Darndest Things - Again

Ryan and I were talking about some of the states.  Michigan was mentioned and we talked about the fact that we have family that lives there.  Ryan was quietly contemplating...then the following conversation took place:

RYAN:  Why is it again??
MOM:  Why is what again?
RYAN:  Michigan...why is it again?
MOM:  I don't understand...
RYAN:  Why is Mish again???

Oh my!  I really don't have an answer for that.
Anyone??

A New Addition

We welcomed a new addition to our family on Saturday.

Skyfire's Vive Leroy (aka "Leroy") is an 8-week old chocolate lab.  He is super sweet and has really taken to the kids (I think he thinks that Evan is another puppy).  He came from a litter of 12 puppies, so this has been a big adjustment for him.  He has been doing really well with the boys, and already acting like a retriever (likes to carry his toys in his mouth).  We have quickly fallen in love with this little chocolate nugget!!

There are more pics of him in the Hymas Photos section.

Also...Ryan is feeling better today.  Best he's felt since Wednesday...no fevers at all today, not even a low-grade...so YAY!!!!

Sick and Tired!

Here in the Hymas household, we are sick and tired....of BEING SICK!!

A few weeks ago, I came down with a bug...not the flu, more strep-like...but apparently not strep.  All I know is, I honestly cannot remember the last time I was that sick for that long (high fevers for 4 days).  Finally went to the doctor (throat hurt so bad it hurt to breathe) and he put me on antibiotics...24 hours later I was much improved!

Then, just when I was fully recovering, Evan came down with it.  Long story short...he eventually was given antibiotics as well (despite it definitely not being strep), and he started feeling better within 12 hours.

NOW, Ryan has some weird really bad headache, low-grade fever thing.  Definitely different from what Evan and I had, but he has been basically out of commission for almost 3 days!  Doctor has been contacted, and we're managing...its just that...

I am SICK AND TIRED...of SICK!!

On a good note...I have added some pictures to the Hymas Photos section.  There are new pictures added to the "Valentine's Day" album as well as the "Boys - Feb/March" album.  There is also a new album from our recent trip to the beach.  Enjoy... and stay healthy!!!

A Bit Random...

Ok... this post is far from my normal topics...but I honestly just can't help myself!!

We recently just got the BEST pillows I think I have ever slept on!  I know...I cannot believe I'm posting on pillows, either!  What has this world come to?

In December, Gage and I stayed at an upper-end hotel in Portland (The Benson) through the use of a Groupon.  **side note...if you have never heard of Groupon...this is another bit of awesomeness you should look into!!  If Groupon is supported in your area...it offers discounts and prices on services and various local activities that are unparalleled!  WE LOVE GROUPON (www.groupon.com)!!

Ok...back to the pillows.  SO, we stayed at The Benson, and the pillows we slept on were so amazing I had to undress them before we left to find out what they were.  Sobella (a gel fiber pillow) by Sobel-Westex.  I looked them up online and was pleasantly surprised to find they were really not all that expensive (definitely more than the cheapie foam things we've been sleeping on...but not as bad as I had thought they might be)!  A couple weeks ago we finally placed our order, and for the past three nights, we've been sleeping on clouds!!

What makes this more remarkable to me is that Gage and I have always sought different support out of our pillows.  For much of my life, I've slept on two pillows.  I like a lot of fluff and loft.  Gage has always preferred more of a feather pillow that will smash down nice n' low...flat and narrow.   For us to agree on one type of pillow seems impossible...and yet we both loved these!  With the gel-fiber of these pillows, they can be eastily mushed and smashed into whatever you like, and fully support your head at the same time.  Sounds crazy, I know!!

Now, I cannot attest to how well they will hold up over time.  For that, only time will tell :)
What I CAN attest to is there is definitely one problem associated with them...it is now even harder to get out of bed in the morning!!

Love...

"Have I mentioned lately that I love you?

Do you know how many times during the day I think of you?

Well, I just wanted you to know...

that I think our life together is wonderful...

Sometimes I'm afraid we get a little too busy,

and it may seem like I'm not quite tuned in to you...to us.

So I just want to say that you and your love are the energy underneath it all...

That you are the heart of my life that makes everything else hum along...

That everything I do each day is all about loving you."

This year I was surprised when I came home on Friday (Feb. 11th) to find a dozen red roses carefully placed in a special vase, a bottle of wine that I love (for special occasions), a little bit of chocolate (the perfect amount), and the most heartfelt card.  I wrote what the card read above, however I'm keeping the wonderful paragraph that Gage wrote to me, to myself.  Serious bonus points!!! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and get to celebrate it in your own special way with someone you love.

