Time for Sledding!

Saturday, January 8th--I've said it before, I'll say it again--We've got some of the best sledding hills around! There's hills for all sorts of levels of sledding fun. We went to Nolan Park where the hills are small and perfect for Elise and Brady but also fast and fun for Nate too. Me? Yeah, uh, I went down twice but it's just not my cup 'o tea so I took photos, laughed and cheered them all on. Elise & Brady got to use their new Spongebob Squarepants sleds they got from Santa. Those things are FAST! Even Nate used them a few times! We had a great time! When everyone was tired, wet and freezing we came back home, got in comfy clothes and made hot chocolate. YUM! A great day spending time with my wonderful family. It brings me so much joy to watch them all have fun together and laugh.

Well, Hello There, 2011!

Saturday, January 1st--We had a WONDERFUL New Years Eve!! I say it over and over again but I don't care, we have amazing neighbors that we consider very close friends. For the last 4 years we've gotten together on New Years Eve to ring in the New Year together. It's always fun, never a dull moment! We play games, overstuff ourselves on a huge variety of delicious food, laugh till it hurts and just plain enjoy each others company. We were introduced to the XBox 360 Kinect at the Alonzo's house. WOW!!!! So awesome! And yes, I am officially jealous! Some of the guys had fun in Tony's room of musical instruments and tried to coordinate a song together. Uh, ahem.....at least they tried! ha ha ha Anyhoo, it was a great evening and I got to welcome in 2011 with a sweet kiss from my amazing husband and big hugs from my precious kids. Not to mention, being surrounded by dear friends we love and truly appreciate.

(I think this will be a long post but I'm feeling a lot of things right now. Ultimately, this is our family journal and, in some ways, my personal journal.)

I didn't mention this experience in my previous Christmas-time posts because I was focused on our time in Washington. A few days before Christmas the weather in Northern Utah got a little crazy. I had asked my friend/neighbor, Kathy Alonzo, if she'd watch my house while we were gone and she was glad to. Little did she know what kind of commitment that would entail....neither did we! The day after we got to Washington, it snowed about a foot at our house. The next day it all melted and Northern Utah was hit with heavy rain too. For our cramped neighborhood this always means plenty of flooding, mostly in window wells. I prayed and prayed and prayed our wells would stay dry.....they didn't. My sweet friend, Kathy, and her daughters were draining one of the wells at 12:00 at night. When that one was drained she checked the rest to find that another was flooded and almost creeping into our basement. Finally, after 1:00 am, the water was drained and they were able to go to bed. My heart broke knowing they had to crawl down into those wells, in freezing water, so late at night, hauling heavy buckets of water and dumping them to save our house from flooding. Not only that, but they were up early in the morning to make sure the wells were still dry and, thank goodness, they were! The next day was bright and sunny, giving the flooded yards a chance to drain with no more flooded window wells. (HUGE sigh of relief!) Fortunately, there were no more scares like that while we were gone. I cried tears of joy and thankfulness to such a sweet family that sacrificed and saved our house from flooding and an expensive clean up. I'm also thankful to know there are others that are near and surround us that would have made the same sacrifice for us and they know we would do the same in return. We are truly blessed!

I've thought a lot about the things I want to accomplish in 2011. I've made goals, prayed for clarity and understanding of things and issues that are beyond my control. The first week of December was full of drama followed with a lot of anxiety. In the past, within a few days, I've usually calmed down and feel okay on my own. This time, there was never that calming, no matter what I tried, without medication. I ended up having no choice but to go to our family doctor and ask to be put on anxiety medication. After several tests and some bloodwork, he agreed I was in need. Going on medication was a decision I struggled over but I just wasn't handling problems well on my own. The medication works great. I only need it when I feel the beginnings of anxiety so it's not daily. There is a surprising "side-effect" to having to take anxiety medication.....enlightenment. Not a huge spiritual experience, just enlightening on some issues I've been struggling with. It's been a good thing as I make decisions and changes to improve my life and my family.

