I'm not even sure if anyone reads blogs anymore, but I did enjoy writing them once upon a time. So, I think I'll try again to pick it up and keep it as sort of a diary for myself.
The boys are growing so fast. I went to hug Jared today and realized how "thick" he's becoming. Kristopher is taller than me when I sit, and Kolbein just turned five. My baby is FIVE ?! I find myself asking the age old question, "Where is the time going?" No answers of course.
That being said, we are still on Dad and Mom's property. We lived with them until last year when the shop in the back was turned into a large apartment. At the end of July, Jacob and a few friends went up and grabbed our stuff from the storage unit in Idaho. And we settled in by a the first week of August 2012.
I/we were overjoyed to see our OWN stuff again! They had been packed away for four to five years and some things I forgot I even had. Other things, like baby exer-saucers and highchairs, we were able to find other homes that could use them.
School started in September, and the usual busy holiday season ensued. Not too much of note happened between then and the beginning of spring. Spring, though, was a touch more adventurous.
Jacob's friend, wanted (badly) a traveling companion while he went to Europe for a month and decided Jacob was the guy he wanted along. So, Jacob went along for two-and-a-half weeks touring Germany, Austria, and a few other day trips to Paris, France and a few other places. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity with a friend native to that part of the world. He couldn't forgo that, especially when our friend was very generous financially. That is the extremely short version of it anyway. :)
A few days after he got back, we left for a "JIAGAP" (initials of all Jacob's siblings) reunion in Mashpee, Massachusetts at Arthur and Hallie's place. That was so much fun and so good to see everyone in one place for longer than an hour. It had literally been years since that happened. We really got to visit with each other and kick off a new beginning of sorts. My sister in laws are wonderful AND I got to play with all my nieces and nephew! The kids were so good!
I came back with Grace, Adrianna and Peter, while Jacob stayed and visited for a few days with his other half-sister, Linda Glimpse who I finally got to meet last fall. She's awesome too, by the way! I hope I get a chance to know her better as well.
Jacob got back Wednesday, and THEN I left Friday bound for College Station, Texas to see Tanner, Noelle and the girls. I stayed a week and got to see first hand their crazy lifestyle they live while he finishes college at Texas A&M in the chemical engineering program. Talk about learning to be flexible as the classes change, Noelle works, and the girls go to school. (I still sit in awe when I think about it!)
It was fun playing taxi for them. :-D I feel very lucky that we found time to visit, tour the campus, tour some good shaved ice, tour the town a little, and we even made it to Houston and Galveston. (Katie and Reagan, I am still thinking of a way to pay you back for that last ride you made me go on. lol) I even got to kill a cockroach!!!
I miss them already and so wish I could make it out there when he graduates in December! Yep, my little bro is finally graduating!!! It's been a long, intense and crazy haul for them all! A battle really. Well fought and victory won. I think it's been eight years of schooling? Proud to bursting!
And another note: I did not expect to like Texas so much! That is after I got over my initial fear that nature was out to kill me. I even wore my socks OVER my pajama legs while sleeping under a comforter so spiders wouldn't crawl up them in 90 degree weather. If you know me and heat, that says something. No, Texas is a beautiful place, and the people there are so nice! Would love to visit again.
Well, that pretty much brings us up to the beginning of this summer of 2013. The final event I'll mention for this page is that Peter, Jacob's youngest brother, is getting married September 14th!!! Susannah is an amazing girl! Love her already. More on this in the next posting.
I, once again, have procrastinated long enough. I have to work on bringing the rest of our things back over to what was for the last seventeen years, Dad and Mom's house. Yes, we are living back in their house since they moved to Silverton and are living with Grandpa and Grandma Howell. Tessa and Steve are getting ready to move into the shop in back. It makes sense, really, because they run the greenhouses sitting next to it.
All that's been an adventure this summer as well. More like a lot of work. lol We did take a break from all the fuss this past week and went camping. First time since Idaho when Kolbein was little. One word: Awesome. It was much needed.
See? I've already lined up another blog/mini novel. I'll insert pictures later. Until then..must...back away...from...keyboard...
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Well, hello again!
