so every year for the past....6 years my dad has ridden the STP (seattle to portland) bike race. it's 206 miles that he does in one day - animal, i know. this year, my brother adam and my uncle gabe rode with him. amazing! they did it in less than 12 hours. as is the tradition, we all met up at the finish line to welcome them in.
isaiah just recently got a 2 wheeler from a friend. he was beside himself that he now has a bike like grandpa. when he heard us all talking about the stp he was adamant that he would ride with grandpa for the whole 200 miles. not wanting to crush his dreams i said, 'if grandpa says that you can, then you can.' well i didn't fill my dad in on the weight of his remarks. so he told isaiah that he could ride in the race. you can imagine the hysterics when the day came and we informed isaiah that he in fact could not ride 206 miles with his grandpa.
as we got updates on how the guys were doing throughout the day my dad said that he wanted to ride across the finish line with isaiah. so isaiah and i waited down the street from the finish line. the plan was that my dad would stop along the street and they would ride the last 60 feet and through the tunnel of people to the finish line together. here's the video of the ride. gabe will be the first rider you see, then adam...dad and isaiah come a bit later.
Monday, July 28, 2008
stay-cation
that's when you can't afford to go somewhere, so you have a stay-cation instead of a va-cation....
we went for a boat trip a couple weeks ago with aunt sandi and uncle garry. we met them at the port and boated down past the 205 bridge to a little cafe on the water. docked the boat, got out and had lunch, and then boated back. it really did feel like we were in another place, not portland. it was the kids first time on a boat. and they LOVED it!
when we got to the 205 bridge, we stopped the boat and isaiah got to fish...although we failed to tell our fisherman uncle that isaiah was bringing his pole...so he just cast the line in with a weight. he was happy.
alaythia was our fearless one. even though she had never been on a boat, she climbed up on the side rail and hung on, face in the wind.
we docked the boat and ate lunch. alaythia was all to happy to watch the water. she hammed it up for all of us during lunch.
but perhaps the BEST part of the trip was when uncle garry let isaiah drive the boat. uncle garry is a paramedic and fireman. so i trust him...even though he sent me flying through the air one time on the boat...but he's grown up on the river and knows it very well. but giving my 3 year old the wheel, well that was pushing it for me. it wasn't like he just let isaiah pretend he was driving. he completely let him have control of the boat....teaching him to turn.....and then showing him where the accelerator was...and continuing to let him have it...i'll admit my heart was racing.
but poor aunt sandi had the perfect view...and i'll say, i've never heard aunt sandi scream the way she did. screaming at her beloved husband to stop him...matt caught a picture in the middle of the screaming.
when it was all over garry very calmly said, 'why where you going on like that?' as if we ride with 3 year old drivers every day.... don't worry aunt sandi, i was with you, screaming inside.
it was a fantastic day. and as with everything now, it was bittersweet as we think about leaving. we have loved so much getting to be near uncle garry and aunt sandi....
but as i do so well, i'll save those thoughts for another day.
we went for a boat trip a couple weeks ago with aunt sandi and uncle garry. we met them at the port and boated down past the 205 bridge to a little cafe on the water. docked the boat, got out and had lunch, and then boated back. it really did feel like we were in another place, not portland. it was the kids first time on a boat. and they LOVED it!
when we got to the 205 bridge, we stopped the boat and isaiah got to fish...although we failed to tell our fisherman uncle that isaiah was bringing his pole...so he just cast the line in with a weight. he was happy.
alaythia was our fearless one. even though she had never been on a boat, she climbed up on the side rail and hung on, face in the wind.
we docked the boat and ate lunch. alaythia was all to happy to watch the water. she hammed it up for all of us during lunch.
