Olympus High School Class of 2000 Alumni Website

Wow! Time has flown by and it has been FOREVER since I posted pictures of our family so I thought it time to catch up.  The biggest change our family has had is the addition of our little Lottie Ann who is now just 1 year old and not so little anymore.  We went to Costa Rica (pictures below) the week before she was born (she came 1 month early!) and ever since then she has still been surprising us all with her spunky little spirited personality.  Kate absolutely adores her and it is such a joy to see them play together .

                                                                          
                                                                        Costa Rica

This live volcano was right outside our hotel balcony in a small city called Arenal,  it was so stunning!

We took these tiny chartered planes around Costa Rica, which abolutely scared me almost into labor but Kate and Ava LOVED them.  Here they are watching the plane arrive waiting to board it…

Kate is such an ocean lover!  She loved to ride to waves in all by herself on a long board.  Even after being tumbled by a couple waves she wanted to keep on going!

Kate was lucky enough to go to Disneyland 2 different times this past year!  The first time she got to do the cutest thing I think Disneyland does which is at the Bibbdi bobbidi boutique.  You make reservations before you go and when you get there, your own Fairy Godmother comes and finds you and makes you over as whatever princess you choose to be.  Of course Kate chose Cinderella, her favorite.  She was in her own dreamland!  So cute, just look at those smiles!  We also had lunch reservations to eat at Ariels Grotto that day (pic below with Snow White), where Kate got to meet all the princesses one on one.  I included the pic with Ben Stillers' wife Christine Taylor in the background (silly I know ) but I thought it was cool because we sat and ate next to his family!

                     Kate at Jackson Hole                          Kate with her buddies Will and Tommy
                                      

                                   Kate in Hawaii                     On the beach with Daddy and Nate

This summer we were lucky enough to get to spend most of August at Laguna Beach, CA.  Lottie loved eating the sand and Kate as always loved the ocean…fun memories to last forever!

                          Love wainscotting  we did a bit less shaker style in this home than our previous home and kept it more traditional.

I fell in love with this Kohler Harborview double faucet sink and have to say it's one of my favorite things about the house.  I can literally bathe both my kids in here!  We used Legacy Custom Cabinetry and carried the carrara subways all the way around the windows and to the ceiling.   I had always wanted to do X mullions  for the cabinet doors and decided to try it in this kitchen and loved the way they turned out.  The oversized pendants over the island are Resoration Hardware's Benson Pendants.  The light over the kitchen sink is actually an antique crystal flush mount that looks a lot prettier than these pictures show.  But by far my favorite thing about this kitchen is the stove, and about it, it's 24 inch flat grill in the center.  I use it for everything, meats, pancakes, veggies, it's pretty cool and I have to thank my sweet husband for getting it for me, hopefully I can make him some fantastic meals on it

For the masterbath we did a herringbone carrara polished floor which I love, I feel like it gives it a more spa like feeling in there than honed would.  We also did a jetted clawfoot tub which gives the look of the vintage clawfoot but the modern luxury of jets! The best of both worlds!  One day… (maybe for Christmas, hint hint ) there will be a flat screen above the towell racks where those tv outlets are wired:).  The chandelier above the tub mirrors the one above the bed, I wanted to be able to see them when standing in either room so we divided the rooms with french doors and a window transom.

We were just barely featured in this magazine… We switched website companies and thus our revamp on the website is taking a little longer than expected

Read more here:
Catch up (longest post ever!)

Before we move on to this season, can I just point out that the whole Vienna/Jake situation could have been avoided if the producers would have implemented my toilet-cleaning contest idea? Vienna would have quit the show and spared us all.

Jake and Sausage were apparently trying to outdo each other in terms of despicability during their interview last week. Watching that garbage, aside from making me nauseous, also made me laugh, especially the part about Jake flying Vienna’s cat with the two IVs across the country. Was there a life support team standing by in jumpsuits? Were the cat’s relatives notified? Were the tiny instruments on hand, just in case it needed surgery?

But enough of that! Maybe this season will finally be the one that yields a permanent relationship from the final two (0/14 so far)!

