Cookie Creations

Early in December, Ryan surprised me by asking if we were going to "do cookies" this year.  I was somewhat surprised by his request... a bit amazed that he remembered... and with a warmed heart, I quickly responded that it was a wonderful idea.

I baked up the cookies ahead of time, and a few days later we took advantage of one of Evan's naps and dove into the decorating.  I gave Ryan some simple instructions, and then started dipping cookies in the glaze frosting.  At times he needed reminders that "a little bit of decoration all over the cookie is better than a lot all in one place".  He stuck with it throughout the entire batch, diligently decorating each one.

This "cookie tradition" stems from my great-grandfather (who was a baker).  The recipe for the cookies and the glaze frosting is unchanged, and making/decorating the cookies as a family has been a tradition now for 5 generations.  Ryan and I had decided that we would ship cookies to Papa Thom & Grandma Dar as this is one of the first years they weren't able to participate in this long-standing family tradition.  We also decided to send some to Grandma & Grandpa Soldner as I learned that they would not be able to participate in the tradition this year either.  At one point during our decorating, Ryan picked out a couple of cookies for Papa Thom and Grandma Dar, and decorated them especially for them.  He then did the same for Grandma & Grandpa Soldner.  We wrapped those cookies separately as they were made special just for them.

We both had a lot of fun, and there was something a little magical about passing on this tradition to the next generation.

I posted some pictures of our cookie traditions in the Hymas Photos section.

Tree Traditions

The first weekend of December, we braved the frigid temperatures and headed out into the woods (well...a tree farm) and searched for the perfect "Hymas Family Christmas Tree".  Thankfully we found one without all of the challenges the Griswolds ran into (one of the best Christmas movies ever....National Lampoons Christmas Vacation)!

We went to Farrell's Tree Farm in Washougal.  One can find a wide variety of Nobles, Grands, and other fir varieties at this family-run farm.  They always have a large campfire roaring and hot chocolate flowing to warm weary tree hunters both inside and out.

When we decorated the tree, we had our new friends/neighbors Max & Angela, their daughter Olivia, and Italian exchange student Ariana over to help.  Ryan and Olivia are the same age, and really got into the decorating spirit.  For Evan, it was a hands-off affair.  Later in the week we went over to Max & Angela's house to help decorate their tree.

Family, friends, and traditions...both new and old...make this season truly great!

Check out the pics of our tree traditions in the Hymas Photos section.

Thanksgiving and Beyond

Thanksgiving was spent in Sunriver, OR again this year with Gage's folks, sisters & their families.  Both Gage & I really love that area, especially around the holidays as it has a rustic and "holiday-ish" feel.  Sunriver is a small community with many amenities, but if there is something you need that you can't find in the village... the city of Bend, OR is only about a 20 minute drive away.
We enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings (more than once due to the leftovers).  Turkey, potatoes (both mashed and sweet), stuffing, green bean casserole, and of course PIES!
We all used that time to unwind during these unstable and stressful times... playing games, watching Christmas movies, hiking, exploring, and just enjoying each others company.
The cousins all played, watched some kiddo movies, and "swam" in the hot tub.
All in all...we all made some good memories and kicked off the holiday season together.
Check out some pictures from Thanksgiving in the Hymas Photos section.

Scene from my life...

Two boys...brothers.
At times the best of friends... playing, sharing, caring.

During this fine moment, the eldest is playing quietly... unsuspecting of what is soon to come.
His younger brother, feeling a bit mischievous, comes up from behind.  He wraps his arms around the neck of his older brother and tugs backwards in a failed attempt to get him to the ground.  The eldest is able to pull him off and push him away... this time.  Words and frustrated glances are exchanged.  The youngest will try again, perhaps today, perhaps another day... in hopes that his efforts will result in brotherly rough play.  My hopes are that it will result in laughter and no one getting hurt.

For My Mom...

...and anyone else who gets a kick out of old jokes.

I was out taking some pictures today and captured the shot below.  It reminded me of a joke my mom cannot hear without bursting into uncontrollable laughter....


SO... a horse walks into a bar.  The bartender says, "Why the long face?"

Hope everyone is having a great day!!

Little Surprises

Life with children is a life full of surprise. Good surprises (like the boys actually playing well together), not-so-good surprises (ok, what spilled or broke this time)... they all qualify, and are all important in their own way. Yesterday, each of my children blessed me with good surprises.

We awoke on Saturday morning in the usual way... Ryan with his face about 3 inches away from mine, waiting patiently for me to open my eyes. When I do open my eyes, I'm always treated to a fresh smile, ready to explore what the day has to offer. I LOVE waking up like that. On occasion, if we aren't getting out of bed as quickly as he'd like, he'll go off and play in his room. This was one of those days. As we lay there, trying desperately to deny the fact that it was, indeed morning, a cheerful voice began to sing "Clean-up, clean-up. Everybody, everywhere. Clean-up, Clean-up. Everybody do your share". Ryan only sings this song when he is cleaning or picking up his toys... but I'd never heard the song unprompted before. Ryan cheerfully completed what he was doing and came into our room and reported to us that he was done playing with his pretend food, and cleaned it up. We praised him for such a great choice, and I then asked "Did you clean up the rest of your toys as well?". He swiftly replied "No, but I should go do that!" as he bounced off to his room. What a way to wake up on a Saturday!

