Zoo Day with Busy Animals

On Tuesday after Mike and I pulled ourselves together we tried to take the kiddos to the zoo.  We knew we needed to get ourselves out of the house and the kiddos needed to see us being “normal.”  Bummer, the zoo was closed and that was an epic fail on our parts, because we had a very upset 2 year old.  So we promised that we would get to the zoo very soon. 

So it just so happened that the Saturday before Christmas was a perfect time to get over there.  The zoo was practically empty and it was late in the afternoon so the animals were all waiting to be fed and let into their nightly enclosures.  It is so much fun for this animal loving mama to get to see her kiddos so excited, I am too, when we see the animals doing something new and different. 

Hippos, pretty boring, to many, but I love them

For the first time in almost 2 years we saw the hippos MOVING!  They were swimming around, making noises, getting up on the shore and having a great time.  We watched them for about 10 minutes before heading over to check out the bears.  It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  When we got home to the house Mike got to open his first Christmas present.  It was all the stuff to have a fire and Thomas and I telling him that we had the chimney secretly swept while he was at work.  The first fire was a complete disaster, although the picture looks beautiful, and the entire house was a smoky mess.  Complete with us all going to bed smelling like we had just finished camping.   Thankfully, the next couple nights of having a fire were much more successful

End of the Year Recap from MJLs

Hola Mi Familia:

Since this is year two of this email, I guess you could call it the start of a tradition of sorts. Given the events that have taken place over the past few days, this is obviously being written with a heavy heart with the passing of the best friend a guy could ask for. I especially think that Pat, Lara and Stacey could attest to that and we are unfortunately looking forward to being able to spend some time with our “other family” back in Denver in the next couple of weeks to share some memories about Donny and tip back a Budweiser or two in his honor. The past three days have been tough but to be honest, Thomas has been the biggest rock for Stacey and I, there’s something to be said about seeing life through the eyes of a 2 year old.

On a lighter note, we approaching what is supposed to be happy time of year and a time for reflection. We’re in year two of this grand experiment we call Seattle and despite a little complaining about weather (mostly on my end) we’ve settled into a nice little life here. We’ve been blessed with an addition to the pale skinned, fair haired arsenal of kids we have rolling around and wouldn’t change our life right now if I had the option to. There’s nothing like coming home to smiling faces and a happy dog after a long day at work to make one gain an appreciation of the important things in life.

Our new Christmas traditions are starting to actually become traditions so while we’ll miss all of you next week, it is nice to be able to start some things of our own. Mitch has been up to his old tricks and I’ve had a few conversations with him about Santa helping out with some spray tanning sessions for Elin…I didn’t think anyone could be pastier than Thomas and I but I think we’ve succeeded in creating a new breed.

Thank you to everyone for everything you’ve done to help us get to this point in Seattle, 2012 has been a very good year to us and while the last few days have been some of the hardest we’ve encountered, we still have all of you to be thankful for. We’ll see all of you over the next 90 days or so, love ya all, keep our dear friend Donny and his wife Katie in your prayers and have a very Merry Christmas…even though we’ll all talk and skype before then.

Here’s to many adventures in 2013, live every day to its fullest!!!

MJL’s

Pottery Painting

The kiddos and I went for a quick hour marathon pottery painting session.  By the end I was sweating, but we had many pieces of one in a kind art!  Thomas and Elin had a blast and we were able to get plates, ornaments, hand prints and a super big truck painted.  It was a good way to spend a rainy morning.

Typical Week Night

During the week we have our typical routines.  Life is busy with Mike at work and just the kiddos and I at home to keep the house in operating order.  When Daddy walks through the door our typical evening starts: dinner, downtown (downstairs) time, bath time, hot choc and books/Curious George and bed time.  There are deviations from this schedule but for the most part this is how it happens.  These are the nights and moments that you want to freeze in time but know it just can’t happen.  Elin getting messier than ever while exploring food and eating dinner.  Thomas shrieking in the basement with Mike and then bath time giggles.  Hard to think that one these, the simplest of nights, that life isn’t perfect.  

