photo friday: the last 2 years

I've been compiling favorite photos for my yearly photo calendar. Our 2010 calendar had photos from each month in 2009. This year, I'm now going through our 2010 photos to create the new calendar, which means I come across photos like this.

{June 2010, 11 months}

Not to mention all of these...

{January, February + March 2010}

And then I realize I'll never get anything done, because the cuteness + nostalgia overload is more than I can take.

Happy Weekend,

PS what is that blue steel look? I'm dying!

Thankful on a Thursday: 500

Despite only working 1 part-time job now, instead of 2, things are busy as ever. With Ben's birthday yesterday, I was busy preparing his gifts and our night out. We went to a local theater that serves food and beverages in an intimate setting while you enjoy the movie. Ben loves movies, so I knew this would be the perfect spot to take him for his birthday date. We had a great time!

Now it's time to prepare for his party that's coming up this weekend. I've never actually thrown Ben a birthday party before. All five years that we've been together, we've just done something small with immediate family. I talked him into something different this year. I know birthday parties for adults are a little different, but it's a great reason to celebrate and have a bunch of friends and family over all at once, so why not?!

We're eagerly anticipating the arrival of 2 babies any day now. As I've mentioned, both my cousin Angela and one of my best friends, Jamie are due with their firsts on February 7th. I can't wait to snuggle their teensie little newborns!

I'm starting to think that life isn't going to slow down until I'm retirement age. I wish I was exaggerating! Still, we have many blessed reasons for being so busy and active and I'm thankful for that.

This week I'm also thankful for:

491. watching Malakai learn and be creative.

{miraculously no crayon was eaten in the creation of the above gift}

492. Giving gifts that make my husband smile like that. My goodness, he is handsome!

493. Being done with my taxes and looking forward to a nice refund!

494. God's provision in all things that we need, not just finances and human necessities but provision for needs at my job/church and in our family.

495. Having a job that is such a joy and an honor to do and that allows me to continue to stay home with my son, which has always been my ultimate dream job.

496. A boldness that I no doubt inherited from my parents. I have no problem making conversation with new people (thanks to my dad) and am not afraid of confrontation when I've been cheated at the check out line, on a medical bill, or what have you (thanks to my mom).

497. An amazing group of girl friends, most of whom need to live closer than the two hour drive that separates us.

498. a healthy household. None of us has been sick for quite some time now and I'm praying it stays that way.

499. photos and the camera that I wish was mine with which to take them.

500. the ability to express my gratitude in this public forum consistently for the last 50 weeks!

What about you? If you had to pick one thing from your week to give thanks for, what would it be?

{{Happy Birthday Ben}}

Today is Groundhog's Day Ben's birthday!

He is the most kind, patient, and loving father + husband. He makes Malakai and I laugh on a daily basis. He takes the best care of us when we're healthy and when we're sick. He makes up stories and plays games. He teaches Kai how to explore outside, and mama how to use the remote.

We have fun plans in store for daddy this evening and this weekend in celebration of his 26th year and hope that he feels as loved and special as he makes us feel every.single.day.

Portland Oregon in less than 24 hours

{I started this with the intent to publish as soon as it was done. Kai went on a nap strike and so now it is just after bedtime and I'm finally getting back to it}

I'm terrible about blogging on Mondays. On Sunday nights when the weekend is coming to a close, I'd rather just hang with my family after how busy our weekend was (and always are). I don't blog in the mornings because I'm playing with and looking after Malakai, who needs constant close supervision these days.

So here it is nap time, and although Malakai is not yet sleeping, I am updating around here. It's helping me stay out of his room when I hear him kicking the crib or unzipping his jammies. I keep thinking that if I let him be, he'll fall asleep as usual. I have a scary thought in the back of my head that he might be thinking he's done with naps. Please no.

So anyway, our weekend. Ben was asked if he'd like to accompany our church's youth up to Portland for Generation Unleashed, which takes place at our parent church (the church that planted ours). While at first he thought he'd have to decline because of work, he was able to work it out to go up for Friday night's last session, and the two final sessions on Saturday morning.

I was planning on staying home, but when he mentioned he might have his own hotel room, I thought it would be fun to tag along. We found out on Thursday that Kai and I would for sure be able to tag along. I had already made plans for Friday with my sister-in-law Kristi, my aunt (who is more like a sister) Sarah, and my high school bestie, Lindsey.

Ben came home from work and we were already packed up to go. So we loaded up and headed out. I had prepared for Malakai's first wakeful 2 hour car ride with a no-spill snack bowl, a cup with a straw, new board books, and an AquaDoodle drawing pad. That day he only napped for 45 minutes and passed out on our ride up for about 90 minutes. I won't complain.

