Pajama Ride

Tonight, we started a new tradition (Thanks Renee and Hilary)!

About ten minutes after the kids were in bed for the night, we did this:



Ice cream and Christmas lights! In pajamas! How great is that?

It was SO funny to watch their disbelief and see them stumble all over the place while trying to get their coats and shoes on. We hopped in the car, got Dilly bars, and drove around looking at Christmas lights. I have to say, however, with the exception of James Street Estates, Bellingham is very lacking in the Christmas light department. We had a hard time finding anything good. Oh well. It was still fun and a wonderful tradition that I will look forward to every year.

Christmas Letter 2007

We have had such an amazing year! Where to even begin?!

Maddie has had a monumental year ~ turning FIVE in April, graduating from Preschool, haircuts, trips to Nani's house, more haircuts, a trip to California to visit Grandpa Eric, many trips to the lake in the summer, learning to ride her bike without training wheels, beginning Kindergarten, and performing in school plays. Whew! She is growing into such a little lady. She loves to dance around the living room, make up songs, and draw. You can usually find her making a fort in the living room or creating some masterpiece at her desk.

Taylor is such a little man. He has grown so much this year, it's hard to believe he is only three!! Some of his highlights ~ turning THREE in March, eating dirt, going to the park, playing on his first soccer team, starting preschool!!, teaching himself to play the piano, learning to "snow-led" (or sled, for the rest of us) all by himself, and performing in his Christmas show. Taylor can usually be found playing his keyboard, obsessing over a toy vacuum, zooming his cars all over the house or shooting his foam nerf darts at the the ceiling (or his sister). What a boy!

Rick has had quite the year! He remains busy with his band, CALBREA (yes, same band, new name), being lead pastor at Breakwater Church, playing basketball and going to the gym. A big change for Rick this year was receiving a "new back." In April, Rick's back finally gave out after five years of injury. Six weeks before we were to leave for a family hike of the Grand Canyon, Rick's bulging disc finally ruptured. After spending two months on the floor unable to move, Rick was gifted a surgery to heal his back for good. To this day, the Lord has provided every dollar to pay for his medical bills (we don't have insurance). The hospital paid for 90% of the bill, and all the other specialists gave us a huge discount! Praise the Lord! Also on Rick's schedule has been practicing with his band. Their major accomplishment this year was finishing their demo CD, GODHEAD MACHINE. They are currently working very hard to start playing gigs in February in Seattle.

Karyn had a wonderful year full of new adventures! Here are some of my lifetime first's: a two-day hike into the Grand Canyon, running a 5K, competing in my first triathlon, and a first official college girlfriend reunion weekend in Chicago! My biggest change and accomplishment this year was being accepting into and starting a two-year RN program at Whatcom Community College. Yep, it's official!! I am actually in the program now. This will be an interesting two years. I will graduate in June 2009... In April, the kids and I enjoyed another trip to California to visit my dad and Grandma Mary. Rick and I did get to enjoy a trip together to Cannon Beach. We look forward to making that trip a family tradition with the kids!

What can we say... busy, wonderful year! Looking forward to what 2008 will bring. We pray to Lord's peace, joy and love showers your during this amazing season of Christ's birth! Blessings to you all!

Love,
Rick, Karyn, Madisyn & Taylor

My little donkey

A couple weeks ago, Maddie's class got to pick their parts in the Christmas nativity play at school. I was so excited to ask her what part she picked. I thought maybe the angel, possibly at shepherd... she proudly exclaimed, "I'm gonna be the donkey!"

"The donkey?!" I asked. She could obviously sense the surprise in my voice.

"Mom, the donkey is a very important part of the nativity story. If Mary didn't have a donkey to ride on, she never would have made it to Bethlehem to have baby Jesus!" Point taken.

Yes, the donkey is a very important part of the story. Maddie taught me, or reminded me, of a very important lesson: no matter how small or insignificant something/someone may seem, we each have a very important part in this world. God can even use a donkey to make a difference. Thank you, Maddie.

So....

Tonight was her night to shine. She was SO excited to get dressed up in her costume. She insisted we get there 45 minutes early just so she could get in costume. :-) Isn't she adorable?!

"Mary," "a Shepherd," and my little donkey

Mary needed a ride...

Cousin Spencer was an angel in the nativity

Mommy and Taylor were excited fans of Maddie!

Here is a little piece of the play...


Opening Scene:



Angels We Have Heard on High:




Ok, so halfway through "Angels," Maddie spit out the piece of paper (or cud as Teacher Tammy put it) she was chewing for half the play. Too funny!

After the play, Maddie received her first performance flower. Who better to receive it from but her favorite man ever - Daddy!

Teacher Tammy and Maddie

We had a wonderful time and Maddie was wonderful! Merry Christmas to all... even little donkeys!