Ali has a schoolgirl crush on Roberto, and he stamped his ticket to the Fantasy Suite way back in Week 1. I guarantee she picks Roberto. I also guarantee it’s over before the year’s out. It’s not him, it’s her.

Frank has also had a Fantasy Suite ticket for a while now, but he keeps ripping it up and glueing it back together. He constantly projects his feelings onto the other guys, e.g. “I think we’re all a little upset right now that we’re not with Ali,” “We are all worried about the Rose Ceremony,” etc. Take off the hair and add 40 pounds and he’s George Costanza. Can’t hold a regular job, lives with his parents, overly analytical, constantly screwing things up. Ali’s not picking him.

Chris is going to get his heart broken. Out of everyone during this season, he most obviously really likes Ali. But she’s not the Cape Cod type. I just don’t see her sitting quietly, watching the ocean with a blanket and a book on an Adirondack chair. Chris is likely the producers’ top choice for next Bachelor, though he probably shouldn’t accept. I think he should get Tenley’s phone number–they’d be a smart match.

Ali is a nice person but she’s not ready for a serious relationship. When Chris’s Dad asked her about her personal goals, the only thing she mentioned was her career. She’s been very noncommittal about why she’s actually on the show, and seems like she doesn’t really know herself or what she wants right now. She kindly avoided making Tattoo feel like crap when she easily could have, and she somehow didn’t slam Rated R with a Flying Turnbuckle Leap. But she’s about as ready for marriage as Vienna is to join a convent.

Here’s how I see the final Rose Ceremony playing out:

HOST: Ali, it’s been the most amazing season in Bachelorette history. There have been ups and downs, and you’ve come so far. Are you ready to fake propose to someone?

ALI: It’s been hard, but I feel g…wait, what?!

(enter CASEY, looking dissheveled in dirty raincoat)

CASEY: I got another tattoo since you dumped me, Ali. Can I share it with you? Guard and protect this, you tramp!

(He moons Ali, revealing giant “YOU SUCK,” and runs away, sobbing)

ROBERTO (smiling): Do you want to look at my baseball card some more?

FRANK: I think we’re all feeling a little jealous that Casey got to show Ali his butt before we did.

HOST: Order! Come to order! Ali, this moment is about you and your choice. What have you decided?

(Suddenly, the lights go out. Darkness prevails. FRANK screams. A familiar tune begins to boom through the set.)

HOST: Oh no! That’s RATED R’s music!

(Lights. Enter a smug-looking RATED R, clad in speedo, knee pads, and black wrestling boots. Without a word, he knocks out FRANK, CHRIS, and ROBERTO in succession.)

ALI: Justin, I can’t escape the feeling that you might not be here for the right reasons. I don’t want to believe it!

RATED R: Wait, this is a dating show? Man I’m dumb! (exits)

HOST: Ali! I can’t get a pulse on Roberto! I’m afraid he’s gone!

ALI: (wails) Noooooo! I was all ready to make him my 6-week boyfriend! Now I’ll never find “love”!

(Enter KIRK’S DAD, with freezer bags and toolbox)

KIRK’S DAD: Perhaps I can be of some assistance? Bringing things back to life is what I do!

(Curtain)

Read more here:
My Take on the Bachelorette Finale

Old tracks in Kapaa.

Beaches between Kapaa and Kealis on our way up to Princeville on our first day.

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End of a perfect first day.
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Hanalei River Valley overlook.

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This was at a beach that we started calling the River beach, because it has a big river flowing into the ocean at one end of it. (The Picture at the top of this post is from this beach also.)

River meets the ocean.
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The town of Hanalei.

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Us at Anini Beach. We snorkeled and made friends with a little chick while sitting on the beach.
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Sunset over Hanalei bay.

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This is on the West Shore. We were on our way into Waimea Canyon.

Waimea Canyon is called the grand canyon of Hawaii. We stopped at all the overlooks. It was so beautiful.

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Salt Pond Beach.
The waves come over the rocks and then on to the beach forming ponds.

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Spouting Horn.
The rocky beaches of the South Shore were beautiful and the sea turtles seemed to love this side of the island.

Us at the Spouting Horn.
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Found this just driving around. We still don’t really know what it is.