but perhaps the BEST part of the trip was when uncle garry let isaiah drive the boat. uncle garry is a paramedic and fireman. so i trust him...even though he sent me flying through the air one time on the boat...but he's grown up on the river and knows it very well. but giving my 3 year old the wheel, well that was pushing it for me. it wasn't like he just let isaiah pretend he was driving. he completely let him have control of the boat....teaching him to turn.....and then showing him where the accelerator was...and continuing to let him have it...i'll admit my heart was racing.
but poor aunt sandi had the perfect view...and i'll say, i've never heard aunt sandi scream the way she did. screaming at her beloved husband to stop him...matt caught a picture in the middle of the screaming.
when it was all over garry very calmly said, 'why where you going on like that?' as if we ride with 3 year old drivers every day.... don't worry aunt sandi, i was with you, screaming inside. it was a fantastic day. and as with everything now, it was bittersweet as we think about leaving. we have loved so much getting to be near uncle garry and aunt sandi....
but as i do so well, i'll save those thoughts for another day.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
powered by pikes
can you tell i'm about to move? no time to think - let alone blog. i'm up early this morning because i went to starbucks to take their boxes...it was well worth it. now here i sit with my pikes place and a quiet house. seems the perfect time to blog.
but it will have to be trite updates as so much has gone on.
we have a place to live in kentucky, it's waiting for us ready to go. washer and dryer, with good neighbors we hear. matt leaves on the 3rd with his dad to drive our stuff out. the kids and i will fly on the 6th with matt's mom, meeting together in kentucky to start our new life.
i went through all of my belongings, the things that have been in boxes for years. and went through my house to simplify. things i just don't need anymore. a friend came up and we did a garage sale thursday, friday and saturday. it was well worth it. as my mom said, when you're older and have the means, a tax write off is nice. but when you're young, even $100 goes a long way.
matt turned 29, mom turned 50 and matt and i have now officially been married for 7 years. (all those celebrations are three days in a row and happened last week).
alaythia has started talking up a storm. some of the cutest things she has done...as we were walking into church last week she saw the crowd of people and as we approached them she said, 'oh my' in a sing songy voice. she now can call everyone by name, but if she happens to not know your name she'll just look at you and in her deep voice call out, 'hey! hey!' until you respond. she loves to sing. as we're singing to her before bed he joins in or if she's at the piano, she sings and sings. our band is getting more and more complete by the day.
i've decided that the first half of the day i need a coffee I.V. and the second half i need a diet coke I.V. that's how i get my energy. kentucky is a new start though, so maybe i'll have the space to kick some of those addictions. for now, they are my life line.
how am i about moving? it depends on when you ask. i'm ready in terms of the fact we've been working for this for so long. the beginning of the end for us. and it's a chance to start over. it's a chance to begin a new adventure. matt and i are grown up now. we're moving our family to the other side of the united states..... on the other hand, you know at the end of the school year, right before summer, all your friendships just seem to get better? that's how i feel. maybe it's that you're being more purposeful. maybe you're saying the things you wouldn't say otherwise. whatever the reason, i will be sad to leave. but most days i choose not to think about that.
but it will have to be trite updates as so much has gone on.
we have a place to live in kentucky, it's waiting for us ready to go. washer and dryer, with good neighbors we hear. matt leaves on the 3rd with his dad to drive our stuff out. the kids and i will fly on the 6th with matt's mom, meeting together in kentucky to start our new life.
i went through all of my belongings, the things that have been in boxes for years. and went through my house to simplify. things i just don't need anymore. a friend came up and we did a garage sale thursday, friday and saturday. it was well worth it. as my mom said, when you're older and have the means, a tax write off is nice. but when you're young, even $100 goes a long way.
matt turned 29, mom turned 50 and matt and i have now officially been married for 7 years. (all those celebrations are three days in a row and happened last week).
alaythia has started talking up a storm. some of the cutest things she has done...as we were walking into church last week she saw the crowd of people and as we approached them she said, 'oh my' in a sing songy voice. she now can call everyone by name, but if she happens to not know your name she'll just look at you and in her deep voice call out, 'hey! hey!' until you respond. she loves to sing. as we're singing to her before bed he joins in or if she's at the piano, she sings and sings. our band is getting more and more complete by the day.
