Rob and Nancy's First Visit

On July 16th my brother Rob entered the United States for the first time in two years and this time he brought his lovely wife Nancy! We had such a great time visiting with them and just being in their company.

While they were here Rob showed Nancy all around Wenatchee and brought her over to Seattle a couple times to visit with friends and family (us). We also enjoyed two fun family reunions and an exhausting camping trip. Hopefully we didn't wear her out and she'll be excited to come back.

Ben loves his Auntie Nancy and hogged all her attention anytime she was around. He would get pretty upset when she had to go and would ask for her randomly. He also had a great time trying to mimic the phrases that Rob would throw at him (some were Chinese) and he actually did a pretty good job :)

Their first meal in the States! They were both pretty tired, but covered it up well and Nancy got her first taste of a "Chinese" salad.

At our cousin's wedding.

The first open house/family reunion.

Of course there had to be some water gun fights :)

Ben having the greatest time with his Auntie.

Playing with Uncle Rob.

When we went camping the kids, Rob and Nancy all went to catch crawdads. They caught ten and we all got to look at the haul before they threw them back. On a side note, Ben really liked to say the word "crawdad".

Saying good-bye at the airport. It was hard to see them go, but they told us they would be coming back next year. Can't wait!

We love you guys!!

Nana's visit and News

Our July was packed with excitement! We had Michael's mom come to town and we had so much fun touring our own area. Apart from our trip to Wenatchee for Ben's birthday we also visited the aquarium where Ben discovered Nemo. As he had never seen Finding Nemo I was rather surprised when he started calling the clown fish Nemo until I realized that there were about two or three other kids around him who obviously had seen Finding Nemo. Besides Nemo his favorite fish was the "back fish" (black fish).

He also really enjoyed the little lookout area on the top floor. He and Nana got to look down and see what we were all up to.

After the aquarium we went to Pike Place Market where the fish fly and there are wonderful treats around every corner. Of course Ben had to test one.

We also visited Whidbey Island and Ben and Nana got their first ferry ride. We went to Fort Casey and saw some lovely large guns as well as a beautiful lighthouse. Then is was off toward Deception Pass and the ocean. It is such a pretty place and one we will have to visit again when Michael can come with us. 

It was also Ben's first time seeing the ocean.

But quite possibly the favorite part of the trip... for Ben, was seeing Thomas (the tank engine). We decided to splurge and take him for a ride on a life-size Thomas. Although at first he wasn't too sure what to think (or maybe he was just so overwhelmed by excitement he didn't know how to show it) he was sad when it was time to leave.

One of our favorite parts of her visit was the day she took this picture of Ben.

We loved having Nana visit us here in Seattle and hope she will come back soon! 

Ben is Two!

Ben turned two-years-old last Friday and had quite a day! We headed over to Wenatchee the night before so we could celebrate with the family. Nana was in town from Texas so she and Auntie Katherine got to come with us. Our first stop for his day of fun was Jeepers It's Bagels. Although his lack of sleep caused some irritability, he very much enjoyed drawing trains on the chalkboard and eating his raspberry bagel.

After a nice breakfast Ben got to hang out at the house while we prepared his party and waited for the guests to arrive (the Quincy cousins and Auntie Ali). It was a bit cool outside, but that didn't stop the kids from playing with bubbles, water, balls, etc.
Ben's dinner consisted mostly of watermelon and then it was time for cake and presents!

Of course the wonderful clothes he received were tossed quickly aside and he ended up getting distracted with each toy. His cousins helped to "persuade" him to open the rest of his presents and then they helped him play with them. He played for several more hours with his new toys and said goodbye to Chad, Valentina and the kids and then it was time to rest with Daddy.

All in all a very successful second birthday!

So this is Life

Again it has been a long time since the last post. I am really not good at this blogging thing, but am hoping to get much better in a hurry :)
Over the past few months both Ben and I have gotten haircuts. Both were dramatic, but in different ways. Let's just say that Ben was not to happy once the scissors got close to his ears.

Apart from our change in appearance we have also changed our renters status to home owners. Long story short. Our landlord told us that they were putting their condo on the market and within a few days it was on Zillow and we were on Zillow looking at listings (apparently now is the time to buy here). After only a few days of looking at homes and even making an offer on one we decided to buy the condo from our landlords. It was just too crazy out there in the real estate world. We are very happy with our decision and have already begun to make a few minor improvements.