Maestro - Jingle Bells

So, I was cleaning up the kids' room tonight, having a million thoughts running through my brain, not really paying attention to what was going on in the room. I was hearing a melody being played on Maddie's pink piano... a melody that has been sung about 90 times a day since Thanksgiving... a melody that I don't even hear anymore I've heard it so much. So, when I noticed it being played, it didn't even occur to me that it was my son PLAYING the song on the pink piano! This, people, he did all on his own. I never once showed him how to play it.

So, for your viewing pleasure, I give you: Jingle Bells (arrangement by Taylor Norris)

Thanksgiving

Better late than never!

We have a Thanksgiving tradition of going out to Rick's Grandma Norris's house for Thanksgiving day. We've done it all but one year since we've been married, and it has become one of my favorite days of the year. Grandma Norris is about the sweetest lady you will ever meet! She is all of about 90 lbs, you could break her with a hug, and she makes a mean Thanksgiving meal.

We watch football, maybe play marbles, take a nap on the "drool" pillow, read the newspaper, eat a lot of wholesome goodness... nothing out of the ordinary for a Thanksgiving day get-together. What I love about it is being together with our family. The older I get, the more I just truly enjoy being with family.

Maddie had a wonderful time playing outside. Grandma has a huge yard - field, really - so Maddie and Jim went on an exploration!

We stayed inside where it was nice and warm!

The boys resting on the couch!

I love family days...

If I could pick one way to spend the best day, it would be having a "family day" with my husband and kids. I love getting to hang out with them, play, riding bikes, watching movies, etc.

Bellingham has gorgeous fall weather. The other day it was sunny, blue skies, so we decided to hop on our bikes and ride around our favorite park, Boulevard Park. Maddie is still showing off her riding skills on two wheels! The park is nestled next to Bellingham Bay, so on a good day, the water is gorgeous and the ride is so relaxing. We rode from Fairhaven, down onto Taylor Dock (which is a really long bridge over the water connecting to Boulevard Park), around the park circle, then back again. What a blast.

It was one of the first times for Rick on his bike since the surgery! He missed it!

We capped off our day with family movie night. They chose to watch "The Polar Express." I love this movie, and the kids really loved it - especially the popcorn and licorice! Other movies the kids have been really liking lately are "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (yes, the musical), "The Wiz" (yet another musical), and Disney's "Very Merry Christmas Sing Along" (a full DVD of Christmas songs set to cartoons). Can you imagine Rick's horror when we pull ANY of these movies out?! Musicals AND Christmas music - his worst nightmare! :-)

Enjoy your family - have a fun day!

Taylor's Christmas performance

'Tis the season for the Christmas plays. This year is SO much fun since it is both Maddie and Taylor's first Christmas to perform.

Last week, Taylor's school performed a few Christmas carols for all the families. It was cute! He actually did fairly well. He was one of the only 3-year-olds in the 4&5 year old groups. Considering the fact that he HATES it when people applaud OR sing, he did extremely well. He made it through the entire production with crying once!


He really enjoyed turning around and watching the other kids, and standing up and sitting down multiple times in each song. Quite the character!

Here is Jingle Bells:


Here is Silver Bells:

Get your groove on!

Ever wonder what Rick looks like when he dances?

CHECK THIS OUT!!

By the way... this was his creation!

First Snow!

Bellingham had about 2 inches - yep, count 'em - two inches of snow! Saturday proved to be a great day to stay home and enjoy playing outside, drinking hot chocolate, and watching movies!

We have a great sledding hill in the back yard. There is a steep driveway that is awesome for sledding. Maddie and Taylor spent a good hour going up and down...

Taylor actually enjoyed it this year. Last year he wasn't so fond of it, but this year he's learned to climb on the sled, hold on and go down the hill by himself. I have to admit it's pretty funny to watch him go tumbling down when he falls off. Every time he stands up and yells a big "YES! That was AWESOME!" What a good sport.
We are looking forward to a fun winter of lots more sledding and hot chocolate! Hope your Christmas season is getting off to a wonderful start!

What are you thankful for...

As we sat around our table and asked that question of each other, here were the answers:

Rick: Wifey, family, a working back that we didn't have to pay for...

Karyn: Husband, two beautiful kids, nursing school...

Madisyn: Mommy and Daddy and Taylor and Cede (our dog)

Taylor: Bread

Rick: Taylor, are you thankful for anything else?

Taylor: Um... nope. Just bread. Black bread.


Enough said...


Oh, yeah, and we still don't know what he means by black bread.

Happy Veteran's Day

Maddie was in her first school performance this week! Her school did a Veteran's Day tribute. It was SO cute. They sang America the Beautiful (see video), recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and they all had at least one line. Maddie, of course, memorized EVERYONE'S lines. She told them to me on the way to school that day.