That same night, I had taken the kids upstairs to get ready for bed. They came down to say "goodnight" to daddy. Evan had already given his hugs and was waiting for Ryan to finish. I could see Evan looking around the room with a mischievous eye. I quickly redirected him, not really thinking it would work, by saying "Evan, Lets go upstairs.... time to go night-night." To my surprise, Evan headed directly for the stairs and began climbing. At the top, he briefly started to head towards Ryan's room... I gave him a quick reminder "Evan, time to go night-night". He changed course, went into his room, climbed into his E-Dome (this sleeping arrangement is explained in a previous blog entry "Evan Antics") and tried to close it. I wanted to pinch myself... certainly this was not really happening! Could I be so fortunate as to be surprised twice in one day?? But it was just that. As I left his room, Evan didn't protest once.

My children continue to amaze me each and every day. I am blessed!

Reconnecting

Even though we don't always realize it, relationships take work. Many times this "work" really doesn't feel much like work at all, but sometimes we become so busy that we separate from our loved ones enough that it does take a conscious effort to reconnect. It is really easy in our society to become overwhelmed with the day-to-day, running from place-to-place, falling into a comfortable pattern in which we no longer really see each other. It is during those times that it is extremely valuable to have an awareness of the distance that could be forming between you and those around you. It is only then that you can then work to reconnect with those you love. It can be as easy as picking up the phone to call a friend, taking the time to really listen to your family, and doing those little things that show your family how much you love them.

Every few years, Gage and I take a "adults only" vacation to really force us to focus on each other and really reconnect. No other distractions, no excuses... we are able to take off our parenting hats and just focus on ourselves. By taking ourselves outside of our "norm" for a length of time, we are able to recharge our souls, renew our love for each other, and focus on an inner peace.

This was our year! We went on a week-long cruise in the eastern Caribbean with another couple (good friends, who are really more like family to us), and it was, for lack of a better term, WONDERFUL! Our first few days were "at-sea", which forced us to simply relax and fully let go of our usual lives. It is actually more difficult than one might think to do this, at least for me. The first night (we stayed in Miami the night before getting on the ship), I was having to remind myself to slow down... my brain is still running a million miles a minute, sorting through what I might have forgotten and trying to troubleshoot what I may encounter before getting on the ship.... all organizational stuff that REALLY isn't necessary at this point. Even once on the ship, a baby cries or a child sounds like one of my kids, and for a split second I'll fall back into mommy mode, my brain tricked into thinking one of my kids needs me! At times my body was equally tricked, and my muscles would tighten, ready to respond before I was reminded that my children are thousands of miles away. I could feel it all began to melt away while enjoying a quiet breakfast on our private balcony during the first morning on the ship, the stress sinking to the sea below.

The ship, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas, is currently one of the largest ships currently sailing the Caribbean. I say "one of" because there are 3 or 4 ships, owned and run by Royal Caribbean, in the "Freedom Class"... all of which are the same size... HUGE! This ship holds up to 4000 passengers and over 1500 crew. It is a floating city... literally! It had a Promenade area, that had shops and eateries (more like a mall), a library in a quiet corner of the ship, several bars/lounges, an ice rink (yes, ice skating in the Caribbean!), 3 pools, a large activities area with adventures like rock climbing, surfing, basketball, put-put golf, and many others. I could almost write an entire blog on what was contained on this ship... but I can already see this blog is rather long, so I'll let you see some of the ship for yourself in the Hymas Photos section.... a picture is worth a 1000 words!!

By the third day into the cruise, we stopped at our first port in St. Maartin... an island once in an identity crisis, and still somewhat divided. Half French and half Dutch, there are distinct differences between the two. The Dutch side, from what we could tell, is much more poverty stricken, litter lining the roads, cars that haven't run in decades decaying in dirt yards. The French side has well-kept estates, and well-known beaches (primarily because on the French side, as in the country itself, nudity is permitted). We laid in the sun and enjoyed the surf at Orient Beach (on the French side, but no, we did not experience any nudity) and devoured BBQ chicken and ribs for lunch, with some rum punch to wash it down.

The next day we were in picturesque San Juan, Puerto Rico. Being as the coastline is basically rock, we spent our time wandering the streets of old San Juan, awe struck by the beautiful historic colonial architecture. The stucco painted with vibrant colors. As we walked, an old fort (Castillo de Cristobal) emerged... inviting us to come and explore what was within its walls. It was beautiful and very well maintained. The views of San Juan from the lookouts were, I'm sure, the best on the island and well worth the $3/person charge to get in. As we walked back to the main part of old town, a tropical downpour began to soak our shirts and cool our bodies. A welcome feeling! The closest refuge was a gazebo that was clearly owned by hundreds of pigeons. They tolerated our presence as we cautiously positioned ourselves in a small place where none could perch above. Unfortunately we were not in San Juan as long as we were at the other ports, and all felt there was so much more to see. Another trip, perhaps?

The last port we visited was a small portion of Haiti owned by the cruise line which they named Labadee. From what we were told, this area was heavily guarded by tall, barb-wire-lined fences and walls, as well as military personnel. Haiti is still a rather hostile country, and from what I understand, very poverty stricken. In the private oasis, you'd never know it. It was a beautiful tropical paradise on this war-stricken island. On the other islands, we were exposed to the local culture, here we were protected from it.