Wow! It's been a whole year, almost two since my last post. Nobody probably even reads this or checks it anymore! lol. I guess I'll treat it like an open book diary instead.
I've read the posts from 2009, and it brought back such a flood of memories. It made me take a look at the events since then. It's really just a huge blur! How could I possibly write it all in one posting? I'll just write a VERY abbreviated overview. I'm sure I'll think of a ton of events after I log off. lol
Things are going well. Yep, still living with Dad and Mom. Most of the packed boxes that were set aside did get eventually sorted out. We have a crazy routine that kinda works for all of us. It's still a little crowded, but I'm happy to say that it's been a rare thing for anyone to have serious "issues" with another person. Anything that arises usually gets sorted out quickly. Have toes been stepped on? Of course they have. Ha! Have I had moments of insanity? Of course! But God's grace has been abounding! We all still like each other.
Nothing too crazy with our immediate family though there are a few things of note.
Tessa no longer lives with us. She's all married now as of December 11, 2010, with her own little surprise baby on the way. (YAY!)
Jacob now works for a new employer as of May 2010. He's even been to Dublin, Ireland for two months and back. (Thank goodness they didn't end up sending him to Cairo, Egypt!) He got a promotion out of the deal which was much appreciated. Ten dollars an hour for a family of five was a leeeetle on the tight side. He is now a team manager which makes a bit more. I am so proud of him!
Jared has lost a few teeth. The third was lost last week. He is so cute! He's lost the two front bottom ones and his first top tooth in front. (The one on the left if you're looking at him.) There are a few more wiggly ones right behind them too. Won't be long!
Kristopher lost a tooth as well, though not from natural causes. Just from brother causes. Last summer he was being pulled around by Jared in the little wagon and guess they were going to fast and he flew out of the wagon and went face first into the pavement. That was our first emergency visit to the dentist. He was alright when all was said and done, just missing a tooth and chipping some more of what was already a chipped tooth.
Kolbein has all his teeth so far. lol ....for now.
Jared played T-ball last year on the Rockies team for Clackamas Little League. He loved it so much that we went ahead and signed both Kristopher and him up this year. That part alone is worthy of a whole separate blog posting. So, we'll save it for later. We had a game today and I'm a little pooped as it is. I will mention that they only have a week left for this season. Most of their games have been rained out, but still worth the ride. I'll have to post a picture or two of them in their little team uniforms. VERY ADORABLE! I can say that still so I will. :D
Today was our first warm day of the year. You know, the kind where you're hunting for the sprinkler or looking for a little pool for them to play with, and in our case applying a lot of sunscreen too. After checking our Oregon weather report, I decided against setting up the bigger pool although I was asked a million times if they could have the bigger one. It's almost time, but not quite yet.
It was pretty windy out today, and the little pool was gross after sitting in the shed for a year. So we dug around in the garage for a sprinkler head for the hose (the kind that you hold while watering your plants). I found a few good rags and told the boys to go clean the pool. They cleaned it, as I knew they would, for a couple of hours! I had so much fun listening to them giggle and squeal as they got each other wet. I paused from my chores a couple of times to go "help" them.
Eventually, it was time to bring them in for a fast bath for tomorrow. I laughed so hard at Kolbein though when he threw a fit 'cause he had to take a bath. He had just played in the COLD water for almost three hours, but didn't want to get into the warm bath!?! Too funny.
Well, I am trying to really enjoy these days here at my parents' home. As difficult as it is sometimes, and as much as I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY (you get the idea) ready to have my own home again (sometimes it's all I can think about for the day), I don't want to forget to pause and absorb these water splashing moments.
Life has taken on such a fast pace for us. May be because it's not just managing our schedule, but dealing with the schedules of everyone else in the house and then some. I find myself longing for my nice quiet apartment in the shop up in Idaho at Patrick and Kayla's on more the one occasion. (Even with all the aforementioned carpenter ants, which weren't so bad as long as you stayed on top of the insecticide.) I miss them greatly! Kayla was my bud. In fact, over half our stuff is still up there in a storage unit. lol! I forget what kind of dishes I even have anymore.
