So many things to say, so very many ways in which to same them. OK, where to start?!
First of all, the summer is almost over (sniff sniff). School starts next week!! And even crazier than that is the fact that our wee sweet little BIG Matthew will be starting full day Kindergarten! Crazy. Crazy.
Secondly, our other baby is also a BIG boy and wearing BIG BOY underpants! (Finally!) We’re still working out some kinks here and there – let’s just say that I avoided blogging about the most disgusting underwear-accident EVER – though I did seriously want to vent about it. And Zach has had to say goodbye to two pairs of very cool underwear now (one of the Bob the Builder persuasion and the other Spiderman). He’s learning that pooping in your pants is a sure fire way to get cool underpants quickly tossed. (Because of Nasty Poop Accident Incident Number One, Mommy learned not to attempt to clean poopy underpants. Toss. Throw those nasty things out!) But anyway, about 99% of the time these days Zach is sporting some fierce underpants and working them with pride and a mean stagger I might add.
Thirdly, it’s good news that we’ve got little man out of diapers as…we…may…be…changing some diapers around here…eventually. We are (drumroll, come on, wait for it, wait for it, you know I’m going to string you along) starting the process to adopt a baby girl!! There are two agencies that we’re currently looking at – one local, one national both are for Domestic adoption not International – and we’re hoping to make a decision by next week on which one we’ll work with so that we can start the homestudy process. More details to come..but exciting stuff!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
See?! See! Its not just me. I’m not just biased. Our little town, our little Eastside suburb/town ‘o Seattle totally rocks! We made the top 20 of CNN and Money Magazine’s 2009 list of the nation’s “Best Small Towns.” We’re number 17! Of course, this sounds very impressive, and yet there are two nearby towns that have bragging rights. They beat us at numbers 10 and 12. Still. Our wee little Newcastle made the grade. Here’s what they had to say:
[Population: 9800] Once full of coal miners, Newcastle now has a much more diverse jobs base: The town is 15 minutes from both Microsoft's Redmond headquarters and Boeing's 737 plant in Renton.
But the biggest draw here may be The Golf Club at Newcastle. Built by former Microsoft exec Scott Oki, the massive site includes two 18-hole public courses and a 44,000-square-foot clubhouse.
Home buyers can find properties at a great variety of prices, from $350,000 3-bedroom-2-car-garage ramblers to brand-new $6 million estates. --N.A.
We can actually see the Newcastle Golf Course out our living room window! They decorate with Christmas lights every year and occasionally (just the other night), we get to watch our own private firework show from the sofa (most likely celebrating a wedding up there on the hill). And, just for the record, we’re a little closer to the first price range of homes than the latter…until my book sells, that is.
[Population: 9800] Once full of coal miners, Newcastle now has a much more diverse jobs base: The town is 15 minutes from both Microsoft's Redmond headquarters and Boeing's 737 plant in Renton.
But the biggest draw here may be The Golf Club at Newcastle. Built by former Microsoft exec Scott Oki, the massive site includes two 18-hole public courses and a 44,000-square-foot clubhouse.
Home buyers can find properties at a great variety of prices, from $350,000 3-bedroom-2-car-garage ramblers to brand-new $6 million estates. --N.A.
We can actually see the Newcastle Golf Course out our living room window! They decorate with Christmas lights every year and occasionally (just the other night), we get to watch our own private firework show from the sofa (most likely celebrating a wedding up there on the hill). And, just for the record, we’re a little closer to the first price range of homes than the latter…until my book sells, that is.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Happy 8th Wedding Anniversary to us, Happy 8th Wedding Anniversary to us, Happy..8th…OK, you get it. And I know you’re singing along right now – complete with forced vibrato and serious jazz-hands.
Yes, 8 years ago today was one of the most stressful yet important days of my life. (If this sounds less than enthusiastic than you don’t know ‘our story’. And it’s a story…coming eventually to a bookstore near you…). It’s funny that all my ‘big’ days thus far have been just that – big, but not necessarily wonderful. These huge, momentous moments have always been mingled with some sort of very trying side effects. (i.e. spending your wedding night in the ER, finding out that the 5 week early birth of your daughter is actually the birth of your son, etc.). So, while this may sound like the start of a Pity Party it is actually the complete opposite. A – hmm, what is the opposite of a pity party? – um, it’s a Celebration of Blessings.
Mike and I have a phe-freakin-nomenal marriage. We’re best friends plus a lot of somethin’ somethin’ more. And we have spawned the two most beautiful, genius offspring that ever walked the earth. I could go on and on and list all of the millions of small things and events that have made up for the lack of wonderfulness of the big things and events but I shan’t. I’ll just leave you with this conversation that Matthew, Zach and I had about love today.
Me: How do you show love?
Matthew: By kissing and hugging and doing nice things.