A Terribly Sad Week…

Today, rather this week has been one of those weeks. It started last Friday when the entire nation was shocked by another mass shooting in Connecticut.  Many lives were lost, 26 to be exact, and I felt like any innocence I had felt was left was robbed.   It is hard to think that you can go to a park, send your child to school, go to a movie, or head to the mall without thinking you need to be painfully aware of your surroundings. 

This has also made me much more aware that we now have this little life that is looking at us for direction in his thoughts and feelings.  Mike and I kept talking about how sickened we were at the state of some peoples minds.  It was incomprehensible to us how someone could carelessly hurt so many.   This tragedy had us both saying, “Thank God it wasn’t our child,” “I don’t know what I would do,” “can you imagine what these parents are feeling?”   We were shook and sad, sharing in a national conversation about what needs to be done.  Just as the nation was laying these children and teachers to rest I got a call from Mike.  Five minutes after sending him a picture of our decorated Christmas tree with presents neatly wrapped underneath that said “we are going to have a very merry Christmas.”

I was just about to get the kiddos to lay down for a nap.  Which as of late, is quite the process because Thomas is wanting to skip a nap some days.  I hurriedly answered the phone and asked if it was anything important.  Which was followed by, yeah, I have some bad news to tell you.  Mike then told me that he had just been called by another buddy, Reid, and informed that the details were still fresh and new, but that they were at the hospital and Donny (Kevin, Charm) had died.  I don’t remember what I said then, but I do remember shaking, crying and saying no how did this happen. Then I looked at Thomas who was staring wide eyed at me and I knew I had to pull myself together. 

Once I calmed down, I was able to call Mike back and just hear it one more time, before it sunk in. Seriously, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? It wasn’t a car accident or something like that it was a heart attack? Our 31 year old buddy had a heart attack, something must not be right here. Mike was on his way home from work and one of our buddies had died far too young. 

Thomas immediately came over as I was crying and gave me a hug.  He said what we always say to him when he is crying about something sad, “Don’t worry Mama, my here.”  To which the tears just couldn’t stop.  I set on some Curious George and sat nursing Elin and snuggling my boy.  My heart shattered not only for everyone who lost Donny, but for those he left behind.  His wife Katie, his parents, his brother, his….well everyone else.   I then started to explain why Mommy was sad and that when Daddy got home, he too was going to be sad.  I then got a glimpse at life and death through a toddlers eyes.

Our conversation went like this:
Me: T You see how mommy is crying and that I'm feeling really sad"
T: "why?" (Which sounds like y-i)
Me: "because one of our friends went to live in Heaven with God and even though we are so excited he will be in Heaven, we are really sad we won't be able to see him here anymore."
T: “That's what happens Mama, it's ok"
Me: "Your right Buddy, I know"
T: "My (I'm) here Mama, don't worry." He then goes and gets me a book and says "Mama I can share I have yats of friends, Dan, Gabe, Yitney (Whitney), Da-ya (Dahlia), Yilly, he then pauses to think Georgia, Ben, Haddy, Ste-ya. Don't worry mama we have yats of friends."

We do have lots of friends, Buddy, thanks for reminding Mommy of that.  In fact, Mike and I are blessed with a group of friends in Denver that is a once in a lifetime group of friends.  The guys have been friends for 10+ years, some knowing one another since grade school, high school or college.  They have seen girlfriends come and go, attended bachelor parties and weddings, watched families start, and along the way we girls have formed some amazing friendships too.  We have been so blessed with this group of friends, knowing what true friendship is, and they in turn have become part of our extended family.  This family was heartbroken, yet we have all been waiting wondering what do we do to help Katie.  Katie, Donny’s beautiful, sweet, kind, always wanting to give and help you, wife.  What are we going to do to help Katie, oh my God, what would I do if this was Mike crossed my mind.  There aren’t words for the thoughts that cross your mind when the reality of death moves in.  Death, it doesn’t spare anyone, at some point we will all die, but at 31? After being married for just over 3 months? Without warning, a heart attack?   Reality, life is not guaranteed, wow, life is not guaranteed.