I am happy for the most part. I think Jacob is more than ready to have his own place too, but we are grateful and thankful that we have such wonderful family that was so willing (both in Oregon and in Idaho) to give selflessly to us. We can never repay them all, but hopefully will get at least a turn or two to show them such kindness in return. We are truly blessed!!
How long will we be here at my parents' beautiful home? I don't know. Will we stay in Oregon, or will we move back to North Idaho? That's the million dollar question that rocks our mind. We have some ideas up our sleeve, but are just keeping them in prayer for now. We are making progress financially, but still have just a few more things to go so we have to stay put for a little longer at least. Spring 2012 may be? I'll keep you posted... I hope. lol
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Merry Christmas!!
Whew! I have officially finished all of the Christmas shopping. Yes, I braved the stores on the weekend before Christmas. Am I crazy? Well, I would have been had I went to the Town Center, but I chickened out and settled for good ol' Bi-Mart and the Dollar Tree here in Damascus. They were busy enough, but most of the fellow procrastinators were in a fairly good mood so it was kind of fun.
I finished wrapping the presents in less than two hours and managed to keep the boys from peeking, though I enjoyed quite a bit of giggling and whispering on the other side of the door. They then helped me put candy canes on all the presents and transported them to the wood stove, where all the presents are being displayed. Of course I let them have a candy cane for all their help. I didn't realize how much sugar went into those innocent looking, cheery little hooks of hyperness, but let me tell you... there's a lot. Just a little fyi.
I find that I am actually enjoying this year's Christmas quite a lot. A good part of that is because the boys are older and are really starting to grasp what the holiday is all about. It's fun to relate the story on a child's level and try to be as creative as possible when discussing it with them. When going through the story of Jesus' birth, they learned about him having to sleep out in a barn where the cows eat. Kristopher was a little concerned that He would be eaten by mistake.
A lot of us just don't have oodles of money lying around to spend on everyone this year, so there's kind of a laid back feeling. More of a focus on family and the simple things. We've been having fun celebrating and decorating in honor of Christ's upcoming birthday in a variety of ways I have to say. For example, decoratively themed table cloths are thrown over the extra boxes that we haven't found room for yet from our moving in with Dad and Mom. Also, we took all the lights we could find and decorated the maple tree and the tulip tree (which I climbed late at night to do so...but Jacob caught me and made me come down). They look sooooo pretty and cheerful. We've dug out other decor from years past including a wreath which served to hang the ornaments upon. There just isn't room for a Christmas tree haha... By the way, Dad wants to get one now. So, Monday we're going hunting for one.
Also, since this is the first Christmas we've spent with my family in a number of years, there's an extra excitement. I can tell the boys feel it too. They are loving being with family. They have a confidence and security about them that Jacob and I find priceless. They feel right at home here at Dad and Mom's and feel it is their home too. Even Kolbein. He's always toddling (or should I say running with gusto?) around helping himself to this or that. "This" or "that" include anything from the pans in the cupboard, opening his brothers' dressers, to of course, his favorite, the bathroom toilet.
So, until the next post, Merry, merry Christmas and a bright, fresh Happy New Year!!
I finished wrapping the presents in less than two hours and managed to keep the boys from peeking, though I enjoyed quite a bit of giggling and whispering on the other side of the door. They then helped me put candy canes on all the presents and transported them to the wood stove, where all the presents are being displayed. Of course I let them have a candy cane for all their help. I didn't realize how much sugar went into those innocent looking, cheery little hooks of hyperness, but let me tell you... there's a lot. Just a little fyi.
I find that I am actually enjoying this year's Christmas quite a lot. A good part of that is because the boys are older and are really starting to grasp what the holiday is all about. It's fun to relate the story on a child's level and try to be as creative as possible when discussing it with them. When going through the story of Jesus' birth, they learned about him having to sleep out in a barn where the cows eat. Kristopher was a little concerned that He would be eaten by mistake.
