We're Having Another Grandbaby

In the wedding, Christmas, New Year activity - I missed posting this blog, though I did mention it on Facebook!!!! It's be a long time in the making.  We visited OR in October and BreZaak asked us for dinner. We loved their fall decorations.

Did you catch it? I was the first to catch on - but then I saw the test results in the bathroom. 😋Then we kept it silent. BreZaak wanted to wait a bit before sharing with anyone. They also decided to wait until after the wedding to share the news so that all focus would be on CoRielle.

 After CoRielle left the wedding reception - BreAnne told her grandparents!  

Bre and Gma Mary Jean 

Gpa Paul, Gma Jan and Bre

 In the photo above she had told Mom and Dad T they had let Bella open some Christmas gifts early. She showed them this picture. They told Pastor on the 18th and waited a few more days to share the news with Facebook  and all their friends.

Oh what fun awaits! 

 Yes, we are thrilled to announce (on the blog) that BreZaak are expecting their second child in June 2017. She is 15 weeks along, has seen a strong heartbeat and we are rejoicing in the goodness of our Heavenly Father.

This is still my favorite

Take Advantage of Us

A great thing about being in the same town as family is the opportunity to be more physically "present" in their lives.   Therapy, with it's evaluations and constant prodding can be daunting, but spending a few hours with Bella AFTER therapy makes for a great day.

We've told BreZaak to, "take advantage of us while we're here."  Today, we watched Bella, and they went on a date. Free childcare from people you know. Extra Bella time for Grandpa and Gemma.  For these grandparents, this seems to be the very definition of  the phrase, "win/win." 💖

Without further ado, here's our Bella at 8 1/2 months! 

I'm gonna get your phone Gemma! 

Izaak attempted to barricade the entertainment center. Bella took great interest in the box of books. 

Gemma was SHOCKED when the sides to Bella's play pen collapsed. I'm pretty sure our kids would have enjoyed their playpen more if the sides collapsed, allowing for easy escape. In other new baby things....the diapers CHANGE COLORS!!!! How easy is that, no more groping and sniffing. 😌

A wise Gemma keeps things hopping. Of all the toys and games we played, Bella seemed to like the paper bag best! Proving once again, give a kid a stick and tin can and they'll be content. Hmmm....the lingering Burrito Boy smell may have had something to do with her interest in this bag. 

Grandpa was a bit worn out from therapy and med changes - he had a wonderful 2 1/2 hour nap....

He woke up just in time to play with Bella for 30 min and of course to pose for a darling photo. 

Bre reported we tired Bella out and she went to bed early and slept well. There you have it, Bella needs to have Grandparent time at least once a week to insure at least one early night a week. 😉

Precious little one 

Gemma really must make it a habit to take the big camera when she goes out....the phone is just not quite the same.

Fascinating Reading

What could he be reading? The drug interaction/info for ONE drug. I think it would be far simpler to go to a total juice diet and skip eating...and NEVER take any other meds again - ever. 😀

Michael is switching from one patch to three pills of a different drug which "should" do the same as the patch. One can't just stop and change meds, however. This week he's using the patch AND the new drug.

I think I may go to school and become a pharmacist.

Family Bowling

A fun thing about this time of the year is the opportunity for more family outings. Today, we went bowling...

Matt (Will's son) & Mikhail (Nate's son) 

Harmony (Will & Sherri's grand/Amy's daughter)

Lily (Matt's fiance) Amy (Will & Sherri's daughter) Krista & Bre

Stacia

Dad T - Grandpa Paul 

Krista

BreZaak 

Izaak, Michael and Nolan - Gingerbread scheming? 

Did Not See That Coming!

For a time, we lived in an old house on Harold St. in Portland, OR. BreAnne and Krista were our only children, but Josiah was on the way. It was during August, and we were out in the yard enjoying the day.

I do not remember how it got started, but Bre was three and Krista was one and just barely walking. Bre had a squirt gun, and I had a squirt bottle. It was enough for a water fight. With our backs turned to her, Bre snuck up behind us and squirted us with her squirt gun. I wheeled around with my squirt bottle to return fire, and Bre would scamper away out of range out of my superior firepower, and all of us would laugh including the neighbor's across the street. Then we would turn our backs again, and the game would continue. During all this of this, Krista did her best to steer clear of the fight.