While relaxing in Labadee, one can do as much or as little as they like. There was snorkling, a zipline (claiming to be the longest zipline over water), food and drink, a flea market, jet skis, a beach geared towards kids with large, air-filled toys, viewpoints, trails to explore. Of course several of those activities cost extra. Upon arriving, we perused the various beaches to decide where "home base" would be. After learning the cost of the zipline ($80/person) and the jetskis ($100 for the driver & $30 for a passenger), we decided to just get some floating mats ($12/person) and relax. I definitely feel that we got our money's worth out of the mats as we spent much of our time on Labadee just floating in the water, rising and falling with the rolling waves, our now tan bodies soaking up the warmth of the sun.

As our trip came to an end, we felt refreshed and reconnected... success! We were ready to return to our normal lives and missed the boys greatly. We are especially thankful for our families. The boys stayed primarily with my folks (Papa Thom & Grandma Dar; a.k.a. Thom and Dar), who gave up living in their "bus house" home to stay at our house with them. They also spent some time with Gage's folks (Papa & Grammie; a.k.a. Pops & Graham Cracker). It is because we know they were well loved and cared for that allowed us to take full advantage of this opportunity. Thank you just doesn't say enough... we are very blessed and forever grateful!

Check out the pictures in our Hymas Photos section. This is a rather small collection given that we took over 500 pictures between the 4 of us, but is a good representation of our travels!!

Evan Antics

Well, over the past 2 weeks Evan has been one busy fellow. Here is an account of some of his "antics". There have been A LOT... so this will be a rather long blog. Keep in mind, while reading this, that Evan is not yet 18 months old.

Two weekends ago we were with some friends at a rented house in Hood Canal (Puget Sound area). I was working in the kitchen when Ryan reported "MOM! Evan is on the table!!!". I turned around, expecting to find him on the coffee table, but no... he was standing on top of the dining table. After shaking off the brief shock, I rescued him and brought him safely to the ground and went back to the kitchen area. I turned around to find him climbing back up onto one of the chairs and quickly onto the table again. The rest of the weekend I spent ensuring that if the chairs were not occupied... they were pushed in.

Later that morning we headed down by the water with the kids so they could throw rocks in the water (and so I could take advantage of the photo ops). I sat Evan down at the edge of the water line and popped off some pictures.

I turned away to get some pictures of our friend Michelle with her daughter.

When I turned back... Evan wasn't exactly where I had left him.

He definitely loves the water... he makes every effort to play in any water he sees.... lakes, bathtubs, neighbor's sprinkler systems, and even (ugh!) toilets!

During the next couple of days, we'd find him on tables, climbing stacked boxes, opening and closing doors (we now have to keep the front door locked.... not to keep others out, but to keep Evan in!) and exploring just about anything!

None of those compares to this last Monday. My friend and neighbor Kathy and I went to Costco together. We were unloading her car (Ford Expedition... larger SUV) while the kids were playing. I turned around to check on Evan and didn't see him right away. Then some movement from in the car caught my eye. It was Evan... standing on the driver's seat "driving" the car (the driver's door had been left open... keys were NOT in the car). I quickly retrieved him.

A while later I put Evan down for nap. Kathy and I went outside and sat on our front porch while Ryan and her son played in the beautiful weather. About 10 minutes later, we heard a strange sound in the house (window right behind us was open). We both dismissed it as being Lyssie (dog) until we heard the sound again. I turned around to find Evan's face looking out the window at me. He let out a cheerful squeal and gave me a very happy and satisfied grin! SO... Evan climbed up his crib and then most likely fell down to the ground as the railing was up. He then opened his bedroom door, and proceeded to go down the stairs, finding me at the front window. Evan does know how to go up/down stairs... but it makes both Gage & I nervous because at times he is a bit carefree about it and will even attempt to go down like a big boy (which always results in his falling and us catching). The thoughts of "what could have happened" haunted me for the rest of the day. Needless to say, he has not been in the crib since. The crib has been taken down and he is sleeping in his Kidco PeaPod (travel bed that resembles a small tent... sits on the floor and zips shut). This will be his bed until he figures out how to undo the zipper.

Later that day, we were all outside enjoying the weather. Some of the older neighbor kids were riding around on their razor scooters. Evan was playing with Ryan's trike (Evan likes to sit on it and scoot it around, or just push it places). This trike can either have the seat up high...like a standard trike, or you can flip it over so it more resembles a big wheel trike. This day it was (thankfully) in big wheel form. I turned to look at Ryan and the other kids playing in the cul-de-sac. When I turned around to check on Evan, he was standing on the seat holding the handlebars, and rolling down the driveway! I honestly think he was trying to emulate what the older kids were doing on the razor scooters. I let out a little "yikes" and ran to rescue him. His eyes quizzically looked at me as if to say "what's the problem?? I've got this under control."

Since that time he continues to challenge himself, and us. We had an A-Frame ladder still set up in the house after a day of painting a while back as I still have some trim work to do. It is now collapsed and laying on the ground since Gage & I found that Evan had climbed all the way to the top of it. After just about every event, he has a twinkle of pride in his eye, and a gleeful smile on his face... until I remove him from the situation.

There is something new every day. Life is definitely not boring right now!