A lot of us just don't have oodles of money lying around to spend on everyone this year, so there's kind of a laid back feeling. More of a focus on family and the simple things. We've been having fun celebrating and decorating in honor of Christ's upcoming birthday in a variety of ways I have to say. For example, decoratively themed table cloths are thrown over the extra boxes that we haven't found room for yet from our moving in with Dad and Mom. Also, we took all the lights we could find and decorated the maple tree and the tulip tree (which I climbed late at night to do so...but Jacob caught me and made me come down). They look sooooo pretty and cheerful. We've dug out other decor from years past including a wreath which served to hang the ornaments upon. There just isn't room for a Christmas tree haha... By the way, Dad wants to get one now. So, Monday we're going hunting for one.
Also, since this is the first Christmas we've spent with my family in a number of years, there's an extra excitement. I can tell the boys feel it too. They are loving being with family. They have a confidence and security about them that Jacob and I find priceless. They feel right at home here at Dad and Mom's and feel it is their home too. Even Kolbein. He's always toddling (or should I say running with gusto?) around helping himself to this or that. "This" or "that" include anything from the pans in the cupboard, opening his brothers' dressers, to of course, his favorite, the bathroom toilet.
So, until the next post, Merry, merry Christmas and a bright, fresh Happy New Year!!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Kolbein's First Birthday
This was the morning of July 29th before we headed back to Idaho. 
Out of order, but he was cautious at first about the piece of cake. It was a leftover piece of Great Grandpa's cake. Due to everything going on, there was no time to bake him one of his own.
Great Grandpa's 80th back in July
Kris got stung by a bee that day. "Right on my freckle!"
Kolbein loves Great Grandma!
They boys love hanging out together. They couldn't wait for the cake.
Well, we TRIED to get all the great grandchildren in there. I think just Kristopher and Kolbein were missing, and of course the three "Howell girls" Katie, Reagan and Georgie who were in Texas of course. :)
Kolbein has officially got Mom wrapped around his little finger.The Big Move
As many of you know, we have moved back to Oregon. We are currently residing at my parents' home in Happy Valley which truly feels like it's living up to its name. :)
Yes, we miss our home up North in the mountains, and we both agree that we will DEFINITELY miss all the wonderful cold, cold weather and snow. (I wish I could bring it down here. Life would be perfect! Don't you agree, Noelle?) It is good to be around all the family again, however. I can't even begin to describe how much we missed everyone. We also both agree that it was a wonderful experience that has done wonders for our marriage! If nothing else, it was the grandest of adventures.
Now, about the boys. They, to put it mildly, are drunk with attention. They absolutely LOVE being with their grandparents! They are surrounded by a lot of cousins and aunties and uncles. Riding their bikes outside and climbing the apple trees are their top favorite things to do, and they have discovered several new parks close by us. Jared is insistent we visit the zoo soon, and he heard there's an ocean near by too. It's all very exciting and new to them. I guess they don't remember as much from a few years ago. They were just little, little guys. I forget that. I have spent most of my life in this state. To them it's all new.
Every morning they eat breakfast at the kitchen table with Grandpa, Grandma and myself after a rousing rendition of O, the Lord is Good to Me. If you don't know that table prayer song, call them. They would be happy to sing it at the top of their lungs. I am happy to report that they are learning to sing it all in the same key together. lol It's so stinkin' cute! (sigh... Mom moment...) Anyway, the song goes like this:
O, the Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me
The things I need
The sun and the rain and the apple seed
The Lord is good to me.
(and then some table thumping/clapping)
*Bum Bum Bump Bump Bump!*
Then we all clear the table and chores are commenced. The boys head out to check the chicken eggs, (Very serious business for them), in which they have learned that chickens in a nest are going to cackle when finished laying. And cackle LOUD! They aren't too scared about that anymore. They just refuse to go in till the hen is finished with her business. They help feed and water them as well. Oh, and next time you talk to me, ask me how the conversation went when they questioned how the egg came out. Take a wild guess and you're probably right.
Once Kolbein goes down for his morning nap, we do some school. They are both doing really well. I am so excited that Jared is really learning to read. He's very self motivated which helps tremendously. Kristopher is doing really well also. He has his own workbooks that he loves to do along side Jared. All in all, the quality time together is priceless.