Updates...

CHRISTMAS:
Well, so much for getting my "Christmas" update on here in a timely fashion!! :)

We had a wonderful Christmas...the "usual" activities, but we always really look forward to it and have a great time.  Christmas Eve was spent reconnecting with family and friends we hadn't seen in a while.  The boys got to open one package that night...matching Christmas jammies.  Ryan has always been into "matching" with his brother.  I know that this won't last long, soon they'll be fighting if we even "coordinate" their clothes for a family photo or something...but for now, we enjoy it.  Christmas morning the boys woke up, and Santa had enjoyed his traditional crackers and root beer.  For those who may not remember...we failed to save a few cookies for Santa last year, so we "improvised" and let Ryan pick something he liked.  It has stuck, and thankfully we had crackers and root beer when we got home from the Christmas Eve party to match Ryan's expectations.  Presents were opened, and we enjoyed more time with family throughout the day.

DARNDEST THINGS:

The last weekend of January we went on our annual ski trip to Mt. Bachelor with some friends.  Since the beginning of January (and perhaps even earlier), Ryan has been begging to go skiing again, so while there we enrolled him in another ski lesson.  The following week, he was at Grammie & Papa's house after school and was explaining the finer art of the "snow plow" to Papa.  This is his rendition of how its done:

"You leave the back door open…make a volcano in front...and it will slow you down.  Once I even stopped!"

WHAT A SIGHT:

This happened just this past week.  Ryan and I were in the car heading towards Hwy 14 on Brady Road.  We were approaching the section of Brady Rd. that heads more steeply downhill, is curvy, and passes under the canopy of trees that line the street.  I saw in front of me a very large bird, the sun filtering through his wings, backlighting him such that I could make out each feather.  He was literally in front of me...not above me.  I pointed the bird out to Ryan...assuming it to be a large blue heron given its size and it appeared to have long legs hanging below his body.  As we got closer to each other, the bird flapped his wings even more deliberately in an attempt to gain altitude.  He was flying uphill, and I was driving downhill...so he not only had to rise up to go up the hill, but now had to adjust so as to avoid hitting me.  Suddenly, what I thought were legs dropped, and I watched as what I now knew to be a rabbit carcas hit the yellow line of the pavement.  As we passed each other, at eye level with him in the oncoming lane...I came to the sudden realization that this was actually a large, mature bald eagle...and I had just ruined his lunch!  I swear we made eye contact as he swooped into the trees beside the road...I'm sure cursing me the whole way.

I had my point and shoot camera in my purse beside me, but even if it had been in my hand and on...I don't believe I could have gotten that shot.  Even though I can still see each image in slow motion, in my head...in reality it was a matter of seconds.  It was an amazing sight, and one that I will keep with me...the snapshot ingrained in my head.

More Darndest Things

I know its been a bit since my last post...and I'll definitely be updating everyone on our holidays (I have posted some pics)...but before I forget what was said by Ryan (and how)...I figured I'd best get on here and post them.

Marriage:
Over New Years, our family and some friends of ours (Brent and Michelle) went up to Seattle to visit some other friends (K.C. and Amy).  Michelle and I were pregnant at the same time with both kids.  Grace and Ryan were born 6 weeks apart, and Evan and Spencer were born 3 weeks apart.  Lately, Grace and Ryan have decided that they are going to get married someday.  While in Seattle, they would run around holding hands, sit by each other during meals, etc.  One night we went out to dinner and I handed Ryan a glass of milk to finish off.  He put his straw in, and then Gracie put her straw in and they shared the milk.  Spencer asked for some and Ryan informed him that he couldn't have any because "you have to be married to share milk...sorry."

We had several conversations with Ryan about it being ok to pretend, but that there was a certain order to things.  I was happy to hear that this set in when he was recounting his plans with Grammie & Papa a few days later.  "I"m going to marry Gracie."  he informed them.  "but first I have to go to college and get a job...then I can marry her."

Football:
Today we are watching some of the playoff (wildcard) football games (WAHOOO SEAHAWKS!!!  and GO PACKERS!!!!).  Currently the Kansas City and Baltimore game is on, and Ryan has decided he wants to root for KC.  Baltimore is up by 3.  Ryan is frustrated about this and just commented to me.... "If I could get inside the TV, I'd RIP that 3 off the score for the Bullets (evidently how he translated "Baltimore") and give them a 0!"
For some reason this hit my funnybone pretty hard.  Might have been in part due to the seriousness with which it was said.

Check out the Hymas Photos for a couple new albums...  "Boys - Nov/Dec 2010" and "Christmas".