After talking to my mom... evidently I was much the same way. She is probably reading this, feeling a bit redeemed.

You can see more photos in the "Hymas Photos" section (right toolbar).

House Movement

Ryan has recently discovered how to make our house move (or so it seems to him).

This initially happened about a month ago, and then again just a couple days ago. It was an endearing moment that I decided must be shared as we've all had similar experiences in our past.

Ryan was spinning around in the kitchen, gaining momentum, spinning faster and faster. He stopped very abruptly, arms out slightly to assist with his balance. After about 10 seconds... he very sincerely looked at me, eyes wide and unfocused, and asked "Mom... is our house moving???"

The New House

For those who don't already know... during the beginning of July we closed on the sale of our old house in Vancouver, and also closed on the purchase of our new home in Camas, WA.  Camas is just east of Vancouver, and its getting harder and harder to tell where Vancouver ends and Camas starts.  We like the Camas area for the small town feel, the community, the schools, and the fact that several of our friends and their families live in Camas.

Our house is on a cul-de-sac not far from the elementary school the boys will be attending.  The cul-de-sac is, for all intents and purposes, run by the kids who live on this street.  Even though we do have a back yard (however much smaller than our previous), Ryan has played back there a whopping ONE time!  He is always out front playing with all the neighbor kids there.  We have met most of our neighbors, and they are very nice people.  We definitely feel welcomed and part of the community.

The seemingly endless unpacking and organizing continues.  There is also a lot of painting to be done as the walls were all contractor white when we moved in.  I have since painted the kitchen (which is still needing a bit of touch up work) and Ryan's room.  Ryan picked out the main color for his room... green.  Gage's sister helped me with Ryan's room.  She is the cutting-in MASTER.... doing all the cutting in at the ceiling and around the doorway/windows by hand and without tape or a guide.

I've found our camera, and so have posted a few pics of our new house in the Hymas Photos section.  It is a work in progress.  Lots to do outside in the yard (was a bank-owned property, so not much done there) and a lot of organizing and settling in to do inside.  I'll post more pics as we progress through and continue to make this house our home.

If anyone needs our new address, drop us an email.  We have the same phone numbers as we are still a "cellular" family.

Family Camp Out

Over this last weekend was the annual family/friends camp out.  It was a bit smaller this year than in years past with only about 30 people in attendance for the potluck that is on the Saturday of the camp out weekend.  A few years ago there were over 70 people at the potluck.  We headed up to Paradise Creek campground in the Gifford Pinchot National forest on Wednesday evening after Gage got off of work.  I was off that day so had everything as ready as I could by the time he got home.  Most everyone else in our group arrived Thursday evening with most everyone staying through Sunday.

Ryan had been looking forward to this trip for weeks, and possibly months (that boy LOVES to camp).  I believe the trip exceeded his expectations.  He played with friends, waded in the creek (called himself a "river-walker"), went for hikes, played in the dirt, and even roasted marshmallows.  I think I was most impressed by his maturity and growing self-confidence when he was wading in the creek.  This is not just any creek, this is mountain snow run-off... so it is always cold, despite the 80+ degree weather.  Ryan was a bit nervous at first, but was soon walking across all by himself (mind you... we're talking knee deep at its deepest, generally speaking ankle deep...and its not fast running  at all this time of year where we were at).  Even when he fell, and his lungs gasped short, sharp breaths due to the extreme chill of the water, he got up, brushed himself off, and continued on... often times even laughing!  I believe the time he spent as a "river-walker" were some of his favorite moments of the weekend (ok, that and Grandma K's cake!!).

Evan did pretty well about half the time.  He enjoyed traipsing through the woods, playing in the dirt with the toys we brought, hitting small plants with sticks... and definitely enjoyed being outside.  Unfortunately he was also experiencing the discomfort that comes along with a molar trying to break through.  Combine that with the fact he is just at a difficult age for camping and there were some not so pleasant times.  So his trip, and in turn my trip, was not as enjoyable as it could have been.  

I'd like to say I had a great time (as that has always been my response in the past), but due to the times Evan was having a hard time, I can say with all honesty that I had a good time with several great moments.  I also got some nice pictures... check them out in the Hymas Photos section.

A New Store??

PetSmart is a large chain of pet stores.  Yesterday, Ryan informed me that there was a new store that took the PetSmart idea in another direction.

Ryan was pretending his froggie (stuffed animal) was a baby.  He was showing me his "baby" and ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how cute he was.  He then asked me if I knew where he came from.  I admitted that I did not know.  "I got him at BabySmart!"  he proudly, yet matter-of-a-factly replied.  I thought this was quite inventive and creative for a 4-year-old and was definitely the bright spot in my day.  

As we talked, I learned more about BabySmart...evidently, where PetSmart sells pets and pet supplies, BabySmart sells babies and baby supplies.  I wonder if the government is aware of this?