In the last few days a special movie, I love dearly, has been rolling through my head like crazy. One of my all-time favorite movies is called "Simon Birch" . If you haven't seen this movie then, wow, you should! It's hilarious in some places and cry-like-a-baby in other places. The main character is a kid with severe physical disabilities. He believes God sent him to earth with these disabilities and that God has huge plans for Simon. Over time Simon begins to doubt himself and eventually asks the local pastor if God has a plan for him. The pastor is not very helpful in answering his question but Simon gets his own answers all too soon. It is a beautiful movie and, I would think, most people walk away from this movie with goals to be a better person, better friend, more aware of things and people that should matter to them most. I would hope some walk away wondering what Gods plan is for them and take time to ponder that. As I've thought about this movie, the last few days, I've been thinking of that very thing--along with all the other lessons this movie offers. What is Gods plan for me? I know some of the answers but I know there's plenty more and I've got to work on finding those answers--seeking them out diligently with faith and humility. I've got to stop caring and worrying about things and people that have become or always were toxic to me and/or my family. The strength of a chain is based upon it's weakest link, the same applies to a family. I want to serve my family with love and happiness. I want to serve my neighbors and friends and be aware of their needs. I feel like I've lost touch in so many ways. I don't know what's going on with those around me and I feel bad about that. I sit in church and I don't seem to know half the people and we're one of the handful of families that has lived here the longest! I thought becoming an adult would help me to grow out of the awkwardness of meeting and getting to know new people, it hasn't. Another goal to work on this year? Yes, I think so.

One of my favorite quotes from "Simon Birch" is this:

"Time is a monster that cannot be reasoned with. It responds like a snail to our impatience, then it races like a gazelle when you can't catch a breath."

Whether time goes by slow or fast, and it's usually fast, then I've got to spend it wisely.

Happy New Year, 2011, to you all! May you have a wonderful year full of happiness and joy!

Our Last Night In Washington

Sunday, December 26th--We had planned on leaving Tuesday, the 28th. We even made plans for Monday to go see a movie and have lunch. When we checked the weather forecast Sunday afternoon, we realized if we left on Tuesday we'd be hit with two major snowstorms, one in Oregon, the other in Utah. In order to get ahead of them we had to leave Monday. It made us all sad, especially Nana and Papa but we knew it was for the best. While Nate and I went over to visit some friends and have dinner, Brady and Elise stayed back with Nana and Papa and worked on their last project. Papa had got some little treasure boxes and paint and the kids got to paint them. They did a great job and had fun too. We had a great time at our friends, Jeff & Donnas house. Jeffs mom, Barb, came over too. She's like a 2nd mom to me and cooks just as good. All 3 of them made a delicious dinner (Has anyone ever had Bavarian roast? WOW, it's yummy!). It was so much fun to chat and talk about old times and fun memories. It all went by too fast and soon it was time for us to head back to get busy packing and getting things ready for the drive in the morning. It was hard to leave and to leave my parents house. Our time in Washington seemed so short and we didn't do everything we would have liked to have done. I was especially sad. Afterall, this is my home state, where I grew up and where my heart still seems to be. It rained almost everyday we've been here and I didn't care a bit. It's been 2 1/2 years since we were here visiting and I realize now why it's been so long.....it's just too hard to leave and my heart is already breaking. I'm so glad we got to come here for Christmas, we haven't been here for Christmas since 2003. I will miss it terribly but am thankful for the time we spent with family and old friends. It truly was a wonderful Christmas, one to always be remembered with fondness and smiles!

Hotdog-Head!

(cont.) Saturday, Christmas, December 25th--If anyone knows Brady, you know he's quite the character. The random things he comes up with are knee-slapping hilarious mixed with utter confusion. My dad has a close relationship with Brady. They are best buds when they are together. I wish he lived closer because of how well they get along and feed off each other. It's funny to watch them together, I gotta admit, so when Papa is visiting and leaves to go home or when we're visiting them and come back to Utah, it's always so sad for me, for many reasons, but especially because of the great relationship Papa has with his grandkids. About 2 1/2 years ago, just out of nowhere, Brady started calling Papa "Hotdog-Head" whenever he would say good-bye to him on the phone. We have no idea where he got such a funny name but it's stuck ever since. Papa and Brady go back and forth calling each other other silly names to go along with the fast food theme, all ending with "head": Hamburger-head, French-fry-head, Corndog-head, etc. It's so hilarious to hear them and to hear what Brady will come up with next. For Papa's birthday, a few weeks ago, I had the kids draw some pictures for his card. Brady drew his interpretation of Papa with, none other than, a hotdog on his head and then wrote next to it "Happy Birthday Hot Dog Head!" It was so funny! My dad and mom went to a fun little tourist town in the Cascade Mtn. range called Leavenworth, earlier in December. It is an adorable Bavarian town full of fun and unique shops. In one of the shops was a whole display of novelty hats. My dad saw a hat with a hamburger on it but it just wasn't right. He dug through the pile and found it.....perfect as can be.....a hotdog hat! LOL! He placed it with Brady's other things from Santa on Christmas morning. It was the very first thing Brady saw and he busted up laughing in pure shock. He couldn't believe an actual hotdog hat existed.......neither could I! He put it on and starting singing and dancing to a song he made up as he went "I'm a hotdog head!" After he calmed down a bit we took pics of him with it and then Papa with it. I sure wish my dad had gotten the hamburger hat! I think seeing Brady with that hotdog hat was my dad's favorite Christmas present!

