Forward Step...

I was thrilled to see this commercial on TV a couple days ago. A complete step in the right direction! Not there yet, as the commercial is specific to the "disability," but forward nontheless.  I look forward to the day when it is not newsworthy that someone with a limb difference, or any other "disability," is in a commercial just because...

Post-Holidays...

We extended our holiday by getting a Post-Holiday visit from my parents. The weather was unusually warm for this time of year, so they enjoyed taking the girls to the beach, and walking around town. We also played a lot of X-Box. The bowling warmed us up for the real bowling we did as an entire family. Crafts, and a lot, and I mean a lot of Mexican Train were also part of our fun weekend.

These Pom-Pom puppies were NOT as easy as advertised!

Jaelyn vs. Papa

Intense game of Ping-Pong

This was our last hurrah of the long break. Despite the trials early in the break, it was a wonderful time.  We also had to say goodbye to Josh as he headed back to school. We were very proud of his success at his first semester at WSU, and proud of Kellen's success in school too. I just realized that if they keep up this pace, they will be graduating from college at the same time!

Great Day...

Our Saturday began with our favorite hike through the woods, and down to the beach. After the last few days of steady rain, were were all itching to get out and about, including the dogs!  Now mind you, there was still plenty of wind going on, but we had to get it in before the next wind/rain storm hit (and before the Seahawk game started!).

Despite this walk being one we frequented this summer, we had never seen the tide this high. That didn't stop the girls from enjoying it though. I love the sound of the tide retreating over the rocks. If you listen closely, you can hear it.

Shortly after videoing this, a soft rain began to fall.  By the time we reached the wooded area, the rain was more steady, but we were under the cover of trees.  The last part of the hike, through the fields, was a full on downpour.  No regrets though.

The rest of the afternoon was spent eating nachos and cheering our Seahawks to victory! Perfect combination for a great day!  

And Happy Birthday to my mom!

Ringing in the New Year...

For the first time ever, Jaelyn had a birthday party ON her birthday. We told her she could have a New Year's Eve slumber party, which meant waking up, she would be 10! With still having several days before we have to head back to work/school, we knew we would still have plenty of time to recoup;)

First, the group jumped on the new trampoline we bought the girls for Christmas. When they came  back we pulled out the Play & Freeze ice cream maker ball that Mike's brother and sister-in-law bought the girls for Christmas. What a great workout! Mike turned it in to a competitive game, and by the end of 30 minutes, we were all sweating!

The ice cream turned out great and complemented the soccer cake perfectly...

Cake with our traditional Chinese lotus candle...

Final product...

Frosting turned our tongue's blue!

Nail polishing, hair, X-box and more trampoline were the entertainment until fireworks at midnight.

10 minutes until she's 10!

We definitely weren't the only ones out setting off fireworks.

Having a great time outside!

Thanks Dad and Josh for the entertainment!

Here's what the gang looked like after falling asleep to Monster's University....

 Can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year! Happy 10th birthday Jaelyn!

Infirmary on Wheels...

Our Christmas trip to Oregon was more like an infirmary than a vacation!  Fortunately it all seems to be behind us now....

Here's the girls all dressed up for the Christmas Eve service.  The girls were the only ones with full energy at this point, as Mike and I were up most of the previous night/morning caring for Josh and taking him to the ER. He was so dehydrated from all the puking he did (yes, he counted 21 in all, and proudly, a new family record) that he needed three liters of IV's!

I was organized enough to remember to pack the stockings for Christmas morning, but in the rush of things, Santa left the innards in bags at home. So for the time being, Josh, Kaia and Jaelyn only had toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss in their stockings (Due to work, Kellen was back home and had a full stocking to open at midnight, when he got off work). We exchanged gifts, and as usual, the dollar store gifts the girls bought us were some of the most fun to open!

Jaelyn bought Mike nuts & bolts

WSU gnomes girls got Josh

Christmas day was spent at one of Mike's brother's houses.  We had a wonderful meal, good company, and some great group shots...

Always the silly boys...

Mame and six of her ten grandchildren.

Group shot...

You can dress them up, but sooner or later the true colors come out...

This last photo was taken about 10 short minutes before jaelyn threw up all over the floor, on this very spot!  Fortunately she didn't have it nearly as bad as Josh, but he didn't perform in front of quite the audience that she did! Thankfully she was well enough the next morning so that we could go visit Mike's grandmother. We hadn't seen her in two years, and since she is 99 now, we would have been very disappointed if we would not have been able to visit her.

We then took our infirmary north to more family. This time none of us were sick, but others were. But before that, we celebrated Kaia's 10th Gotcha Day with friends and family...

Finally, together to celebrate Christmas! Thanks Santa Kellen for finally bringing the stocking stuffers!

Papa's dollar store present!

Grandma's dollar store find, and Jaelyn's new alpaca.

Grandma and Papa and their grandkids!

Christmas was nice, but we were thankful we planned time to spend at home for selah before having to head back to work. Well maybe it wasn't all restful when we got home, but more on that later...