(PS...He was able to distinguish that BabySmart is not where he or his brother came from... so he was being purely imaginative)

Cognitive Changes and Relocating

I've been noticing more cognitive changes in both of the boys lately.  Ryan has hit the stage where he really wants to be independent and do things for himself, and truly believes that he is in control.  He enjoys getting himself dressed, putting on his own shoes, getting his own snacks and water, using keys to unlock the front door or the key fob to unlock the car, opening the garage, etc.  I'm sure I could go on for a few pages on all the things he is doing (or wanting to do) for himself lately.  At times this has not worked out so well.  The messes he has made lately trying to do things for himself have been adding up.  Toilet paper all over the floor (and clogging the toilet) and a combination of toothpaste and mouth rinse coating the sink are among the bigger messes.  This is a great stage, and watching him grow like this makes me smile every time despite the frustration I feel from the messes left behind for me to manage.

Evan has been doing more "problem solving" lately.  He is definitely my little climber, and will at least try to climb on anything he can.  He is also continuing to master walking which is his chosen method of mobility these days... tottering and toddling around with his hands stretched out in front of him (we have been calling this his zombie walk) a huge grin on his face and a sparkle of pride in his eyes.  During this past week I noticed him pushing a small chair around that he would then use to climb up to new levels.  Once he pushed it against the couch and was able to climb up onto the couch independently.  Another time I had skillfully placed an object in the middle of the coffee table so it was out of his reach... that is until he pushed the chair up against it.  He is definitely thinking and problem solving how to get to things he can't otherwise reach.   A new level of development for him... HOORAY!!!  

This week we are signing paperwork to close on selling our current house, and also to purchase a new house.  We are pretty much all packed up and ready to move.  Planning to make the big move on Friday...if all continues to go smoothly this week.  We'll then be Camas-ites, or Camasonians... or Camasians???????  Ok... we'll be living in Camas!  

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Ryan turned 4 today (well, officially "yesterday" since it is now after midnight!) and rang it in just as he wanted (mostly).

When he woke up, he was greeted by gifts piled on the table (from Grandma Dar & Papa Thom; and some from us), a musical card, and a large balloon.  He had some cake for breakfast... then after being a trooper and looking at some houses with us, got to pick where to go for lunch.  He surprised us with saying "Applebee's... I want some mac and cheese at Applebee's".  Ok.... can do!  After polishing of his lunch of choice, he mustered up room to dig into his Applebee's birthday desert of choice... a small hot fudge sundae complete with whipped cream and a cherry on top.  The rest of the day was filled with Ryan-approved activities.

All in all, he had a good birthday (as reported by him).

Tomorrow will be his birthday party... so as I type this, there is a cake in the oven that will get decorated in the morning, and picking up to do.  Its gonna be a late night.

Look Who's Walking!

Viva Las Vegas

This last week, Gage & I enjoyed some R&R time in Las Vegas.  We enjoyed a show (Mistere'... a Cirque du Soleil show), Gage won just enough money to counter my losses (he had lady luck on his side this trip), walked until we practically couldn't possibly walk anymore, and all got healthy doses of Vitamin D while relaxing poolside.  We went along with some other friends of ours...other couples also in need of some childless R&R time.  

We had a GREAT view from our room at the Mandalay Bay of Air Force One landing and President Obama's motorcade as it sped from McCarran Airport to the freeway, and on to Ceasar's Palace.  The motorcade consisted of at least 15 indistinct black SUVs, about 8 police cars, and a dozen police motorcycles.  As it passed by, we all waved to Obama, Michelle, and the girls...even though none of us was sure if the family was with him or not.  The roads and freeways along their route were all closed down for about 5-10 minutes before the motorcade passed by.  This was a once-in-a-lifetime sighting.  Very exciting and spontaneous since we didn't know it was happening until about an hour before.

While we were there, the kiddos stayed with Gage's mom & dad and had a GREAT time.  I actually think Ryan would have stayed an additional week or so.  As we pulled up the drive to their house, Mom was in the doorway with Evan.  When we left, she made the comment that when we come back, the boys (especially Evan) will look so much bigger.  She couldn't have been more RIGHT!  Evan looked so much taller and bigger than when we left, yet I knew we were only gone for 5 days, so that surely couldn't be the case.  Even Ryan looked older and more mature.

Part of our being able to relax so well was due to the fact that we knew the kids were in such great hands.... THANKS MOM & DAD!!!!! :)

Even though we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, we were both ready to get back to the boys whom we missed dearly, and to our normal routine and "life as usual".  Viva Hymas life!

Is It So Bad???

About a year ago, we were driving past a Wendy's.  Ryan asked who the girl was on the side of the building (the big sketch of Wendy that is part of their logo).  I told him that was Wendy, and she wasn't very nice.  He asked "why?" and I told him "because she feeds us food that makes our bodies sick."  He remembers that conversation to this day, and will at times even make comments such as "Wendy is mean.... her food makes my body feel sick".

Today we were heading to a store that had a McDonald's integrated into it.  Yes, integrated into the GROCERY STORE!  As if that were necessary!  Isn't that why your there?  To get food to take home to cook?  This place should be out of business, but instead the line is often out the door into the store area.  

BUT... I digress...(sorry)...  As we were walking towards the store from the parking lot, Ryan asked "What is that big yellow thing?"  On the outside of the store was that big, yellow, iconic "M".  The gears in my head started reeling, trying to decide exactly what to say, when Ryan said "OH.... I KNOW!!!  It's "M" for Mommy!!  It's like in your name!!"  I quickly agreed with this, as it is in fact an "M" and mommy starts with the letter "M".