Merry Christmas, 2010!!!

Saturday, Christmas, December 25th--Merry Christmas! The kids woke up around 6:30 am but we wanted to sleep a little longer so we finally got things going around 7:45 am. The kids came out of their room with huge smiles on their faces. They were so excited to see what Santa had brought them! Santa left everything for them on or around Nanas loveseat. Brady looked all over for the skateboard he was sure Santa would bring him.....he found it.....but on a much smaller scale than he anticipated (he he he!). Santa thought a Razor scooter would be much better for Brady until he learns a little more balance. Maybe if he can figure out how to ride the scooter and learn to ride a two wheel bike in 2011 then a skateboard might be a possibility next Christmas. I could see his disappointment but he got plenty of other cool things. Elise and Brady got scooters and matching Spongebob sleds, among other things from Santa. (Note to Santa: make sure you get all the stocking stuffers on the same shopping trip. Breaking it up into a couple of different trips makes you realize you bought WAY TOO MUCH!!) The kids wanted to tear into the presents immediately so we did. Nate got us a family gift "Epic Mickey" for the Wii. I've seen clips of this game on TV and it looks pretty awesome so I'm glad he got it. We got plenty of games and videos. Nate and I got great deals on Nooks on Black Friday. We both love our Nooks! My friend, Ashley, is the Black Friday queen and was able to find some things on my wish list that day as well....including a most-awesome Superman Snuggie for Nate. One word: HILARIOUS! Ashley even got a matching Snuggie for her hubby, Justin. I look forward to the day the two of them can model their Snuggies together!

We had a great Christmas morning! After the presents were all opened, we made a big breakfast. The rest of the day was spent playing with new stuff and relaxing until our big Christmas feast that evening. We had ham, garlic/Rosemary potatos, mashed potatos, veggies, homemade rolls, sparkling cider and a strawberry boston cream pie. It was all delicious and we ate more than we should have! A wonderful Christmas up in the Great Pacific Northwest....in the rain!

Christmas Eve

(Evening) Friday, Christmas Eve, December 24th--We did the Armstrong family tradition of having pizza for our Christmas Eve dinner. Nate was in pizza heaven--we ordered from a local pizza place that makes really good pizza. After dinner the kids got to open their traditional Christmas Eve presents, which are pajamas. This year we also let them open their gifts from each other. Elise got Brady a remote control car and Brady got Elise a bumble bee Pillow Pet she'd been wanting. They were both quite happy with their gifts and love their new pajamas they got to wear for the night. Nate opened a gift from me. I was really excited about him opening his gift on Christmas Eve so it wouldn't get lost in all the madness of Christmas morning. Nate is a HUGE Stephen King fan so I found this amazing book at Barnes & Noble that is full of fun and interesting facts about him throughout the years. He really liked it! I opened a gift from Elise. She had made an adorable picture cube I can put on my dresser. She picked 6 different photos of our family during this year and then had them made into the picture cube. I really love it! Papa also had another craft project for the kids to do. He bought two kits for them to put together using a hammer and nails. He got Elise a house and the roof opens up and Brady got a pirate ship. He even got them safety goggles! They loved putting those kits together with him!The kids were pretty wired but we finally got them to bed around 9:30 pm. I ended up sleeping in the living room on a recliner. Elise started a cold on Tuesday and I had to keep the vaporizer going all night so she could sleep. No fun but at least she got a good nights sleep!

