Our new baby...

We (Taylor and I) have prayed a long time for this day. We prayed she would be the perfect fit for all of us. We prayed she wouldn't be too expensive (free was best). We prayed she would have beautiful character, and sound as good.

Our prayers were answered...
Isn't she beautiful?!

She is a W.W. Kimball Co. piano, circa early 1900's. We don't have a for-sure birth date, but there is a marking in the picture above that indicates she was tuned on April 14, 1917 (or 1919, not sure).

She was given, yes, that's right, given to us by our friends, Art & Diana. This is the piano Art grew up playing. We are honored to have her in our home. We will all be playing her in this house! Thank you so much Art & Diana...

She has 88 keys and 3 toes, measures about five feet, and weighs.... A LOT! It took four muscular men, two worried women, and two rowdy children to get it moved. Thanks to Brandon and Trevor who were so great to help us out! We are so pleased to have her. If you play, please feel free to come test her out. On second thought, let's tune her first, then test her out!

We feel very blessed. My prayers were answered.

Taking advantage...

of the beautiful weather!


Today after school, the kids and I, plus my friends Jennifer and Kasie, heading to Lake Padden to play. It was SO gorgeous - blue skies, warm (in the sun), crisp air... The kids were thrilled to be able to play outside.
It is amazing what cabin fever does to you. Once the sun went behind the trees, though, it was FREEZING! So we headed home for some hot cocoa with whipped cream and sprinkles!

Snow is forcasted for the next three days here... looks like a little more cabin fever.

Leavenworth

This weekend, we headed over the pass to Leavenworth, WA. Rick was performing a wedding ceremony for a couple from our church over there, so we were able to use the opportunity as a weekend-getaway! I had never been to Leavenworth, but I'd heard a lot about it. I love Europe, especially Bavaria, so this was like a little piece of heaven to me. If you like little villages and the european style, go to Leavenworth.

This is the village during the day. This weekend was the Icicle Festival, so there were a lot of people. It was still really enjoyable to walk around, though. I still can't really figure out what they were doing for the festival, though. Some guy was announcing over the town loudspeaker system something about ice cube races... I'm not sure!

This is the same part of town at night. The entire village is lit up with beautiful Christmas lights. Even though the stores were closed, I loved walking through the village at night. It was COLD, but the ambiance was so magical!

This was one of the store fronts. I just liked the decorations!

A true Bavarian Christmas tree - pretzels and all!

On Saturday we has a chance to explore the village while it was awake! There were kids sledding on the hill right behind us (in the picture). There were people sledding at all hours of the night. I just couldn't get over people sledding down the hills in the middle of the village!

This, of course, is Rick's signature shop. If you know Rick at all, you know he LOVES cheese! He will stand in the kitchen with a block of Tillamook and a knife, and be happy as can be. This store, however, has stolen his heart! They gave out free samples of any and all their cheeses. They were very accommodating in answering our questions, and quickly won us over! Hence, Rick loves this store. He IS the Cheesemonger!

The drive home was beautiful. The trees were so majestic looking on the mountains... this picture was just along side the road as we were driving. I loved being able to get away and feel like I've actually been on a mini-vacation.

Congratulations, Bill and Katy! Thank you for helping us make this weekend a memorable one...

New Years weekend

Our good friends, Nate and Laura, moved to Portland a couple years ago. When we decided to get away for New Years, we couldn't think of a better place to go, or better people to see than the Streibs! Much to our happiness, they were excited to have us down. We spent three days there enjoying Portland, all it's yummy food, and got some wonderful time in with our friends.

I am a big fan of the McMeniman's pubs and restaurants, so our first night there, we went to St. John's Theater and Pub. The food was outstanding... as was their Ruby beer... yum! Rick enjoyed their Nebraska Bitter. Their restaurants are the coolest. If you ever have a chance to go to one, DO IT! The next day was New Years Eve, and we had plans to meet some of their friends from the Seattle/Portland hockey game. Neither of us had ever been to a hockey game before. It was a lot of fun. Rick enjoyed shouting the lingo, such as, "Clear it!" and "Keep it in!" We did have a fundamental issue, however, with cheering for the Portland team like everyone else was. We are, after all, Seattle peeps! So we quietly rooted for them!After watching Seattle destroy Portland, we ate dinner at Widmer Brothers... YUM, then headed back to the Streib's for some drink and card playing! We had so much fun. We even stopped our card game (briefly) to toast the New Year! Thanks Nate and Laura for welcoming us. We can't wait for some more time with you two!

Christmas vacation in Olympia

The kids and I made our annual pilgrimage down to Olympia a couple days after Christmas. They were heading to Nani and Poppa's house for their Christmas vacation - 7 days worth!! They were SO excited. That meant 7 days without mom or dad, 7 days on the farm with Nani and Poppa all to themselves, and most importantly, 7 days of CEDE-girl! Maddie could not WAIT to see her dog. She loves that dog so much. She can't wait to bring her back home someday...Maddie and Taylor are, of course, always thrilled that they get to stay at Nani and Poppa's house. They got to play outside, take hour-long bathes every night, stay up late, get up late... what a great Christmas vacation!

While we were there, we got to see my sister, Kathy Lynne, Eric and my nephew, Nicolas. It was SO great getting to visit. We don't get to see them very often. It was a wonderful surprise.
Every Christmas, my group of old friends (former interns) from CTE gets together for dinner. Here was our group this year! It's always a crapshoot who can make it.

Katie, Jeremy, Shannon, Tyra, Scott, me, Kimo. Sean was there, but he left before the picture. We missed Kelly, Matt, Bree, and Bethany. Hopefully next year! This was the first year we all got to see Scott in a long time... it was great catching up with him.

As you can see, Shannon and Tyra are about to pop! They are due a few weeks apart from each other! Shannon is expecting a girl and Tyra a boy... we can't wait to meet them!

My next reunion of the trip was getting together with my girlfriends from childhood. We get together a couple of times a year... this was our first time in a while.

Courtney, Shannon, me, Christine, and Nicole.

We had dinner at Anthony's Hearthfire Grill... it was so delicious! It is always so much fun to get together and see where our conversations will lead us... :-) We had a lot of fun reminiscing, talking marriage, kids, life in the mid-30's... we still feel young! Don't we look it?!

Christmas time 2007

Ok, so I know it isn't Christmas anymore, but I am playing catch up with the blogs! So bare with me...

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! We got to stay home ALL day. It was awesome. Here are the kids in their Christmas PJs.

We got up in the morning, and the kids were so excited to open presents. Taylor, for some reason, was not thrilled about opening he stocking - he saw the bigger presents - but once he realized there might be candy in the stocking, he was all too happy to open that first.

Maddie's favorite toy (at first) was her new Bella Dancerella ballet DVD , mat and ballet barre. She ran directly to her room to put on her ballet outfit Nani bought her for her birthday last year so she could practice her new ballet dances.She was SO cute. The DVD, on the other hand, is going to get old after a short while... :-)

Taylor was SO wiped after a few presents, he put on his new spiderman towel, snuggled down, and watched Maddie practice her ballet. He was SO funny to watch.

My family came over in the late morning. We ate A LOT of wonderful food, opened presents, Nani and Poppa napped on the couch :-), and we had a fun time. Rick's mom and dad came over for dinner, and we relaxed some more. I can't remember the last time I said it, but this Christmas was actually relaxing, as far as Christmases go. I wanted to take a little more time to focus on the Reason we celebrate Christmas... alas, time got ahold of me. I know that we are blessed to be able to call God our Father, and I thank Him everyday for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. I want to celebrate Him EVERY day!

I hope your Christmas was memorable and blessed!

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)