Since Ben was already arriving to GU late, he dropped us off to check in at the hotel and headed to the church. The girls met up with me and we headed to dinner at Chevy's, a tex-mex style restaurant that was a block from the hotel. Since Ben had the car, and the carseat, it was perfect. Malakai was not the biggest fan of sitting some more and was not the easiest to tame for dinner. When we headed back to the hotel Lindsey took her sweet little dog Chloe out of the car and smuggled her up to my room in her jacket.

Chloe chased Malakai all over the room, he was giggling non-stop which meant all four of us girls were doing the same. Then I made sure we got a photo of all of us together. I propped the camera on the tv and set the timer. Chloe and Kai even looked at the camera!

{Lindsey, Chloe, me, Kristi, Malakai, Sarah}

Kristi stayed a little after Linds + Sarah had to go. Malakai was acting sleepy, he kept saying "nuh-night" and laying down on the big bed.

{Kristi captured this photo, Kai looks so big!}

Despite playing bedtime, Malakai would not go to bed for me. I tried for over an hour before daddy came to the hotel and had the little guy out within ten minutes. He is so stuck to the daddy bedtime routine. Although, he just doesn't do well away from home. 

The next morning we rolled out of bed and dropped Ben off at GU and went to meet Carina at Coava Coffee (after I got lost), which I had read about on Today's Letters just last week. The atmosphere was interesting and unique, the coffee was delicious. One of the owners made my coffee, how often does that happen at other coffee shops? If I could afford the expense, I'd be sold on their Kone filter.

{the dirty drill press was Malakai's favorite}

{what's that?!}

Then we were off to downtown to do some browsing at the new H&M (I'd never been) and a few other places. Eugene's Gap Kids store shutdown a few years ago, so I had to pop into the one there and was glad I did. I got Kai some cutie jeans and a long sleeve button-up shirt for just $13. 

After a good visit it was time to load up Malakai in the car with his lunch and I headed over to pick up Ben. Once he finished his sandwich, Kai was out for the entire 2 hour drive home. 

It went by incredibly fast, but I'm so glad we were able to go. 

Thankful on a Thursday: extrinsic motivations

I'm starting to find that I'm not as intrinsically motivated as I once thought. Being a stay at home/work at home type of person can open up these kinds of discoveries.

Some days I'd rather just sit and catch up on my favorite blogs, flip through the latest issue or Real Simple,  or stalk facebook during Kai's nap time than do the dishes, sweep, or fold laundry. A lot of days, that's exactly what I do. It often takes someone coming over for me to un-clutter our house.

By no means is our home dirty, but it is often cluttered. We have a mail sorter on the wall that I knew could be a disaster if we let it...and lately we've let it.

I get a sense of motivation and even excitement over hurriedly tidying things up in our house in anticipation of a visitor or event. I also find this same excitement over when I go into the office once a week that just isn't the same as when I work from home. I'm an extrovert and as such I'm fueled by people and social situations.

Having a job where I can actually "go" to work wasn't something that I realized I was missing until I started doing it again (part time). I love getting ready and going to the office to get things done. I love working with volunteers, kids, and parents on Sunday mornings.

I am so thankful for

481. my job that brings out a part of me that was hibernating, as well as challenges me in new ways.

482. new transitions. After this week I'm no longer doing daycare. By the grace of God I've been able to see the positives in this and not get too emotional about missing little Henry.

483. the sunshine + impromptu plans. In a few short moments Kai + I are going to take a walk to the park with the lovely Jamie.

484. unexpected resources for a wealth of knowledge about children's ministry and a friendship that's forming over email + phone call. I heart technology.

485. A roadtrip! Ben + I are going to take Malakai on his first second road trip ever. Ben is going to Generation Unleashed with our church. Meanwhile Kai and I are going to visit with friends in the area and check out Coava.

486. Starbucks gift cards. Without which I would not get the sweet treat of an occasional Caramel Macchiato

487. finding time to surprise Ben with fresh baked cookies after his super exciting Wednesday night class.

488. did I mention Starbucks? Um yes, their petite vanilla bean scones. yum.

489. sleeping through the night. Malakai has only been doing this for 4 months (I know, whoah) and every once in a while teething keeps us up in the night. Needless to say, I'm always thankful for a full 8 hour stretch!

490. the ability to watch my sweet sweet boy learn + grow.

What are you thankful for this week?





P.S. Happy early weekend, I know I'll be way too busy to blog tomorrow!