Her hat said "Speaker." Her line was, "Please join us for snacks in our classroom." :-) Sarah Bernhardt, look out.

Emma and Maddie

The whole BCS kindergarten class

This is Isaac - better known as Abe Lincoln. He recited part of President Lincoln's speech: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." (Maddie, of course, just recited that for me...) He was pretty impressive.

Nani and Poppa

Maddie and Taylor got to go to Nani and Poppa's farm last weekend. They had SO much fun...
They got to go see the Bee Movie, go to Sunday School with Miss Jean (one of my old friends), ride their bikes in the driveway, play with Cede (our dog on vacation at the farm), visit Great Grandma Talley, and eat LOTS of treats (that's what Maddie said)!

Do you think their related?

Thank you, Nani and Poppa, for having such a fun weekend with our kids! They are looking forward to the next time...

A Happy Halloween it was...

First let me say this... we don't "celebrate" Halloween. We let the kids dress up and get candy. That's it. I know some people get upset about Christians celebrating a pagan holiday, yada, yada, yada... Everyone has their own ideas. For our family, we let our kids dress up and have fun getting candy at the downtown Bellingham trick or treat. Do I pretend there's a Santa Claus... yes. How about the easter bunny hiding eggs... yes. Call me what you will... I grew up "believing" all those things, too, and I turned out just fine. I love that families have their own traditions. To each their own.
Now... off my soap box and onto the cute kids. Since last year (no joke), Maddie has been planning her costume - a mermaid. She really wanted to be that LAST year, but I couldn't find an outfit for her. So she carried that thought with her the WHOLE year, and of course, stuck with it. She was so beautiful.Taylor, I must say, was a HIT with all the other kids. Everyone would say, hey there's Spiderman. I heard kids across the street yelling to Spiderman. There were even a couple young boys who were so fascinated with Spiderman, they were tripping over their own feet because they were watching him instead of where they were walking. Taylor, of course, didn't want to have anything to do with anyone. One little boy walked up and got right in his face - HI SPIDERMAN!! Taylor was like, this is MY personal space, buddy. It was too funny. We had a wonderful time... not many trick or treaters at our house, though. oh well. More for us! I hope everyone had a wonderful time with their families - no matter what you were doing!

Twenty-first century Mozart

Taylor has always shown an major interest in music, not to mention a natural ability. Today, he showed me just how much:

Ice Skating

Maddie got to experience ice skating for the first time last weekend. She was amazing! Every time she fell down, she got right up and kept trying! She actually wants to go again.

The boys chose air hockey instead of the cold ice! Smart...


Look out Dorothy Hamill.

Pumpkin Time!

I love the fall. It is my favorite time of year. While I do love the summer, the sun, warmth, etc., there is something soothing in cold, sunny days where the fall leaf colors are everywhere, there's a fire in the fireplace, and you get to snuggle with a cozy blanket.

Now, have I gotten to do that AT ALL this fall - no. But I love it nonetheless.

We thought this year it would be fun (and WAY less messy) to make Mr. & Mrs. Pumpkin Heads instead of carving...














I think they did a pretty good job, and the best part: everything (minus the pumpkin) is reusable!

Happy Fall!

Study time or Maddie's Jewel Shop

So this is what Maddie does on a sunny Sunday morning while I am studying...

She steals my gems that I use for my cards, and she sets up her "jewel shop, as she calls it, behind the couch in my office... She methodically separates all the jewels evenly, and then plays for two hours with them! Who knew gems could be so fun!

Don't try this at home...

It turned out to be a lovely Fall day in Washington today. So, the kids both thought it would be a good time to go to the park to practice riding their bikes. Maddie has been doing SO good at riding without her training wheels, so any chance we get to practice, we take it. Today was not such a good day for the "little girl who could."

Being as determined as she is, she was doing incredibly well starting herself peddling. She would get going and not stop:



This video was taken MOMENTS before this happened:

It being Washington, and all, the wood docks around here turn slippery as ice when it rains. We had already witnessed a man's bike slip right out from underneath him 10 minutes before her accident. She was coming around the end of the park where you ride on the dock for about 50 yards, then head back towards the park. I was following her, but as she cleared the first corner, she was hidden behind trees. All I saw was her tires slip out from under her, and suddenly she was sliding face first on the dock. Then I heard the scream.

This picture is nothing from what I saw. By the time I reached her, there was already a small pool of blood on the ground. Sure enough, she had gashed her lip, road rashed her face and chin, and was tangled up in her bike. Poor baby. I picked her up off the ground and headed towards the bathroom. On our way there, she loudly pronounced: "Mom, I am NOT having very much fun!" I don't blame her.

Three otter pops later, and short trip to the doctor, she is on the mend. Her lip didn't need stitches, but she will have the battle scars for awhile.

Her personality is definitely back, as you can tell. Nothing like pestering your little brother after a hard day...