i've decided that the first half of the day i need a coffee I.V. and the second half i need a diet coke I.V. that's how i get my energy. kentucky is a new start though, so maybe i'll have the space to kick some of those addictions. for now, they are my life line.
how am i about moving? it depends on when you ask. i'm ready in terms of the fact we've been working for this for so long. the beginning of the end for us. and it's a chance to start over. it's a chance to begin a new adventure. matt and i are grown up now. we're moving our family to the other side of the united states..... on the other hand, you know at the end of the school year, right before summer, all your friendships just seem to get better? that's how i feel. maybe it's that you're being more purposeful. maybe you're saying the things you wouldn't say otherwise. whatever the reason, i will be sad to leave. but most days i choose not to think about that.
Monday, July 14, 2008
i couldn't make this up if i tried
so one day while driving in the car, isaiah popped off with a new thought. now, i was totally taken a back at the beginning, but as the conversation continued i only continued to be more and more in shock.
'one day when i become a daddy i can do things that i can't do now.'
'like what?'
'like go to work and buy food.'
'you're right.'
some time passed in quiet. then he said, 'so grandma and grandpa would be the great-grandma and great-grandpa....who would be the grandma and grandpa?'
crazy thought...i'm assuming it came from us trying to explain who great-grandpa chuck is. i said, 'well, daddy and i would be the grandma and grandpa to your kids.'
'yeah, but i'll need a wife first.'
'you're absolutely right!'
'how will i get her?'
'well, one day you will meet her and fall in love with her. then you will ask her to marry you and you'll get married like uncle michael and auntie hallie.'
'well, we should pray that i find her....will you pray right now mommy?'
so i prayed for her. as i finished he said, 'mommy i want to pray.'
'thank you that we'll be married. please protect her heart. protect her because she's not with me. help her to come to me soon.'
no, i'm not making this up. as soon as he was done, through my tears while driving, i found an envelope and wrote down what he said because i knew i would not remember it correctly.
so one day, when she comes around, be sure to tell her that he's been praying for her since he was 3 years old!
'one day when i become a daddy i can do things that i can't do now.'
'like what?'
'like go to work and buy food.'
'you're right.'
some time passed in quiet. then he said, 'so grandma and grandpa would be the great-grandma and great-grandpa....who would be the grandma and grandpa?'
crazy thought...i'm assuming it came from us trying to explain who great-grandpa chuck is. i said, 'well, daddy and i would be the grandma and grandpa to your kids.'
'yeah, but i'll need a wife first.'
'you're absolutely right!'
'how will i get her?'
'well, one day you will meet her and fall in love with her. then you will ask her to marry you and you'll get married like uncle michael and auntie hallie.'
'well, we should pray that i find her....will you pray right now mommy?'
so i prayed for her. as i finished he said, 'mommy i want to pray.'
'thank you that we'll be married. please protect her heart. protect her because she's not with me. help her to come to me soon.'
no, i'm not making this up. as soon as he was done, through my tears while driving, i found an envelope and wrote down what he said because i knew i would not remember it correctly.
so one day, when she comes around, be sure to tell her that he's been praying for her since he was 3 years old!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
martinizing
so as if a two week vacation wasn't enough we decided to go to our old stomping ground and hang for a while. we moved into the very full martin house...thanks beej for giving up your room.
i absolutely love being with the martin's. i have loved them - and being with them - for a while now...but the coolest part of being with them was watching isaiah and alaythia develop their own relationships with each of them.
from playing sequence, putting on music shows, swimming, playing guitar hero, baking and teaching them how to be vultures....food vultures that is.
see i learned a LONG time ago not to bake with the girls...because before you even have it in a pan, there are millions of fingers going in and eating the dough, batter, whatever it is. so imagine my horror, when i saw erica teaching isaiah how to be a food vulture. actually, it did warm my heart is a scary kind of way.