Me: How do you boys show each other love?
Matthew: By playing nice together.
Zach: By doing tricks. Watch. [Zach proceeds to run into the living room.]
Me: Matthew! Go look. Zach is doing a trick to show you his love.
[Zach executes a perfect monkey-jump, spin, somersault move.]
Zach: See?!!
Matthew: Well, that was mostly awesome.
Yes, 8 years ago today was one of the most stressful yet important days of my life. (If this sounds less than enthusiastic than you don’t know ‘our story’. And it’s a story…coming eventually to a bookstore near you…). It’s funny that all my ‘big’ days thus far have been just that – big, but not necessarily wonderful. These huge, momentous moments have always been mingled with some sort of very trying side effects. (i.e. spending your wedding night in the ER, finding out that the 5 week early birth of your daughter is actually the birth of your son, etc.). So, while this may sound like the start of a Pity Party it is actually the complete opposite. A – hmm, what is the opposite of a pity party? – um, it’s a Celebration of Blessings.
Mike and I have a phe-freakin-nomenal marriage. We’re best friends plus a lot of somethin’ somethin’ more. And we have spawned the two most beautiful, genius offspring that ever walked the earth. I could go on and on and list all of the millions of small things and events that have made up for the lack of wonderfulness of the big things and events but I shan’t. I’ll just leave you with this conversation that Matthew, Zach and I had about love today.
Me: How do you show love?
Matthew: By kissing and hugging and doing nice things.
Me: How do you boys show each other love?
Matthew: By playing nice together.
Zach: By doing tricks. Watch. [Zach proceeds to run into the living room.]
Me: Matthew! Go look. Zach is doing a trick to show you his love.
[Zach executes a perfect monkey-jump, spin, somersault move.]
Zach: See?!!
Matthew: Well, that was mostly awesome.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Its official: Mike and I are superheroes. We can strut our stuff wearing tights and capes, AND we can nearly win dance contests. (We were in ‘normal clothes’ and just couldn’t get 1st place and totally sweep the competition; we would have given our ‘Clark Kent’ alter-egos away. It was only just we let the normal humanoids win.)
What crazy talk is this? You wonder. Allow me to expound:
We spent the weekend in Park City, Utah attending our Engaged Encounter District Convention. As is the tendency at these events we had a fan-frickin-tastic time. SO much fun! (Sadly, we didn’t have a chance to actually explore Park City nor did we get to sneak up the hill and slide down the 2002 Winter Olympics Luge tracks…that woulda been so fun. Ah well. Next time.)
On Saturday eve of the Convention there is always a fancy-dancy banquet and partAY ‘cuz, let’s face it, Catholic married-types know how to get down. To kick off the dinner, our promo video for the National Convention was played for the crowd. [www.ceeseattle.org/convention or YouTube “Reboot Your Relationship” if you’ve not yet seen it]. At the end of the video viewing, Mike and I swept through the crowd and along with “EE Couple” (our good friends Greg & Sara) gave a brief chEEsy presentation encouraging everyone to attend the National Convention next fall. (Unfortunately we didn’t get pictures from that night, but come on, we’ve got a whole video!)
As Mike and I exited the ballroom, a woman came running out to the hall. Her two-year-old son had just seen us in the video and then was amazed to see the SuperhEEros in real life, so she brought him out to meet us. Finally my dreams of being a ‘character personality’ at Disneyland were fulfilled. I gave him a high-five as any good SuperhEEro would. Had I not been too choked up and moved by my adoring fan, I would have told him to be good and to…Reboot his relationships…anyway, it was pretty darn cute.
After our super appearance, Mike and I beautified and entered the ballroom to dine with our fellow SEEattle couples. (Yeah, the EE thing gets old, but it amuses mEE every time). After dinner, there was an old school dance contest – you dance until you’re tapped on the shoulder to sit down. Well, needless-to-say, the weeks of watching “So You Think You Can Dance” have certainly paid off. “America’s Got Talent” – watch out. ‘Cuz we got it. Mike and I danced like crazy – we swing danced (or would it be ‘swang’?), salsa-ed, tango-ed, two-stepped, all the while saying, “OK, focus, keep your head the game. Don’t get sloppy on race…er…dance contest day. Hold on, here come the judges, stop looking like you’re going to pass out and smile. Hmmm, maybe if we snag one of the judges and dance around him that will help…or not.”
Just after I’d said to Mike, “I think I may die soon,” they cut the music, and I realized that we were one of the Final Four. That’s right. Mmm-hmmm. We shook it like it ain’t no thang. Mike even whipped out the ‘ol ‘worm’ on the dance floor (granted that was a little rusty and more of a slug) and did a little ‘turn to the audience, booty-shake-and-slap, turn to the audience, booty-shake-and-slap’ rotation just to really win the crowd over. We were pulling out all the stops, let me tell you! The contest was narrowed down to two couples, and our very own EE Couple, Greg & Sara were among the finalists!
