Sunday, September 1, 2024
Sabbatical, Japan, Oahu, Traverse City, Lolo Surprise and Back to School
Monday, July 22, 2024
2024 Start of Summer & Japan Eve
We are leaving on a family trip to Japan tomorrow. Nate has very much taken the lead in planning this trip. We both went on separate work trips to Japan years back and loved it.
Nate earned a work sabbatical that started in early July and will extend into early September. This provided an opportunity to take a "big" family trip and Japan won. We will explore several cities around Japan. We are especially excited to see our good friends Aya, Ichiro, and their son Ren whom we haven't seen for about 5 years now.
Other than this trip taking up plenty of real estate in our heads, we have also taken advantage of what Portland is so well known for - wonderful summer weather.
Here are some glimmers from these past couple of months. As I was looking back at pictures I had taken, I noticed that I was picking family and sibling shots for a certain reason: there wasn't any fighting between my daughters for +/- an hour or so from the photo snap, a true glimmer reprieve. Yes, it's hard to believe looking at the pictures how much our girls fight. Paul really does a good job staying out of it.
Family trip to Bend over Memorial Day to cheer on Paul in his baseball tournament. Enjoying an easy Spaghetti dinner at our cute Airbnb.
This is the first picture of 12 year old Elise where it took me aback looking at it because I saw a grown up Elise in it...like I know what she'll look like when she's much older for the first time.
Monday, May 20, 2024
May 2024 - Spring moments
There are two phrases I tell my kids a lot before they take on whatever it may be:
1) You only have control over your preparation, effort, and attitude.
2) Work hard, play hard, and be a good sport.
We've been saying these phrases a lot these days. Raising tweens and teenagers feels like putting our foot on the gas of time (literally) in different directions.
I think Nate and I are pretty chill overall with what is thrown our way - a teenager with minimal interest in hanging with her family, troubling health news from loved ones, job stress and security, and child anxiety come to mind. We are so very grateful for the good thrown our way too seen in the pics below.
Lily is now 15. She is a focused and competitive young lady, whether it's being super motivated at improving her volleyball game or staying on top of her school work. She is super independent with big goals and little interest in spending time with her family. She is kind and goofy with her friends. Slowing down to learn life skills like doing her chores correctly (psst sweeping the floor or helping cook dinner) has plenty of room for improvement. She isn't a hugger but she is responsive and ready to help when we ask (even with the eye roll) which we appreciate.
Lily loves playing front row
One more month of school left. Unlike previous years, we don't have much planned other than our big trip to Japan in July. The days of camp spreadsheet tracking activities are fading.
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Our Friend Troy
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2mwkuaZ7
Monday, February 19, 2024
2024 - Go Blue, Vegas Baby, The Comfy
2024 started out with a big teary eyed smile seeing Michigan win the National Championship again after 30 years of close seasons and plenty of disappointments. My brother would have loved to have seen it happen; he was emotionally vested and so passionate about his opinions of the team. Go Blue!
My sister and I are taking our parents to the Indian Wells tennis tournament. Going to a tennis tournament has been on my mom's bucket list for a long time; it's about time. My Dad went to Wimbledon long ago. It'll be fun. Eric definitely played a hand in making this trip finally happen. Thanks Eric. I am a HUGE Sinner fan. My favorite Christmas gift was a T-shirt of Sinner. He won the Australian Open which also brought me a teary smile. I hope I get to see him. Watch out small children; I'll elbow you out of the way for a picture or an autograph. Maybe I should bring my rackets in case he'd like to hit :)