A small piece of me wonders if this is unpatriotic... after all... what's more American than McDonald's????  But, I have to admit, I was actually filled with a sense of pride and satisfaction.  Pride that my almost 4-year-old son has NO IDEA what those golden arches stand for, that he doesn't recognize them at all!!  Pride that the only "fast food" he really knows and will ask for by name is Subway ($5 Footlong!!).  How many kids these days, since before they can even read, recognize that big "M" as meaning McDonald's and Crappy (happy) meals??  I am SO happy to say that Ryan is not one of those kids.  That he thought of it as meaning Mommy... I'm actually very touched!  Now, I'm not saying Ryan has never had a cheeseburger or food from a fast-food restaurant... but those incidents are very few and far between.  I don't make a big deal out of it when we go, ensuring as best I can that there is no real emotional or psychological attachment to that restaurant.  He doesn't get many choices, and if there are healthier sides (which many are now offering) that is what he will get.

I know I'm being a little deceitful by not disclosing the whole truth....(especially with the Wendy's thing since it was really her dad who opened it up.... sorry Wendy), but is it really so bad??  To discourage fast food joints whose main goal is to get you addicted to their fat and sugar laden foods?  Looking around at most Americans, I don't think it is bad or wrong of me, and I solidly stand by my decision.

Name Correction

It was Tuesday morning.... I was getting the boys up and ready to head over to Grammie's house as it was a work day for me.  I gave Ryan a good morning head nuzzle and picked up Evan to do the same.  As I was laying Evan down on the changing table, I made a comment "Awwww.... how's it going big man?"  Very quickly Ryan replied..."Mom!  That is NOT right!"  For a second I was a bit confused, and my brain was scrambling to remember what I said or done that was incorrect.  Ryan again piped up and said "I'M big man.... he's little man!!"  Evidently, without really realizing it, I had been calling Ryan "big man" and Evan "little man" with some consistency.  I apologized to Ryan and started using the "correct" terminology.

This whole episode reminded me of a favorite Bill Cosby stand-up routine about him and his brother Russell.  Ahhhh..... childhood memories!!

Mother's Day Tea

Ryan's preschool had a Mother's Day Tea on Tuesday.  Moms & Grandmas were all invited to share in the festivities.  As I walked in the room... tables were set with small clear glass plates and tea cups.  Looking through them one could see the butterfly place mats each kid made.  Place cards made in part by the kids were holding a special seat for the matrons.  Painted paper butterflies hung from the ceiling, and carefully made tissue-paper flowers in planter boxes adorned the walls.  At the front of the room was a table holding the tea party treats.  Surrounding a centerpiece of flowers were small brownies, pieces of cake, fresh strawberries, mini quiches, and a few other items.  The preschoolers were responsible for making the decorations and several of the treats.

The class filed into the room, all aglow with excitement.  Ryan ran over and gave me a hug before returning to the line with his classmates.  They sang songs to familiar tunes, with words reflective of the occasion.  Ryan was at least one step in front of the line of children, jumping up and down, dancing and  being quite animated while loudly singing the songs.  Warmed my heart... he was pure, happy, and genuine.  I couldn't help but compare this performance to his first with his class shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday.  At that event, he didn't sing.  He reluctantly sat on his teacher's lap and cried... not wanting to participate at all (shortly before this performance was the incident with the pipe organ, so he was not so sure about school OR church at that point).  Seeing him now, so carefree, so happy... the way kids his age should be... was BETTER than any mother's day gift I could imagine!! (my only regret was that I did not have the foresight to bring the video recorder!)

After the performance, the kids presented gifts they had made to their moms.  One was a counting book they had worked on since the first week of school.  The last page in the book was the first page they had actually made... and was a handprint.  I placed Ryan's hand over the print of his 8-months-younger self and marveled at how he has grown.  The kids then served their loved ones the previously made treats on glass trays, and afterwards sat to enjoy the food and conversation.  

I had to go back to work after this, but what a break to my day!!  My heart was bursting with love and happiness.  I feel so lucky, so grateful, that I have the privilege of being mother to two wonderful boys! 

Big Changes on the Horizon

About nine years ago Andrea and I took our first big financial plunge as a newly married couple, we bought a house. As of today the house that was supposed to be a starter home for a max of 5 years has gone on the market. I know they say home is where the heart is and that is with Andrea and my boys. With that said our current place which we have made home has created many wonderful memories and given us a warm dry place to rest our heads. We built our marriage here, we brought our boys home here, had our first pets here, etc. With the help of family and friends we took a run down ranch and turned it into something pretty nice in my opinion. Yes Heather, the realtor called your wall magic "designer paint" ;) . Thank you house on 97th, we hope you treat your next owners as well as you have treated us.

We know its probably not the best time to sell a house but we also know its a very good time to buy a house. Home prices have dropped and the interest rates are at all time lows. Given our situation where we are move-up buyers we have less to loose. MSNBC actually just published an article that explains it nicely.

Spring Sunshine and Success!

Sunshine.... warm, radiating sunshine!  We have been very blessed to be experiencing summer-like spring weather.  A VERY welcome change from the usual wet weather we most often experience this time of year.