Waliua Falls

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Opaekaa Falls.

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Kilauea Lighthouse and wildlife Refuge.

These are Monk Seals there are only 24 left.

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Us watching the sunset over Hanalei Bay.

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Tunnels Beach.

We spent all day snorkeling and relaxing in the sun.
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Waterfalls in the mountains above the town of Hanalei. Bryan and I loved Hanalei. It’s a cute little town. It’s like Kauai’s Park City. It has small and artsy shops.

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This is at the Smith’s Family Tropical Paradise Luau.
There are 30 acres of botanical gardens that we explored.

This is a pine tree that grows on the island.

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Our last sunset on the Kauai (for now).

Read more here:
Honeymoon…

we went to san diego…again… over easter. since we have sea world season passes we decided to go there all day on friday… once again, jake was in heaven and went strong from 10 am til 9 pm! then on sat we went to the beach…..it was a little too cold for us to lay out (we are currently in the high 80′s in phoenix so 65 is cold )

halle’s first time in the ocean!!!

jake and his cousins had an egg hunt on sunday but i just recorded it so no pics!!

and we just may or may not be going back to california some time soon

Read more here:
easter in california

No one was more excited for the trip and to be on the beach than NICKY-BOY…

Except for when Brad tried to take him out into the ocean. As he saw the oncoming waves he would yell “Run, Daddy, RRUUUNNNN!!!” If you look closely, you can see that he’s holding on for dear life.

So he and Brad played catch with the football instead…

And he and Julia buried Brad (the other one)at a safe distance away from any water…

And they also made a killer sand castle…

Chase, on the other hand, spent the first day on the beach hiding behind my chair with this general expression…

And I spent the first day gazing at the beautiful ocean and soothing my frightened boy (tough life, right?)

Until eventually he ventured off my lap and went sea-shell (which Nick kept calling ‘taco shells’) hunting…
Also horrified of the ocean, Brad made a little pond for him to dig in and throw rocks and shells into…
Overall, it was a perfect beach filled, game-playing, wonderful weekend. Now we’re back to the daily horse-play that goes on around here…

{I love these boys!}

Read more here:
Delaware…

Afterward we went to dinner at the Tapa Bar, located on a small cobblestone side street in the middle of the city. It had incredible food! but no worries we still had room for gelato at a place that had 64 flavors. needless to say, we were there for a while We spent the rest of the

evening near the port walking through markets, watching fire dancers, street performers, and listening to reggae sounds of the Caribbean. We stayed to enjoy the sunset before returning back to the hotel. It was the best birthday ever. Thanks babe!

Although we didn’t have any cake or ice cream, at work the day before my CI thought it would be a perfect time to splurge and get an ice cream cake from Cold Stone. the ice cream even had sprinkles in it! it was awesome. So, even though i feel old, it was a fantabulous birthday.

Read more here:
Birthday Surprise

Better late than never, right? I know I’m kind of a slacker when it comes to blogging, but 7 months is bad for even me. Since I don’t want to spend two hours trying to remember and write it all down, I’m just going to take a page straight out of my journal. Hope you enjoy, but if you don’t finish this I don’t blame you.

Becoming a mother is the most wonderful that has ever happened to me. I was terrified, all the way until the delivery, that something would go wrong and I wouldn’t get to keep my baby. Maybe having a miscarriage made me paranoid. But the big day arrived and things could not have gone more smoothly!

