21 Years

We missed out on our big Italy trip for our 20th last year due to Covid (we planned to go in May 2020). Most things are still closed around here for our 21st...even restaurants, so I thought we could splurge a little and stay somewhere nice.  We just did one night at Semiahmoo Resort and Spa.  We had an ocean view room, rode bikes, ate delicious food at the outdoor restaurant, and got some much needed time together.  This year has been the worst for me.  I am so grateful to have Mike by my side, lifting me up when I can't stand on my own.  I don't think I could get through these trials in life without him and he even makes me smile and laugh through it:)

I could not stop laughing on our bike ride!  Mike picked a bike with no brakes hahaha

Beautiful bike ride with the ocean on both sides of us.  It was cold, but at least it wasn't raining!

It was kind of weird eating outside...in the cold...wearing a coat.  But the fire was nice and warm, and the food was delicious!

We could see Vancouver!!!

Grieving

 Grieving is a strange thing.  At times I feel like I'm just plugging along doing ok, the next minute I'm sitting in my car in a puddle of tears, the next I'm at urgent care with chest pains, the next I'm comforting a friend who is going through something similar.  I will always miss my dad.  I will always wonder what might have been.  I will always have things that remind me of him and bring me to tears.  There will always be events that I wish he didn't have to miss out on.  There will always be people I wish could have met him.  There will always be things I wish I could tell him or ask him.  I don't think any of those things will ever go away and that hurts.  I miss him so much.  I feel so sad that my mom is alone.  Sometimes it feels like too much to bear.  I am grateful for the hope the gospel brings.  I am grateful for my sisters who know how I feel.  I am grateful for my mom.  Every time I call her, I feel better.  I am grateful for Mike and the kids who keep me going.  It's just hard.  Harder than I ever thought it could be.

I bought this necklace for me and all my sisters as a tribute to my dad...and a reminder that we have the strength to get through this.  Once when I called my mom when I was feeling really down, she said "Dad wouldn't want you to be sad".  I know he wouldn't.  I try to think about this when I am feeling sad, and it helps.  Love and miss you so much Dad.

New Hiking Partner

 When Mike and Tyson were preparing for High Adventure last summer, they went on a lot of hikes.  I was kind of jealous of the time spent outside, exploring the beautiful PNW.  But, the thing was, my foot was still not feeling great and I really didn't want to risk making it worse...plus I wasn't super excited to go on intense, uphill, all day long hikes.  Well, fast forward to November when it's super cold and rainy and my foot finally feels better...Mike and I set out hiking.

We really have just started out slow...our first "hike" was basically a walk on a paved path around a lake (not exactly what we thought it would be--good thing we were wearing hiking boots haha).  And we've done a couple relatively short, flat hikes with beautiful scenery.  I am excited to get into better shape and build up our endurance so that hopefully, this will be something we can do for years to come.

 Lake Tye

Redmond Watershed Reserve

Cherry Creek Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Good for the soul!

Noteworthy Happenings

We don't have many exciting events to document these past few months because, well, we can't really do much when a lot of the world is shut down.  But we have had a few noteworthy happenings...

We bought a truck!  

(Kya gets to drive it...and it will pass down to Tyson when she leaves for college)

Tyson turned 15!

(And he is enrolled in Driver's Ed!!!)

Jordan (and Phoebe) got a new bed!

Summer lost her first tooth!

Jordan and Dad both voted in the presidential election!

(I was super excited when Mike asked me to drop off his ballot...and yes, we checked to make sure it was legal--haha)

We got to go back to church (with masks)!

Halloween, the same or different?

Halloween this year was definitely different...but also a little the same.

Same:  We visited the pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins.

Different:  It was so muddy we could barely walk through the patch

Same: The kids dressed up        

Different:  They didn't get to wear their costumes to any parties

Same:  Summer got to go trick or treating

Different:  Summer only got to trick or treat at her teacher's house

Same:  We carved pumpkins

Different:  EVERYONE wanted to participate (yay)

Same:  We got lots of candy

Different:  We had to hunt for it with a flashlight in the backyard

At the end of the night, Summer announced she liked this kind of Halloween better than the normal kind...probably because she is still scared of trick or treating, but I'll call it a win.  

AND as long as we watch Charlie Brown Halloween and get to eat a couple peanut butter cups, almond joy and kit kat, I'm happy:)

Jordan Update

 While a lot of the world is in turmoil, Jordan's life is actually coming together quite nicely:)  

All within a few short weeks, her best friend from high school (Phoebe) moved in with us, she started a nanny job for an adorable little 2-year-old (Cole), and she started college classes at Cascadia!  That's a lot...but she's doing great and making her mama proud.

Jordan and Phoebe

Jordan and Cole

Make Your Own Homecoming

 When school, football games, and dances are canceled...you have to improvise.  A little larger group than I was aware of, but it turned out ok.  So grateful for the parents who planned and hosted such a beautiful and special night for our kids.

Kya and Jason Homecoming 2020

Starting School Covid Style

 The first day of school looked a little different this year, but here they are:

Kya--Senior Year

Definitely not the senior year Kya was hoping for, but she is making the best of it.  We are still holding out hope that there will be some resemblance of a prom and graduation at the end of it all.

Tyson--Sophmore

Summer--First Grade

Summer has since moved upstairs to the games room for more privacy.  It is so sad that she can't go to school.  Sad that she is missing out on making friends, playing at the playground, interacting with her teacher etc.  It's hard to watch.  But, she does have an absolutely fabulous teacher (Mrs. Hansen) who has made it as positive an experience as possible.  She gave all the kids her address so they can be pen pals, she has dropped off goodies and prizes, she invited them all to trick or treat at her house and she is doing her best to teach them and get to know them as best she can through a computer.