This morning I had brunch with a friend in Portland... I returned to find all 3 boys outside enjoying every minute.  Gage was doing some yard work, Ryan was running around doing whatever struck his imagination, and Evan was enjoying his swing.  As I came out to join them, Ryan was already excitedly telling me about his day.  The most exciting part he had to show me... he learned to ride his tricycle!!  Success!!  Gage had made a "start" and "finish" line with chalk on our concrete patio, and Ryan would race from one side to the other and them back again... pedaling as fast as his little legs would go.  Quite a contrast from last year when Ryan didn't have much interest in learning to pedal.  But that has changed.  He is "bigger" now, as he likes to tell me.

After all the boys had gone into the house, Ryan and Evan napping... I was laying in the lawn soaking up some Vitamin D while talking on the phone with my folks.  While laying there I noticed two Chickadees pecking at a dead area on our oak tree, making a potential future home.  I found it mesmerizing... one would peck for a while, then fly to a nearby branch for a break while the other one took over.  Such teamwork and dedication... all to find and make a suitable nesting area.  Ahhhh.... spring!!  

Amazing Brain

The human brain really is a fascinating organ, especially one that is still in the development stage.  I realized yesterday that I just don't appreciate it as much lately as it isn't often that I  really take the time to just stop... and watch the kids at play.  There is always something to be done, and even when I'm sitting quietly, I'm still doing something... whether it be checking e-mail, reading a magazine, making a phone call, playing "referee" between the kids, or making "to-do" lists.  Yesterday I took the time to just sit quietly and do nothing but watch, and was pretty amazed when I noticed a developmental step Evan has taken.  

Yesterday, Evan was playing with some blocks on a table.  He was traveling around the table to get to blocks on the other side when he found his path was blocked by a larger toy on the ground.  The toy has many colorful wooden beads that traverse around thick metal wires that twist and turn in different ways and directions.  Evan first tried, unsuccessfully, to go over the toy, but the wires were just too much to navigate with legs that were barely taller than the toy itself.  He tried getting as far as he could, and then just reaching for the block... a failed attempt.  He then looked at the toy very thoughtfully.... I could see him working this out in his head, visibly thinking about the obstacle.  He then grabbed the object, picked it up leaving one hand on the table to steady himself, and tossed the object aside.  I was amazed at this feat as, from what I can remember from the child development classes I'd taken, this is a "landmark" concept for children... to think past simply going over, or bowling through, an obstacle to get to what is on the other side.  This thought process is not something we're born with, but rather something we have to learn at a relatively early age.  

I did a little cheer inside my head... "WOW...Way to go EVAN!!" and continued to watch both boys play, coming to the realization that I need to take the time to do that more often.  How many of these moments have already passed and I've missed them?

Pirates of the Living Room

I could not resist sharing this little story....

 

On Wednesday, the boys were playing while I was doing dishes.  I kept hearing Ryan refer to Evan as "Captain Evan".... sometimes followed by "AAArrrrghhhhh Matey!"  I wandered into the living room to find this scene:

Ryan informed me that they were playing "pirates".  The bean bag was their ship and they were looking for treasure.  I'm not quite sure where Ryan got the idea as we've never really played "pirates" and (as far as I know) he hasn't been watching the 10 o'clock news.... so school or TV or a friend???  Regardless... it was a priceless moment!

Ryan Lately

Ryan is becoming a young man before my eyes.  Over the past few weeks I have felt so proud and pleased with who he is becoming... yet at the same time a bit sad that time is moving so quickly, and all those toddler days are completely over.

A couple of weeks ago we had a spurt of beautiful summer-like weather.  We were outside as much as possible to take full advantage and Ryan seemed to pick up where we left off last summer.  On one particular day, sporting only a pair of shorts, Ryan first lay in the grass, just absorbing the sun and welcoming the warm air.  He then quickly moved on to play with some of his favorite outdoor toys (baseball set & tricycle), after which he decided to play on his playground equipment.  Last summer, Ryan was a bit intimidated by the slide.  He would start off on his bottom in a sitting position, but then quickly flip to his belly to feel more in control.  We tried to encourage him to stay on his bottom and land on his feet without success.  On this first day back out onto the slide, he climbed up without hesitation and went all the way down on his bottom... and landed squarely on his feet!  He was very proud, as was I, at his accomplishment.  Over this past year, I've noticed that Ryan has needed and/or requested my help less and less with such activities.  He is becoming much more independent.

Just last week, Ryan and I were playing a video game.  After we were done, I turned off the TV and the game console, but forgot to turn off the receiver.  As I walked into the kitchen, I remembered and turned around to complete the job.  Ryan was standing nearby and promptly told me that he already turned it off.  I was a bit surprised at this because the rule in the house has generally been that he can turn it on/off at times as long as he has permission.  I reminded him of this, and he looked at me with a look generally more fitting of a teenager that seemed to say "dear woman....dear stupid woman".  He then informed me "Mom. I'm THREE".  I stood there a moment... partly because I wanted to laugh and knew I shouldn't, and partly because I just wasn't sure what to say to this.  The only thing I could muster was "and THAT is your reasoning?" to which he very promptly replied "um, YEah!"

He is still loving preschool... and I'm sure summer will be a bit of a transition for all of us.  I was looking at a picture of him on his first day, and he looks so much younger!  That little boy is becoming a little man.

Ryan on his first day of preschool - 2008

Happy Birthday Evan!