Ben will be two in less than three weeks and we are already getting excited for his big day. His Nana will be here to help us celebrate and we will be heading over to Wenatchee to cut the cake.
The amount of talking and physical feats he has accomplished over the past few months never ceases to amaze me. He can get around the park toys without too much difficulty now and looks like a pro on the big slide. Not to mention he is finally giving his mother a break and taking pleasure in the swings from time to time.
His vocabulary has grown so much and every day he is adding to it! It is amazing how fast those little minds pick up things. It is great to be able to have a conversation with him (a very short/limited one, mind you) and actually understand what he is talking about. Right now his favorite topics are bubbles, food, and trains (Percy especially).
Life is going well for us. Michael is still enjoying his job and is about to start on a new project for his company. I am busy trying to keep up with Ben and deciding what I want to accomplish most with my limited free time.

An Update

It's the end of another year, time for another attempt at a family photo

We have now been in Kirkland for six months! Michael is enjoying his job and Ben is growing like a weed and learning new things every minute. We are loving being close to family and being in a more stable situation.

Our big boy

Ben just started going nursery on the thirteenth and we were so worried that he'd fuss and we'd have to stay with him, but so far he has done just fine. Michael goes to check on him from time to time and I get the reports from him and the nursery leaders. Apparently Ben spends most of his time walking around, but at least this week he sat during the lesson. Strangely enough he isn't very interested in the snacks they provide: Goldfish, dried cherries, bananas (all things he loves).
Michael is in the middle of his project with Microsoft and really seems to enjoy the people that he's working with and the schedule he keeps. There are days when he can work from home, which means we get to have lunch together. With the flexibility they give him he is able to miss the morning and evening traffic and we get to see him more often.

As for myself I am still trying to find a schedule and hobbies that I can handle while taking on an eighteen month old tornado. Right now I am working on a family photo album, that was supposed to be a Christmas gift for my family, but will more than likely end up being a Valentine's or even early Easter gift. It has been a lot of fun looking through all the pictures though. Apart from this very large project I spend most of my "me time" sleeping or watching television (ugh), but I have plans to change that.
Here are just a few pictures from late 2012:

Daddy and Ben playing basketball.

My favorite disgruntled Ben face

Benjamin Michael

Now for the introduction of the little boy that has kept my life so busy these past nine and a half months. Benjamin was born on July 12th. He was 8 lbs 4 oz and from the moment he came into this world he has been very alert. In fact, he went through a very long period where sleeping seemed to be a very unpopular option for him. We spent many a night wondering when our child would decide to be like other children and sleep those supposed 14 hours a day they tell you babies get the first few months of life.
Apart from the lack of sleep he was also on the smaller side.  He began rather average, but because of his constant movement he lost all the calories he was taking in and consequently slimmed out a bit. We found that once he started on baby food his weight seemed to no longer be an issue. At ten months he is an almost 20 lb, almost walking, now sleeping baby, with a grin as wide as the moon.
Benjamin decided one night in late March to take his very first step. Of course I was not there to see it. Michael was playing with him in the living room while I was cooking in the kitchen and they were just out of my sight when it happened. Ben had been practicing standing on his own the couple of weeks before, so it was only natural that he would want to move on.
Every day now he practices walking and can make it about eight or nine feet without falling.  When he is not walking on his own, he has us walking him around the entire house holding onto his hands, and can that boy run!
It has been so much fun watching him grow and learn. I can't wait for more!

My Mother

It has been a very long time since I have written anything on here.  This is partly due to the fact that the baby I was talking about so much before was born and I no longer have time to write my name let alone a post.  The other reason I haven't been keeping up with things is that too much has happened and it hasn't all been good.
My wonderful mother passed away this summer. This was a big shock to myself and all my family.  I have been thinking that, although it has been so very hard to lose her, I know that I have been so blessed to have had the few short years with her that I did.  She did more for me and with me in that time than I deserve.  I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
My mother was one of those people that everyone loved, not liked, loved.  She was always cheerful and kind and always ready for the next adventure. Often she was ready prematurely, like the time she bought a wardrobe for both a girl and a boy after she found out I was pregnant.
Her support and love was always something I cherished. I just remembering hearing her scream, "Go Kari, go!" at all my sporting events. She could be heard over everyone else (I loved that).
She was also the greatest person to just sit and talk to. I could talk to her about anything and everything and for hours. There never seemed to be a limit with her.  If I needed to talk to her for an hour about the best way to cook a turkey she was there for me. I appreciated being able to express all my frustrations and joys without the worry of being judged or offending.
My mother was always ready to be the teacher, not only in her classroom, but at home as well.  She was constantly giving advice, letting us make mistakes and talking us through our problems and instilling in us good values to live by.  She did it all and, it seemed, without even trying.  She was truly Wonder Woman.
Along with all the wonderful motherly qualities, she possessed the knack to nurture a friendship between herself and her children.  I loved that she was not only my mother, but one of my best friends. She let me into her life outside of being my mother and I got to know her as a whole person.
My mother taught me so many life lessons, but most of all she gave me a wonderful example to strive for as I begin my journey through motherhood.