Visiting Extended Family On Christmas Eve

Friday, Christmas Eve, December 24th--We travelled up to Port Townsend/Port Hadlock to visit family--it's about an hour from Bremerton. My moms brother and sister live up there with their families and my grandpa lives with her brother. My grandpa is 94 years old. Considering his age, he still seems to be healthy and doing okay. My grandpa's memory isn't so great anymore, he didn't know who I was but that's okay. We went over to my uncles house (my aunts lives right next door) and visited for a few hours with them and my cousins--hard to believe I have a 4-year-old cousin! Elise and Brady had fun playing with my cousins while we visited with the adults.

Port Townsend isn't too far from Forks but the towns look all the same around that area of Washington so we didn't bother taking a drive to Forks--sorry Twilight-obsessed fans! ha ha ha

Fun With Papa

(Evening) Wednesday, December 22nd--Before we got to Papa and Nana's house, Papa had gone to a few places to buy some fun crafts and activities for Brady and Elise. He made sure there was something to do every evening we were at their house. The three of them had so much fun and it was sweet to watch them make special memories together. After we got back from Seattle and had eaten, Papa brought out some construction paper and, along with Nana, they all made paper Christmas chains for the tree and to place around the house. They used fancy scissors too. The chains were quite cute and the kids were so proud of them. Papa told Brady and Elise, when he was growing up his mom and the kids would make paper chains and put them all over the house. He really loved that Christmas memory. I remember making a few when I was a kid too.

Hello Washington---I'm Home!

Wednesday, December 22nd--After 1 1/2 days of driving, we made it to Bremerton, Washington, my home town. The drive wasn't too bad. We dealt with a few rough patches on the roads but overall, it was okay. The kids are usually pretty good on road trips but this trip wasn't the case. By the time we pulled into the driveway of my parents home we were happy to turn them over and take a breather!
On Wednesday, we travelled by ferry to Seattle. We drove to Seattle Center (home of the Space Needle) where there is a Harry Potter exhibit going on now at the Pacific Science Center. The exhibit was not cheap but we were assured it would be quite spectacular and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was pretty awesome, indeed! There were props and costumes galore, worn or used by many of the cast of Harry Potter. I couldn't believe how tiny so many of the actors are! We really enjoyed the exhibit but were bummed they wouldn't allow pictures. As with most exhibits, the end lead right into the gift shop. With not being allowed to take pictures we thought we would get an exhibition book. They are usually full of pictures from the exhibit along with stories. Well we found out that everything, literally, in that gift shop was overpriced....to the extreme! It was insulting, to say the least. A copy, made out of thin paper, of the Marauders Map was $45.00. Small magnets were $5.00 a piece, etc. I couldn't believe it! We left empty handed but took pictures of some of the advertising outside the exhibit. After the exhibit we went into the childrens museum and were quite excited to see a butterfly room. My mom, Elise and I went inside the hot, humid room. Butterflies were everywhere and flew around us. It was quite amazing. Elise was in heaven! The kids found some penny press machines. I swear they are addicted to those things, as is their father! It was no Harry Potter souvenir but they each got a penny press from the childrens museum---total cost: $1.02 (we can handle that!). We had a great day in Seattle!

Blackburn Family Christmas Party

Sunday, December 19th--Nate and I were in charge of the annual family Christmas party this year. Thank goodness my Aunt Manya is always willing to allow us to use her office conference room for the party. It has everything we need to put on a fabulous Christmas party and then some! We did a huge ham and potato dinner, with plenty of veggies, rolls and amazing Costco desserts. Nate was put in charge of games and that was fun for all. Every year we do a white elephant gift exchange with the adults. The kids, we draw names and each of them buy a present for the name they're given. Last year my sister, Alishia, was in charge and decided to go with a theme for our white elephant purchases. She chose "As Seen On TV" so we all bought those types of gifts to put in the pool. It was quite hilarious! We decided to do a theme as well and chose "Battery Powered". We were worried this could be a rather dangerous theme but it actually went really well. There were some fun items to choose from. It was, as usual, a wonderful night--we look forward to it every year! This evening was a little crazy because we were leaving for Washington the next day so we had to hurry home and get the car packed and so many other things. However, the night was perfect and it all worked out.