire and I headed to the park.  We were the only one's there and we took advantage of all her favorite things - running through the tunnel, over the bridge and down the slide.  After the park we were off to Ikea for a little shopping, lunch and then home for a nap.  Now that's a good day.

 

Sunday morning Claire and I met Paul in Portland for breakfast.  I have been wanting to go to Pine State Biscuits for a.very.long.time.  How could you not love it?  Biscuits, meat, cheese, egg, gravy...and Stumptown coffee.  Paul had shrimp and grits.  Yum.  We also shared some hashbrowns (did I mention I have a treadmill?).  I might have stayed all morning - but, people were hovering (I think there are four tables and a counter).  We had hoped to see Uncle Jim after breakfast, but he was having a rough morning.  So, with him on our hearts, the three of us headed home and spent the day together.  I'm thankful for the sunshine.

 

A Date

 

My mom gave us a gift certificate to a little 50's diner for Valentine's day.  Nothing like a day off of school to have a family date!  The diner happens to be across from Chuck E. Cheese, so we stopped there on our way to dinner.  Claire is still pretty young to enjoy Chuck E. Cheese - she observed a lot of the chaos and preferred to ride "the boat" rather than play games.  She did manage to earn 17 tickets though!  Somehow we won points with the gal at the prize counter - Claire got stickers and a top - worth 20 tickets.  Whoo - hoo!

Paul looks really intense here...I promise he's not.

MIlestones

Four generations

 Blogging has been on my mental "to do" list for SO many days, but I always manage to postpone it (I guess there are a few things going on around here).  It feels good just to get started.  Hopefully I am not too far behind.  February ushered in a couple of milestones - Paul's dad turned 60 and baby Ray celebrated his two month birthday (on his due date) with his grandparents that were visiting from Japan. 

We had met Chiharu's mom four years ago, but this is her dad's first time in the U.S.  The one thing he wanted to be sure to do while here?  Shoot a gun.  Yes, Mr. Yamada, we can arrange that.  On Sunday afternoon all the "menfolk" dressed in their manliest attire and headed for the hills so Mr. Yamada could handle a gun for the first time in his life.  They had a good time (although the snow was a bit unexpected).  Mr. Yamada was waving his target around for all to see when he returned to the house.  He was thrilled.  What would go better with shooting a gun, but Thanksgiving dinner?  So that is what we did.  Some of Matt and Chiharu's friends joined us and we had Thanksgiving in February.  The Yamada's were taking pictures of the turkey and probably trying to figure out why we needed four pies for 13 people.

Claire and Taiki - catching the top before he did.  That's my girl.

This is just not a good picture, in so many ways.  But it is the only one of the whole group!  Baby Ray is so tiny!

A Mixed Bag

 Life has been a bit of a mixed bag the past few weeks.  Making the seasons of life difficult to grapple with.  So much pain and heartache happening in our family and yet we are grasping for and focusing on the joy of our life together.  Matt and Alisha (Paul's sister/brother-in-law) are wading through some serious health issues and waiting for diagnosis.  Uncle Jim continues to struggle in many ways and our nights are often spent in tears, wondering what life will be like if/when he leaves this earth.  Yet we are so thankful for the hours that Paul has spent with him these last few weeks and that our nanny Mary has been given the words, cancer free!  So much sadness and so much joy. 

 It has been hard to struggle through these things while housing our four house guests, the timing doesn't seem right.  But the timing is what it is and the four adults even had the chance to have dinner out together.  I think we all needed that.  Nate and Kristi are dealing with their own challenges - visas are not an easy thing to come by in a short amount of time.  Thankfully, they have been enjoying a family trip to Disneyland this week.  We have been enjoying the quite and time with just the three of us - as well as sharing the stomach flu (I missed two days of work).  God does have a sense of humor!

 In between rounds of the stomach flu, we boycotted the Super Bowl.  For no reason other than that Paul was recovering and I wasn't going to eat all that food myself!  Instead we celebrated our 2.5 year old!  I can't believe it.  The sun was shining, so we explored a trail near our house.  I think Claire ran the whole way!  Seriously, I need to get that girl some running shoes.  We "rewarded" ourselves with a chocolate hazelnut milkshake from Burgerville.

 

Six months ago at ski camp - she has changed so much!

I, like many others, have joined the Pinterest team.  My favorite pin is a quote - 

"comparison is the thief of all joy"  

This is my mantra.  I absolutely cannot change or wish away anything that is happening to me or people I cherish.  But I can choose to pray without ceasing and I can choose joy.  Like taking our sweet girl to her first gymnastics lesson.  Watch out Mary Lou.

Snow Day?

Getting a taste of winter

 These pictures are actually from Monday's tease of snow.  Big flakes started falling just as Claire's nap was ending, so I whisked her out of bed (a bit traumatic I must admit) and we headed out the back door to check it out.  Snow is so beautiful and being a northwest girl it is still a welcome (and wished for) novelty.  

A moment of stillness

And to the woods we go!

This morning we woke up to a blanket of snow and no school.  I always love a good snow day, but it is even better when Paul is home!  We bundled up and took a winter drive before ending up at our favorite Vietnamese cafe.  While we were out driving Paul made a pretty exciting turn around (i.e. cookie) in a parking lot - as we straightened out again Claire shouted "ring around the rosey!"