I still remember the first time I met Donny.  It was the same day that Mike and I had met, December 2nd, or maybe it was the 3rd by this time of the night. After hitting some local bars we ended up at Ogden Street South.  Mike, Pat, Piper and I, walked in far more intoxicated than I care to admit.  Mike pointed out Donny and dared me to go start dancing with "his buddy in the cowboy boots.”  Trying to impress Mike, I obliged and Donny and I became fast friends.   A couple weeks after we met, he started dating the “intern” from his part time job.  Instantly, Katie’s pure kindness and charm was apparent.  The four of us quickly became friends and in the past 6 years have had so many memories together.  The sad reality for Mike and I is that the last time we saw them was to celebrate their marriage in August.

Donny and his lovely boot wearing bride were hands down two of the most thoughtful, genuine, giving people.   Our children were loved and spoiled by  Uncle Donny and Auntie Katie.  They loved life, their family and their friends.   They really did have a love that made other people, want that.  You could see the magic in their eyes when they looked at each other.  They were meant to be together, start a family, grow old together and make many more memories.   When Mike and I decided to move in together, they were skeptical, yet they were the first ones to offer to help Mike and I.  In fact, Donny still gives, well gave,  me a hard time about how much stuff I had packed in my 2 bedroom apartment.  That is just who they were, two people who were always willing to help you out with anything. 

When I sit here and think about memories to share there are so many, Apres ski days at Vendetta’s, Rocktober and other baseball games, Sunday night dinners, Monday night watching 24, moving, house parties, BBQs, late night dance parties at the Candle Light.  Mike has 5x as many memories as I do and the memories still don’t seem adequate enough.  Wednesday night Mike and I scrolled back through this blog and looked at all the pictures we have with Donny and Katie.  They are abundant, we have more on our hard drive and in our heads.  We laughed, we cried, and we talked about the “what now.”

The what now is the not easy part.  We grieve a great friend.  We take care of our other friend who is a widow at 28, so so wrong to even write that.  We continue to live life to the fullest and keep Donny’s memory alive.  We teach our children to enjoy life and we remind them of their “Uncle” who was always watching out for them.  We continue to grieve and will continue to do so.  We keep helping our little guy understand that Mommy and Daddy are here to stay and that is all he needs to worry about for now.  He too keeps reminding us that it is "it's ok, your friend was old."  He and Elin are really helping Mike and I see the brightness in the world.  God has a nice way of showing you what matters, when evil has entered the world.  Although, it is so difficult for us to understand why this has happened it has allowed Mike and I to continue to develop our faith together as a couple.  We sat on Thursday night and talked about what we each thought Heaven would be like, Heaven, a wonderful place with no tears and pain.  Where we get to see everyone that we have had to say “goodbye” to.  A place that we hope to go to, far far far in the future.

Life is precious, it isn't guarantee, one cannot live with regrets. Life. Isn't. Fair. Yet, in this moment of sorrow, We must look for what is beautiful and great with this world.  We must continue to live for those who cannot.  One breath and dream at a time.  

Charm, we will remember you as the one always ready to help us out, chanting “USA,” staying up for a late night showing of Aspen Extreme and as an all around amazing husband, son, and friend.   You were so many things to so many people, we love you so much and will miss you greatly…and…

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

 

Here are a couple other links about this wonderful guy we called our friend…

The Avalanche Community Remember Kevin Donaldson

Lara (Pat’s girlfriend and a real writer) on Donny

Family Movie Night

Our mugs were filled with hot chocolate and we snuggled up to watch Frosty the Snowman as a family in the basement..I don’t know who liked it more, Thomas, Mike, or myself.  Elin was just to be with us all snuggled in.  Even if he face doesn’t show it. 