The last week or so of December, I was feeling pretty bad. I was so tired and uncomfortable and just ready to be done. I was feeling particularly achey on New Year’s Eve, and Matt almost called in sick at work but decided to go in at the last minute. Not wanting to be alone, I went to my parents house and had sort of an early birthday dinner for my mom, whose birthday was the next day. I remember telling them about how badly I wished Matt was there. My dad told me that they would take me to the hospital if I needed them to, but Matt was the only one I wanted with me. Around 10 pm, I figured I would feel better if I went home and got some sleep. Shortly after I got back, Matt came home from work and we watched TV for a whille. We tried to find a New Year’s Eve specIal but there was nothing on. We turned to some random rerun instead and I slept right through the new year. About quarter after midnight, I remember waking up with a strange pain. I got up and when I got into the bathroom I lost my mucous plug and my water broke. I started vomiting right after that and then came the real contractions. They were very uncomfortable. AFter ten minutes or so of uncontrollable retching, my stomach was empty and I was feeling really weak. The contractions were getting stronger and faster, about four minutes apart at that time. Being a first-timer, I still wasn’t sure if I was truly in labor, so I called the hospital to ask what I should do (I’m amazed they understood me in between the panting and moaning). The nurse told me to come in and get checked, since they couldn’t see me through the phone (obviously). By this time I was so uncomfortable that I was pacing frantically around the house, so when I got off the phone I ran upstairs and threw some last minute things into my hospital bag. Matt kept telling me to sit down and breathe, but there was no way I could do that.

When we had everything together we jumped in the Jeep and headed for St. MArk’s. We left the house around 1:30 am and I was worried the whole time that because it was New Year’s Eve, we were going to either get hit by a drunk driver or get pulled over because Matt looked like one. Matt actually was very calm and in control, but I kept yelling at him to drive faster. Every stoplight was torture! The contractions were so intense and close together that I really believed I might have the baby in the car.

We finally made it to the hospital just after 2 am, when the nurse took one look at me and decided to wheel me into a delivery room right away for an exam, while Matt did admission papers. I changed into a hospital gown as quickly as a girl can when she is doubled over and shaking from pain. As soon as I got up onto the bed the nurse examining me announced in shock that I was dilated 8 cm already. It’s a good thing I had already decided against pain medication, because it was way too late to get it anyway! When the nurse realized how fast I was progressing, she hurried out of the room to find an on-call doctor. MAtt was still out in the lobby, filling out papers and calling our parents. We had decided not to call them until we were admitted, just to make sure we didn’t wake them up for a false alarm. Fortunately they both live within 15 minute of the hospital and they were able to make it just in time. What I didn’t know was that I had accidentally called my mom when I was trying to call the hospital, and she was so worried when she answered the phone and I didn’t say anything that she stayed up for the next two hours waiting for the phone to ring. Sorry Mom. When Matt finally did call her, she was ready to go in an instant. Pam, on the other hand, wasn’t home yet from a party in Orem, and Cal was leaving the house right as she pulled in the garage. Lucky for her she didn’t miss it.

Back in the hospital while I was alone in the delivery room, waiting for Matt and the nurse, I was trying to just breathe through the contractions when all of a sudden I started pushing. I knew I shouldn’t yet, but I could not help it, my body was so much stronger than my will. I was afraid that I would hurt the baby or myself by pushing too soon, so I started to panic when I realized that I couldn’t control it. I yelled like a mad woman for Matt, who came running in looking very nervous. I barked an order at him to go get the nurse, so he ran out. When she came in to examine me, she found I was at 10 cm and ready to go. I think it had only been about 15 minutes since the first exam, so she was pretty surprised.

It was time to start pushing but the doctor still hadn’t arrived, so the nurse told me to start pushing gently and working the baby’s head down. I was totally unprepared for this part. Everybody says it’s a relief to finally be able to push through the pain, but let me just say that pushing was soooo much worse than the contractions. aFter enduring probably 20 or 30 minute of very slow torture, the doctor came rushing in and said I could give it my all. I did, and a few minutes later out popped my beautiful baby boy (aren’t you glad I’m sparing you the details of the episiotomy?). Miles Ryan McDaniel was born at 3:03 am on January 1, 2009, weighing 7 lbs even and measuring 20 inches long. When I felt that warm rush of blood that came with the final push, the first emotional was relief. The next was awe. When they held up my tiny, screeching, wrinkled baby I was so overcome. It was incredible knowing that child was mine, just sent from his Heavenly Father. Right away I felt the mantle of parenthood placed on my shoulders. It’s such a tremendous responsibility to have to provide everything for a helpless little infant, but what a gift!

There is so much more that I could say, but let’s just leave it at that. I love you Miles!