i absolutely loved being with the martin's. it was strange how normal it felt. we fit into a groove like we had never been apart.
the girls, who i used to babysit, watched my kids so the adults could go out one night. and as has happened many times before, matt and i walked away from our dinner with alan and julie overwhelmed with God's goodness to us in allowing us to be in relationship with them. they have been our mentors for so long and they continue to be instrumental in our lives.
it was a week well spent and much needed.
i absolutely love being with the martin's. i have loved them - and being with them - for a while now...but the coolest part of being with them was watching isaiah and alaythia develop their own relationships with each of them.
from playing sequence, putting on music shows, swimming, playing guitar hero, baking and teaching them how to be vultures....food vultures that is.see i learned a LONG time ago not to bake with the girls...because before you even have it in a pan, there are millions of fingers going in and eating the dough, batter, whatever it is. so imagine my horror, when i saw erica teaching isaiah how to be a food vulture. actually, it did warm my heart is a scary kind of way.
i absolutely loved being with the martin's. it was strange how normal it felt. we fit into a groove like we had never been apart.
the girls, who i used to babysit, watched my kids so the adults could go out one night. and as has happened many times before, matt and i walked away from our dinner with alan and julie overwhelmed with God's goodness to us in allowing us to be in relationship with them. they have been our mentors for so long and they continue to be instrumental in our lives.
it was a week well spent and much needed.
ring bearer
isaiah with the man of the hour
walking down the isle.
oops....had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the ceremony. so he walked to the back and said to me, 'mom, i need to use the restroom.' restroom?! since when do we say that? potty, pee pee, but never restroom. must have been the tux.
keeping busy.....
he carried the actual rings and when his papa asked for the 'tokens', isaiah matter of factly walked over to michael, put his hand on his hip and handed the rings over.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
wedding thoughts
there were so many cool moments at the wedding. but i can't explain them all, so i will just pick a few things.
matt seemed extra interested in alaythia that day...taking extra time with her, kissing her lots, dancing with her....
at diffrent times i found him just sitting with her and taking the moment in.....
it wasn't until i heard him whisper something in her ear that i figured out why....'is this going to be you someday?'
honestly i could hardly stand to think about 'giving her away' and i was surprised he could. but hallie and her dad have such a special connection, i think every dad and daughter that day were thinking about it. matt included.
---
matt's mom has a core group of friends that have been life long friends. i've been a part of the godshall family for a while now, and i too have come to love these women dearly. they are at every event, often putting it on, faithfully loving and supporting the entire family.
at one point, matt was holding alaythia in the courtyard where the wedding was taking place. the group of women were on the second story of the resort, in an archway. matt didn't know they were there, but i caught them all looking at matt as he held his daughter. many of them have known matt since he was alaythia's age.....
matt was oblivious to them being there until alaythia looked up at them as they all waved to her.
then out of no where, alaythia blew a kiss to them...as if she already loved these women like we do. they all immediately joined in and blew kisses back to her.
waving and blowing kisses to linda's granddaughter...matt's daugther... it was a sweet moment of the generations. these women who have loved linda so faithfully, and matthew so faithfully, continuing on in loving alaythia too.
matt seemed extra interested in alaythia that day...taking extra time with her, kissing her lots, dancing with her....
at diffrent times i found him just sitting with her and taking the moment in.....
it wasn't until i heard him whisper something in her ear that i figured out why....'is this going to be you someday?'
honestly i could hardly stand to think about 'giving her away' and i was surprised he could. but hallie and her dad have such a special connection, i think every dad and daughter that day were thinking about it. matt included.