This went on for three or four iterations when we noted the neighbors were laughing AND pointing.

Via Google Images

De'Etta and I both heard Bre sneaking up on us so I was preparing to return fire. When I guessed she was about five feet away, I spun around to take up the fight only to discover that BreAnne had changed the game. When we spun around we were greeted by the full fury of the garden hose. She got tired of the meager output of her squirt gun. Before we could do anything, our three year old drenched us. She, next, turned her arsenal on her one year old sister, Krista.  We did not see that coming.  The neighbors laughed. We laughed as we ran out of range. We had no choice but concede the fight. We were completely outgunned and outsmarted by our three year old.

We learned to never underestimate that little girl or any of our children - ever. 

Land Locked Texan visits Oregon Coast

 Jamin lives in land-locked College Station. He has been asking if we'd have time to go to the coast. Krista is selling off things her roommates and her no longer need as she empties her house. She found a buyer for Arielle's old bed/desk at the coast. We loaded the bed and headed out. The coast is an hour away. We delivered the bed and then explored the coast.

Krista was determined to walk on the beach with us....she's a trooper. 

It's just easier to add a video than to try to explain how this worked out. 

This was shortly before a kid with a bow and arrow shot arrows in our direction and we decided the beach was getting to crowded. We headed to our next traditional stop. 

LOVE the Oregon Coast

Michael loves the clam chowder at Mo's and it's been our tradition since our honeymoon to stop in when we are in the area. I'm allergic to shell fish - BUT I have decided WHEN WE GO TO THE COAST (as opposed to living in a coastal town and getting it each week),  I will splurge on fish and chips. It was good.

Michael and Stacia had made this delicious Happy Birthday Jesus Cake. It had a brownie crust, two kinds of ice cream, Oreo crumbles and hot chocolate! We simply couldn't eat another sweet on Christmas, so we savored it tonight. 

Krista and Jamin decided to join a group of local friends for a game night. Michael went to bed. These three played Lord of the Rings trivia inside. I watched a bit of Netflix and called it a night too.

We discovered a county campground near the beach - we'll be going back in the near future with the motor home.

Christmas Memories

Every year I feel I must warn young families to beware of the traditions they begin. I have NO recollection of deliberately setting about to make cinnamon rolls a Christmas breakfast tradition - but it has become one.  When I jokingly complain it makes no sense as a tradition, they observe that  it connects us to Gram's Cinnamon rolls....and I bake on.😀

It was fun for us to have Jamin and Krista with the five home bound Gherkins. 

After we gobbled up our rolls, we headed over to Krista's church. I love it when Christmas falls on Sunday - it makes our celebration feel much more natural.  Krista gave an advent devotional, there was lots of worship and various ones of us read Scripture selections. It was perfect.

Cinnamon rolls, worship, some family....the only thing lacking to make it feel more Christmasy was MORE FAMILY. We headed over to Mom and Dad T's around 3:30 p.m. Mikhail and Elizabeth (Natae and Heather's children), Will and Sherri, all three of their kids and Lily (Matthew's fiance), BreZaak and Bella, us 5 homie Gherkins and CoRielle converged in Springfield.  I tried to get one picture of all - but failed.  We missed you Nate and Heather.....JaRissa and Josiah.....

 Mikhail complains all the games are too much strategy! I agree. 

 Sisters - Stacia and Mrs. S

Seating for 20....

Lots of Bella loving for Gemma.....

Bella's First Christmas

 Gherkins playing some card game.

Mom and Dad had some gifts for everyone. We each got part of Dad's coin/stamp collection....money and coins from around the world....

Sherri and Mikhail

Mom T passing out gifts...

Matt and Lily

 It took three to get Dad's gift open - an alarm clock shaped like a semi-truck. 

Will and Jamin checking out the value of coins - amazed at how they change over time. 

When we got home we noted lights on all over the house. We didn't remember leaving lights on. Then we noted a man carrying things OUT of the house. Jamin jumped out to investigate. CoRielle were picking up more of Arielle's things.

We were too tired to eat the Birthday cake Michael had made for Jesus....in fact, I went to bed while the others played games (will be good to get those new thyroid meds).