The audience waited with bated breath to see what song the DJ and judges would select for the dancing show-down. A low ripple of shock and collective gasp ran through the crowd when an Irish Jig began to play. Um. Boo-yeah. Too bad Sara DID Irish Dance in school and Greg is just so freakin’ hilarious with his perfectly played Michael Flatley – Lord of the Dance number. Word. They were so good, in fact, that the other couple just stood back to watch. No competition! They were amazing and Mike and I sat there grinning from ear-to-ear like a proud mama and papa. (We helped Greg & Sara workshop their talks to become a presenting team on the EE Retreats and have been their mentor couple for a year now.) After the jig, the DJ put on some salsa and the other couple – who I will say was 60+ years old and phenomenal – stepped up with a brilliant routine. It was determined that both couples were winners and they split a $200 prize!
Mike and I are already working on a routine for next year’s competition…I mean Convention…we’re thinking matching unitards might be in order.
What crazy talk is this? You wonder. Allow me to expound:
We spent the weekend in Park City, Utah attending our Engaged Encounter District Convention. As is the tendency at these events we had a fan-frickin-tastic time. SO much fun! (Sadly, we didn’t have a chance to actually explore Park City nor did we get to sneak up the hill and slide down the 2002 Winter Olympics Luge tracks…that woulda been so fun. Ah well. Next time.)
On Saturday eve of the Convention there is always a fancy-dancy banquet and partAY ‘cuz, let’s face it, Catholic married-types know how to get down. To kick off the dinner, our promo video for the National Convention was played for the crowd. [www.ceeseattle.org/convention or YouTube “Reboot Your Relationship” if you’ve not yet seen it]. At the end of the video viewing, Mike and I swept through the crowd and along with “EE Couple” (our good friends Greg & Sara) gave a brief chEEsy presentation encouraging everyone to attend the National Convention next fall. (Unfortunately we didn’t get pictures from that night, but come on, we’ve got a whole video!)
As Mike and I exited the ballroom, a woman came running out to the hall. Her two-year-old son had just seen us in the video and then was amazed to see the SuperhEEros in real life, so she brought him out to meet us. Finally my dreams of being a ‘character personality’ at Disneyland were fulfilled. I gave him a high-five as any good SuperhEEro would. Had I not been too choked up and moved by my adoring fan, I would have told him to be good and to…Reboot his relationships…anyway, it was pretty darn cute.
After our super appearance, Mike and I beautified and entered the ballroom to dine with our fellow SEEattle couples. (Yeah, the EE thing gets old, but it amuses mEE every time). After dinner, there was an old school dance contest – you dance until you’re tapped on the shoulder to sit down. Well, needless-to-say, the weeks of watching “So You Think You Can Dance” have certainly paid off. “America’s Got Talent” – watch out. ‘Cuz we got it. Mike and I danced like crazy – we swing danced (or would it be ‘swang’?), salsa-ed, tango-ed, two-stepped, all the while saying, “OK, focus, keep your head the game. Don’t get sloppy on race…er…dance contest day. Hold on, here come the judges, stop looking like you’re going to pass out and smile. Hmmm, maybe if we snag one of the judges and dance around him that will help…or not.”
Just after I’d said to Mike, “I think I may die soon,” they cut the music, and I realized that we were one of the Final Four. That’s right. Mmm-hmmm. We shook it like it ain’t no thang. Mike even whipped out the ‘ol ‘worm’ on the dance floor (granted that was a little rusty and more of a slug) and did a little ‘turn to the audience, booty-shake-and-slap, turn to the audience, booty-shake-and-slap’ rotation just to really win the crowd over. We were pulling out all the stops, let me tell you! The contest was narrowed down to two couples, and our very own EE Couple, Greg & Sara were among the finalists!
The audience waited with bated breath to see what song the DJ and judges would select for the dancing show-down. A low ripple of shock and collective gasp ran through the crowd when an Irish Jig began to play. Um. Boo-yeah. Too bad Sara DID Irish Dance in school and Greg is just so freakin’ hilarious with his perfectly played Michael Flatley – Lord of the Dance number. Word. They were so good, in fact, that the other couple just stood back to watch. No competition! They were amazing and Mike and I sat there grinning from ear-to-ear like a proud mama and papa. (We helped Greg & Sara workshop their talks to become a presenting team on the EE Retreats and have been their mentor couple for a year now.) After the jig, the DJ put on some salsa and the other couple – who I will say was 60+ years old and phenomenal – stepped up with a brilliant routine. It was determined that both couples were winners and they split a $200 prize!
Mike and I are already working on a routine for next year’s competition…I mean Convention…we’re thinking matching unitards might be in order.
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