---
matt's mom has a core group of friends that have been life long friends. i've been a part of the godshall family for a while now, and i too have come to love these women dearly. they are at every event, often putting it on, faithfully loving and supporting the entire family.
at one point, matt was holding alaythia in the courtyard where the wedding was taking place. the group of women were on the second story of the resort, in an archway. matt didn't know they were there, but i caught them all looking at matt as he held his daughter. many of them have known matt since he was alaythia's age.....
matt was oblivious to them being there until alaythia looked up at them as they all waved to her.then out of no where, alaythia blew a kiss to them...as if she already loved these women like we do. they all immediately joined in and blew kisses back to her.
waving and blowing kisses to linda's granddaughter...matt's daugther... it was a sweet moment of the generations. these women who have loved linda so faithfully, and matthew so faithfully, continuing on in loving alaythia too.
phase II
phase II of our vacation was spent in la jolla. we had two weddings a week apart...rough life, i know. the first half of the week we were with my side of the family celebrating my parents 50th birthdays, and 30th wedding anniversary. the second half of the week we spent with matt's family celebrating his brother's marriage.
with my family we went to the beach, where we coaxed the kids to get in the water. grandma and grandpa watched the kids so the siblings could go out in the ocean together. (yes, i went in the ocean...for those of you who know me it's a HUGE thing.)
we spent one day at sea world oohing and aahing. and had a great time celebrating with mom and dad. a new wedding album and an hour long movie of pictures and interviews about their life. (thanks adam for all the hard work on that).
it was mixed with sadness too. many around us hurting. we found comfort and strength from each other...to keep going, to keep loving. there is just so much hurt in the world. it makes me so overwhelmed at times.
saying goodbye had a twinge of sadness too...the looming goodbye when we leave for kentucky. it's ever present, we just don't like to talk about it.
---
the second half of the week we geared up for yet another wedding. we stayed in the house and said goodbye to one family, to start welcoming the next family that same day.
isaiah and alaythia got reacquainted with their second cousins...by the end of the week isaiah was just another brother. they had a fantastic time together.
michael and hallie's wedding was straight out of hollywood. really quite stunning. everything about it was spectacular.
it was a great week of beach living...and lots of great family.
with my family we went to the beach, where we coaxed the kids to get in the water. grandma and grandpa watched the kids so the siblings could go out in the ocean together. (yes, i went in the ocean...for those of you who know me it's a HUGE thing.)
we spent one day at sea world oohing and aahing. and had a great time celebrating with mom and dad. a new wedding album and an hour long movie of pictures and interviews about their life. (thanks adam for all the hard work on that).
it was mixed with sadness too. many around us hurting. we found comfort and strength from each other...to keep going, to keep loving. there is just so much hurt in the world. it makes me so overwhelmed at times.
saying goodbye had a twinge of sadness too...the looming goodbye when we leave for kentucky. it's ever present, we just don't like to talk about it.
---
the second half of the week we geared up for yet another wedding. we stayed in the house and said goodbye to one family, to start welcoming the next family that same day.
isaiah and alaythia got reacquainted with their second cousins...by the end of the week isaiah was just another brother. they had a fantastic time together.
michael and hallie's wedding was straight out of hollywood. really quite stunning. everything about it was spectacular.
it was a great week of beach living...and lots of great family.
vacation times three -- northern california
we have been on vacation for three weeks now. tomorrow we will make the last leg of our trek, home to vancouver. i have A LOT of blogs rolling around in my head. i'm gonna try to get them out.
we started our trip in northern california where we spent an afternoon at my grandparents house. isaiah and 'chaz' went on an errand together and went for a drive with the golf cart. we loved being there and seeing great grandpa and great grandma.
we also spent some time at matt's parents house. all three of the grandkids love the drums, some more than others....
we celebrated papa and gg's anniversary....
and did lots of playing....
we started our trip in northern california where we spent an afternoon at my grandparents house. isaiah and 'chaz' went on an errand together and went for a drive with the golf cart. we loved being there and seeing great grandpa and great grandma.
we also spent some time at matt's parents house. all three of the grandkids love the drums, some more than others....
we celebrated papa and gg's anniversary....
and did lots of playing....
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