Read more here:
Welcome to earth, Miles Ryan McDaniel

Better late than never, right? I know I’m kind of a slacker when it comes to blogging, but 7 months is bad for even me. Since I don’t want to spend two hours trying to remember and write it all down, I’m just going to take a page straight out of my journal. Hope you enjoy, but if you don’t finish this I don’t blame you.

Becoming a mother is the most wonderful that has ever happened to me. I was terrified, all the way until the delivery, that something would go wrong and I wouldn’t get to keep my baby. Maybe having a miscarriage made me paranoid. But the big day arrived and things could not have gone more smoothly!

The last week or so of December, I was feeling pretty bad. I was so tired and uncomfortable and just ready to be done. I was feeling particularly achey on New Year’s Eve, and Matt almost called in sick at work but decided to go in at the last minute. Not wanting to be alone, I went to my parents house and had sort of an early birthday dinner for my mom, whose birthday was the next day. I remember telling them about how badly I wished Matt was there. My dad told me that they would take me to the hospital if I needed them to, but Matt was the only one I wanted with me. Around 10 pm, I figured I would feel better if I went home and got some sleep. Shortly after I got back, Matt came home from work and we watched TV for a whille. We tried to find a New Year’s Eve specIal but there was nothing on. We turned to some random rerun instead and I slept right through the new year. About quarter after midnight, I remember waking up with a strange pain. I got up and when I got into the bathroom I lost my mucous plug and my water broke. I started vomiting right after that and then came the real contractions. They were very uncomfortable. AFter ten minutes or so of uncontrollable retching, my stomach was empty and I was feeling really weak. The contractions were getting stronger and faster, about four minutes apart at that time. Being a first-timer, I still wasn’t sure if I was truly in labor, so I called the hospital to ask what I should do (I’m amazed they understood me in between the panting and moaning). The nurse told me to come in and get checked, since they couldn’t see me through the phone (obviously). By this time I was so uncomfortable that I was pacing frantically around the house, so when I got off the phone I ran upstairs and threw some last minute things into my hospital bag. Matt kept telling me to sit down and breathe, but there was no way I could do that.

When we had everything together we jumped in the Jeep and headed for St. MArk’s. We left the house around 1:30 am and I was worried the whole time that because it was New Year’s Eve, we were going to either get hit by a drunk driver or get pulled over because Matt looked like one. Matt actually was very calm and in control, but I kept yelling at him to drive faster. Every stoplight was torture! The contractions were so intense and close together that I really believed I might have the baby in the car.

We finally made it to the hospital just after 2 am, when the nurse took one look at me and decided to wheel me into a delivery room right away for an exam, while Matt did admission papers. I changed into a hospital gown as quickly as a girl can when she is doubled over and shaking from pain. As soon as I got up onto the bed the nurse examining me announced in shock that I was dilated 8 cm already. It’s a good thing I had already decided against pain medication, because it was way too late to get it anyway! When the nurse realized how fast I was progressing, she hurried out of the room to find an on-call doctor. MAtt was still out in the lobby, filling out papers and calling our parents. We had decided not to call them until we were admitted, just to make sure we didn’t wake them up for a false alarm. Fortunately they both live within 15 minute of the hospital and they were able to make it just in time. What I didn’t know was that I had accidentally called my mom when I was trying to call the hospital, and she was so worried when she answered the phone and I didn’t say anything that she stayed up for the next two hours waiting for the phone to ring. Sorry Mom. When Matt finally did call her, she was ready to go in an instant. Pam, on the other hand, wasn’t home yet from a party in Orem, and Cal was leaving the house right as she pulled in the garage. Lucky for her she didn’t miss it.

Back in the hospital while I was alone in the delivery room, waiting for Matt and the nurse, I was trying to just breathe through the contractions when all of a sudden I started pushing. I knew I shouldn’t yet, but I could not help it, my body was so much stronger than my will. I was afraid that I would hurt the baby or myself by pushing too soon, so I started to panic when I realized that I couldn’t control it. I yelled like a mad woman for Matt, who came running in looking very nervous. I barked an order at him to go get the nurse, so he ran out. When she came in to examine me, she found I was at 10 cm and ready to go. I think it had only been about 15 minutes since the first exam, so she was pretty surprised.

