People in Afghanistan are reading this!!

Mike has a long time friend named "Mark" who we haven't heard from or seen since about the time we left the Bay Area and moved to Thousand Oaks. So, it's been about 5 years since we have talked to him and we had no idea what he was up to or where he was living.

Well, we didn't know this but Mark enlisted in the Army. He has been a reservist for quite a while but decided to go full force and they sent him off to Afghanistan for 18 months. His unit was dropped off with supplies and basically had to make a camp that is really more like a little city out in the middle of no where. Supplies are dropped and the men and women do what they are there to do.

When the Army wanted him to go back again he asked if there was something else he could do instead and they offered him a position working at Leavenworth. Prison or Afghanistan???? Prison sounded great. I guess there are some big time criminals there like the enlisted man who threw grenades into the tents killing and wounding a bunch of soldiers.

We also found out that Mark has met a woman and plans to marry her next year. She is a Director of a Library and from what he said she is very educated and he is totally and completely in love. He has asked Mike to be his best man when he gets married. Quite and honor.

We found all this out because Mark googled us and found this blog. Then he searched the white pages and found a number for us.

Congratulations Mark!!!

So, people actually do read this!!! People in Afghanistan no less! For all I know some lady in Thailand is sitting at her desk right now checking this out!

Very cool.

Life, Death, and Non-Exsistence.

Michael got a couple of really cool things from Santa this year. He requested and was given a Chia Pet that grows cat grass. He also got Aquasaurs which are prehistoric fish that your grow from their eggs. Well, the Chia is doing pretty good. It's been 5 days now and we have about an inch or so of green... the Aquasaurs however are not doing as well. I'm supposed to see the things swimming by day three. It's been 4 days now and still no Aquasaurs. I just can't understand it... I've got the water just right, the temperature is just right and I've followed the instructions to the "T". So, why are there no Aquasaurs? Michael of course is excited but has a "let me know when you can see them" attitude about it. But, I am checking the things several times a day with childlike anticipation in hope that "this time" I will see the prehistoric creatures at last. Maybe tomorrow?



I will follow up later, if, and when, I see life...

Speaking of life... Biff our cat joined our family nearly a year ago. He has been a great addition to our family. He is the most easy going, cool, and even tempered cat I've ever known. Michael has been in love from day one. We actually spent the first 3 months yelling "Michael, LEAVE THE CAT ALONE!". Luckily for Biff we moved into our house 3 months after his arrival and his options for hiding increased a hundred fold. So, Michael had to work really hard to gain Biff's trust. With hard work you get rewarded and Michael learned that lesson. Biff is now content to be held and loved by Michael. Hayden loves Biff too and Biff likes to play with Hayden. Hayden will waddle toward Biff and Biff will move forward about 10 steps or so at a time to keep just out of reach. I don't know who has more fun in this game as they both seem to like it.



Also speaking of life... Our fish died again. Michael doesn't know and he hasn't asked. I think his tank was too close to the window and he was just basically freezing to death. I've now moved the tank and am planning on replacing him in the next few days or so. Hopefully, the next one will survive... it's actually kind of sad really. Is being adopted by me actually a death sentence???

Lucky for the kid's I'm 2-0. :)

Day with Dad

The week before Christmas Mike was fortunate to have a few days off for a change. Being the work-a-holic that he is the first two days a few phone calls were made but on Friday he took Michael to Mountain Hood (as Michael calls it). The plan was to go tubing. So, Thursday Mike and I went to Fred Meyers (for those of you who don't know... Freddie's (as we locals call it), is like Target, Ace Hardware, and Ralph's combined. They have everything.) Anyway, we went to Freddie's and bought everything a boy would need to go play in the snow.

They got up early on Friday and got on the road. It's about 1 1/2 hrs to the ski area and the night before Mother Nature dumped a fresh coating of snow just for them!

The hill was pretty big and half way up the first time Michael began to let it be known his legs were getting tired. So, they went up and down it 8 or 9 times and spent the rest of the day frolicking in the fresh powder and making new friends.

Later that night after they got home we went out to dinner... Michael had enough of being in the car and was so tired he came down with a headache actually got sick but he was fine the next day... I think Mike just wore the kid out and that is a hard thing to do to a five year old boy!

Bottom line... Mike is a great dad. Michael and Hayden are lucky, lucky boys to have a dad like him who will take them out on adventures and enjoy himself to boot! I'm lucky too... it feels great to see your kids happy and well adjusted with a hands-on dad.

I finally got it right!

White Christmas

Well, we moved here just over a year ago and last Christmas we flew the four of us down to California to visit all of our family. This year we decided to save some cash and start our own tradition here in Oregon. I'm glad we did because this has to be the best Christmas I've ever had in my entire life...

We spent Christmas Eve with our best friends Mike and Lisa Emmert. They have two boys, Carson and Keaton... so we all gathered at our place and had great appetizers, prime rib, and some mashed potatoes that were so good we could have eaten just those and loved it. Lisa brought a wonderful salad and she whipped up some asparagas and we called it dinner! After some food and a few drinks we opened presents and then had the boys bake and ice gingerbread cookies for Santa. Sometime around then Keaton told his mom "It can't be Christmas because there is no snow". Well, Lisa explained to the 3 year old, "Even if there is no snow it's still Christmas, it's just that it doesn't snow that often here." Well, that still didn't please Keaton but he ran off to play. While the kids were playing us "big kids" played "Catch Phrase". Well let me tell you, that was a freakin' blast!!! I don't think I've ever laughed that hard in my entire life. I did suffer a sports injury during the game that almost made me pee my pants but that didn't stop the girls from kickin' the boys butts! Luckily, the kids played together great and gave us plenty of time for the game. Before we knew it it was 11:30 PM and the phone rang! It was Santa's helper making sure all the kids were asleep because Santa was on his way! After all, if the kids were still awake Santa would have to skip our house and move on to the next! Well, that was all the motivation they needed for going to sleep! Our guests weren't even out the door when Michael was begging to go to bed!



Christmas Day the four of us opened our presents and had a great breakfast together. While we were eating it began to snow. Big flakes showered down and gently covered the roofs white and left a thin blanket of snow. Just enough for Michael to don his boots and gloves and head outside for an hour or more of entertainment. After that we put Hayden down for his afternoon nap and Mike, Michael and I played a board game over hot chocolate. Well, cocktails for Mike and I.

Now as the day is coming to an end and it's beginning to get dark I'm reflecting on the fact that we have such great friends who we love so much. To have met people so great that within a year of knowing them we not only want to spend the holiday together but enjoy them just as much as family. I've been a little homesick these last few weeks but I have to admit I wouldn't have changed a thing about this Christmas.

We've started our own tradition and it makes me feel great. I have two wonderful sons who make Christmas magical and have allowed me to really appreciate the true spirit of Christmas.

And lastly, Keaton got his Christmas wish... a white Christmas.

He's 5!!!

Well, it's hard to believe but Michael is finally a "big boy"! On December 9th he turned 5. The last five years have been quite a ride that's for sure. It's so amazing to see how much he's grown not only physically but as a person. It seems like yesterday he was born and now I can actually have conversations with him. I have to say I am extremely proud of him and I can see the glimpse of the man he will someday become. He is smart, funny, happy, creative, and if I have to say, handsome. I can't wait to see what the future holds for him but at the same time I will miss the kid he is now just as I miss the baby he was when he was born.

Well, time to put the kids to bed.