On Tuesday, March 24th Evan turned one (and his great-grandfather turned 81).  We had a small celebration on the actual day as we were vacationing in

 Sandpoint, Idaho with our friends Brian & Kristi, and their children Calvin & Ashlyn.  Evan had a small cake, and made a complete mess of everything with it... quite a contrast from Ryan's first birthday!  Ryan had to be prompted to put his messy hands in his hair (thanks Auntie Heather) and really wasn't too keen on being a mess.  Evan, on the other hand, dug right in.  Frosting and cake went flying as he clapped his hands with glee!  It took me longer to clean up the mess than it did for him to make it... and every minute was worth it!

We returned to Vancouver that weekend and had a bigger party for him on that Sunday.  There was a great turn-out of friends and family.  I remember sitting back and thinking about how parties have changed.  Used to be that a birthday party with our friends consisted of all young adults.... now there is a heard of kids running around outnumbering the adults.  Its really heartwarming to see all our friends who are now also great parents.  Evan didn't make nearly the mess with his cake this time, but still enjoyed every bit of cake and ice cream (brrrrrr).

SNAPSHOT.... Evan as a 1-year old:  

Evan isn't quite walking, but cruises around everything from couches, tables, walls... to moving objects and people.  With all of his "skills", he manages to get into just about everything and anything he desires.  On the rare chance he can't get what he wants (whether it be out of reach or simply a "no touch")... he will let everyone in the house know that he is not happy.  He is very good at voicing his opinions despite not really talking yet.  He is also a very determined boy and will keep trying to get what it is he is wanting.  He does say "mama" and "dada"... and we've heard him mimic other, more complex words... but those are not part of his repertoire.  He is very "talkative" in his own way, babbling and garbling almost constantly.  He will use American Sign Language to communicate some of his needs... if he wants to.  He currently can sign "eat", "drink", "more", "all done", and "milk".  Evan weighs just under 20 lbs. and is in the 50% for height and has 8 teeth... 6 that are pretty well through, and two that are just now breaking through.  Evan enjoys being outside and active.  He likes being part of the action... if not the life of the party.  He is a total ham when he sees a camera and can go from crying to a heart-melting smile in less than a minute if you snap off a shot or two.  I love getting the sloppy wet open-mouthed kisses from him on my cheek... often followed by his version of a hug.  He loves his family (as seen in his smile and the twinkle in his eye when a family member comes into the room) and loves playing with his brother.

Winds of Electronic Change

As you can see www.gagehymas.com is now redirecting to hymaslife.blogspot.com. I have also moved to picasa web as my photo album for the time being. It may take me a little while to get things running smoothly again. I wanted to thank my good friend Paul for hosting www.gagehymas.com for so many years free of charge. Paul is transitioning over to a totally mac based network and his old IIS server was down to only hosting my site, so it only made since to pull the plug. Once again Paul thanks, you were the host with the most.

Catching Up

Time has gotten away from me this year (and its only Feb!).

Since my last blog, Evan is now crawling everywhere (hardly uses the army crawl anymore) and pulling himself up to a standing position everywhere he possibly can. He is an active and busy guy… and keeps us on our toes! He can entertain himself quite well, but does prefer to have others around him. He is starting to use some sign language, but also seems like he is trying to say the words at times. So not sure if he’ll take to signing the way Ryan did, or if he’ll be more motivated to start speaking the words earlier. The sign he uses most consistently is “more”. He’ll verbally say “mama” and then sign “more” meaning either more food or more drink. Despite the fact that he doesn’t have many ways to communicate yet, he can usually get his point across with non-verbal communication (body language and vocalizations). Evan uses vocalizations A LOT! I think he is going to be a talker like his brother & Uncle Justin.

Ryan is doing great as well. He continues to enjoy preschool and learning more about his surroundings. Ryan asks a lot of questions and talks a lot as well. Uncle Justin used to have a “catch phrase” of “Hey… Guess what?!” before he’d start into a story (which was about 30 times a day!). Ryan has also developed a “catch phrase”… his is “Do you remember…??” The only problem with Ryan’s catch-phrase is usually the person he is telling the story to was never there, so of course they don’t remember.
At times Ryan is using more & more “back-talk” as he stretches his wings and tries to become more independent (and tests Gage & I). Most of the time (as parents all know) this is frustrating, but a few times has been pretty darn cute! One day we were in his room and he verbally corrected Evan. I told Ryan that he didn’t need to worry about that since I was here and I was the mommy… that he needed to let me be the mommy. He then told me, with seriousness and a hint of disappointment, “But I want to be the boss!” Another time he had been in the corner for making a bad choice. I called him out, asking him to come to me so we could discuss why he was in the corner (the bad choice) and what he could do differently next time (what the good choice would be). When I asked him what he should do next time he said “to not do that again”. I told him that was correct and told him what he could do differently next time, then hugged him and told him I loved him. He then sat up and said “you don’t do that again either!”. I asked him what he meant and he proceeded to tell me that I should not tell him to stand in the corner again.

Since the last post we’ve had a couple “weekender” trips as well. We went to Sunriver, OR (near Bend, OR & Mt. Bachelor) where both boys got to go sledding and do a lot of playing with other kids (the kids of some friends of ours). Then this last weekend (Valentine’s weekend) we went to the beach and had a great time. The weather was GORGEOUS! Quite a nice surprise given the time of year.