So, we've settled in pretty well finally. Only took us a few weeks. Poor Mom and Dad, though. Their stuff is being shuffled all over the place! They are being so gracious about the whole thing. I think they might just be a little happy to have us all back. It will probably take us a few more months to get everything where we all have it planned. So we are all trying to be very patient with each other and give each other space. Auntie Tessa has been a great help as well. They love it when she's home. Auntie Tiffani has been a great babysitter. They love playing with Charlie and Sydney so much that they usually don't want to leave. I always have to promise we'll come back.
I will mention the boys asked me yesterday when they could go play with Nathan and William, their cousins in Idaho. They said they missed them. Kristopher asked about Kayla and Patrick. (We already miss them too!) I know that some part of them hasn't quite connected how far we've moved. I don't think they grasp what a paramountal change has happened in our family. (We're going to try hard to keep that relationship strong!) They did have a LOT of fun up there and remember a lot about it of course; however, Jared told me in the car today, "It's nice down here in Oregon, isn't it, Mom?"
Yes, we miss our home up North in the mountains, and we both agree that we will DEFINITELY miss all the wonderful cold, cold weather and snow. (I wish I could bring it down here. Life would be perfect! Don't you agree, Noelle?) It is good to be around all the family again, however. I can't even begin to describe how much we missed everyone. We also both agree that it was a wonderful experience that has done wonders for our marriage! If nothing else, it was the grandest of adventures.
Now, about the boys. They, to put it mildly, are drunk with attention. They absolutely LOVE being with their grandparents! They are surrounded by a lot of cousins and aunties and uncles. Riding their bikes outside and climbing the apple trees are their top favorite things to do, and they have discovered several new parks close by us. Jared is insistent we visit the zoo soon, and he heard there's an ocean near by too. It's all very exciting and new to them. I guess they don't remember as much from a few years ago. They were just little, little guys. I forget that. I have spent most of my life in this state. To them it's all new.
Every morning they eat breakfast at the kitchen table with Grandpa, Grandma and myself after a rousing rendition of O, the Lord is Good to Me. If you don't know that table prayer song, call them. They would be happy to sing it at the top of their lungs. I am happy to report that they are learning to sing it all in the same key together. lol It's so stinkin' cute! (sigh... Mom moment...) Anyway, the song goes like this:
O, the Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me
The things I need
The sun and the rain and the apple seed
The Lord is good to me.
(and then some table thumping/clapping)
*Bum Bum Bump Bump Bump!*
Then we all clear the table and chores are commenced. The boys head out to check the chicken eggs, (Very serious business for them), in which they have learned that chickens in a nest are going to cackle when finished laying. And cackle LOUD! They aren't too scared about that anymore. They just refuse to go in till the hen is finished with her business. They help feed and water them as well. Oh, and next time you talk to me, ask me how the conversation went when they questioned how the egg came out. Take a wild guess and you're probably right.
Once Kolbein goes down for his morning nap, we do some school. They are both doing really well. I am so excited that Jared is really learning to read. He's very self motivated which helps tremendously. Kristopher is doing really well also. He has his own workbooks that he loves to do along side Jared. All in all, the quality time together is priceless.
So, we've settled in pretty well finally. Only took us a few weeks. Poor Mom and Dad, though. Their stuff is being shuffled all over the place! They are being so gracious about the whole thing. I think they might just be a little happy to have us all back. It will probably take us a few more months to get everything where we all have it planned. So we are all trying to be very patient with each other and give each other space. Auntie Tessa has been a great help as well. They love it when she's home. Auntie Tiffani has been a great babysitter. They love playing with Charlie and Sydney so much that they usually don't want to leave. I always have to promise we'll come back.
I will mention the boys asked me yesterday when they could go play with Nathan and William, their cousins in Idaho. They said they missed them. Kristopher asked about Kayla and Patrick. (We already miss them too!) I know that some part of them hasn't quite connected how far we've moved. I don't think they grasp what a paramountal change has happened in our family. (We're going to try hard to keep that relationship strong!) They did have a LOT of fun up there and remember a lot about it of course; however, Jared told me in the car today, "It's nice down here in Oregon, isn't it, Mom?"
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