1st Weekend of Skiing

We picked a snowy day to drive up to Stevens Pass for our first official day out in the 2012-2013 season.  It was a couple hour drive up that Elin and Stella slept.  Thomas, happily watched his Dino Movie, with every so often an excited shout of “look at those Mountains.” 

It was snowing a bunch when we made it to the parking lot, 8 inches to be exact.  The one thing that the Cascade Mountains don’t lack is snow.   After suiting the kiddos up in all their gear we started the long haul to the mountain.  Mike was the Sherpa carrying all the gear and I had both kids to lug around.  For whatever reason Thomas’ legs, that never seem to stop, can’t take him anywhere if he decides he would like to be carried.  The will power and 2.5 year old power struggles we are encountering is for another post.  Ok, back to the skiing adventure.  Once we got to the base of the mountain the guys got their boots on.  They headed over to the magic carpet to hit the bunny hill.  Mike was hoping Thomas would want to do a chair lift and get a little more adventurous this year, but that might be next time.

After watching the boys ski down a few times, Elin fell asleep and continued to sleep through our Après ski beer and a slice.  It was a heck of a lot of work for a few runs down the bunny hill, or none at all in my case, but it was an adventure.  The ride home with the additional snowfall took a bit longer and we were all glad to get out of the car.   Someday, M and I will get to ski together like we used to.  We will then either have the kiddos with a babysitter, in ski school or skiing along side us. 

A Day in Our Life…

Adventure walks outside when it isn’t raining.  It is really that green here right now.  Even after 2 years it still is crazy that we still have flowers blooming and green grass in December.

Lots of play time in the basement.  We have been working on organizing all the toys and games.  Between me having old therapy toys and materials and the kiddos getting gifts we have far more stuff than we need.  So in anticipation of Christmas we are trying to get organized.  Pictures to come.

Elin is loving the fact that she is a sort of big girl.  She has been wanting to take drinks out of our cups and pretend to eat our adult food.  She gets a giant grin on her face if we let her try and we can just imagine she is thinking that he is super awesome.

We went over to Mike’s office for his company’s holiday party.  It was a quick buffet style lunch followed by the kids producing chaos in Daddy’s very organized and neat office. 

Elin has been wondering just how Santa is suppose to fit down that chimney. There is nothing cuter than these to babes sleeping.  They look pretty similar too.   Just in case Elin is on the left and Thomas is on the right. Yummy, blueberry pancakes cooked by my amazing Chefs.

Preschool 1st Sememster

Thomas has wrapped up his first semester of play group or school as we call it.  He has happily intergraded into this two day, two hour a day routine.  He has grown so much in the past few months, and gone from a little guy scared to be away from his Mommy, to a confident guy excited to go and play with his friends.  Most days he still asks if I want to stay and play with him and his “sriends,” to which I politely decline.  His teacher Mrs. Betsy has been very patient with all the kiddos and due to the small class size, 4 kids total, has been able to have a lot of time with each child.  Above are Thomas’ artwork from the semester.  He starts the next semester in January and we are all looking forward to it.

Christmas Time is Here, Well December is here…

We have been busy playing around enjoying all the December and the holiday season has to offer.

Seattle is now having Zoo Lights and after a pizza and a beer we checked out the lights, animals, and other action.  It is always fun to visit the zoo “after hours.”

We also picked out our tree, visited the reindeer (and camel) at Swanson’s Nursery.  After picking out the tree we tried to head to gymnastics, but the gym was full.  We made a quick stop at the park to get our wiggles out and then it was home for naptime and decorating our tree. Elin was interested in the lights and Thomas loved being Daddy’s helper.  I love having the tree and being able to turn on the lights when it gets dark at 4:30!We also went and checked out the Seattle Holiday Ship Parade.  They have boats with lights that go around to different points and stop the parade. When stopped they broadcast a few Christmas songs.  Different and neat to see.  There are some spots along the beach that they have hot chocolate and bon fires.  So far our schedule, kids schedule and the weather haven’t cooperated to try that out.  Enjoy the music on the video!