It was time to start pushing but the doctor still hadn’t arrived, so the nurse told me to start pushing gently and working the baby’s head down. I was totally unprepared for this part. Everybody says it’s a relief to finally be able to push through the pain, but let me just say that pushing was soooo much worse than the contractions. aFter enduring probably 20 or 30 minute of very slow torture, the doctor came rushing in and said I could give it my all. I did, and a few minutes later out popped my beautiful baby boy (aren’t you glad I’m sparing you the details of the episiotomy?). Miles Ryan McDaniel was born at 3:03 am on January 1, 2009, weighing 7 lbs even and measuring 20 inches long. When I felt that warm rush of blood that came with the final push, the first emotional was relief. The next was awe. When they held up my tiny, screeching, wrinkled baby I was so overcome. It was incredible knowing that child was mine, just sent from his Heavenly Father. Right away I felt the mantle of parenthood placed on my shoulders. It’s such a tremendous responsibility to have to provide everything for a helpless little infant, but what a gift!

There is so much more that I could say, but let’s just leave it at that. I love you Miles!

Read more here:
Welcome to earth, Miles Ryan McDaniel

Today is the one week anniversary of my father’s wedding, which makes me slightly overdue for a post about my recent trip to Oregon, but I wanted to gather my photos (and thoughts) so that I could do the event justice…

Even now, I’m not sure I have the words to fully express how happy I am that my father found Chris. She is simply the loveliest woman and her warmth makes me feel like I’ve known her for years. More importantly, she seems to bring out my father…as though her presence allows him to be more comfortable in his own skin. I suppose that’s a weird description, but I don’t know how else to put it. After years of watching my father get more and more worn down with life, it’s amazing to see the difference that the right person makes.

The wedding took place on a beach in Yachats, Oregon, a small coastal town that’s practically untouched by time. The ceremony was short, taking place on a small cliff overlooking the ocean while the guests stood nearby, braced against those Pacific winds that I love so much. Oliver sported a tie like my father’s and I held Ella for most of the ceremony, all wrapped up in a jacket since her party dress didn’t offer much warmth. It’s very easy to love my new little brother and sister…they are the happiest, funniest kids.

The happiness of the event was shared by a small group of relatives and friends…most of whom were strangers to me in one sense or another. I had only met a few of Chris’s relatives before last weekend and there were relatives from our side of the family that I hadn’t seen in years and years. All four of my father’s siblings made it out to the event and I realized that I haven’t seen the four of them together in more than fifteen years, so it was wonderful to catch up with everyone.

It was easy to feel at home with Chris’s family and friends. Everyone was nice and fun and simply delightful. As we celebrated, I realized how lucky I am to be a part of so many happy families. I’ve recently joined Kyle’s and now with Chris I’ve found a whole new set of great people (including Chris’s talented, spoon-wearing niece), and with my sister getting married soon my family will be growing even more.

Mostly, though, the event made me reflect on Kyle. I suppose that’s not surprising, since we’re still newlyweds and everything from going to the grocery store to doing my nails makes me reflect on Kyle, but more specifically the weekend made me realize how important a job it is to be the person that makes someone else happy. We all want to find someone who will make us happy, but I don’t think we often think about what it is to be that person for someone else…or for the people around someone else.

What Chris has done for my dad is wonderful not only for him, but also for Randy and me, and I’m really happy we were able to be there to celebrate. Kyle and I will miss their Utah reception tomorrow, since we’re still stuck in Utah waiting to hear about Kyle’s transfer. Frustratingly, I can’t give you much of a moving update. The moving truck is coming on Tuesday and then all of our stuff will go to Utah with or without us. If we still don’t know by then, it will be Kyle, me, and the guinea pigs hanging out in our empty apartment, waiting for news. Le sigh…

Read more here:
My Father is Married

Today is the one week anniversary of my father’s wedding, which makes me slightly overdue for a post about my recent trip to Oregon, but I wanted to gather my photos (and thoughts) so that I could do the event justice…

Even now, I’m not sure I have the words to fully express how happy I am that my father found Chris. She is simply the loveliest woman and her warmth makes me feel like I’ve known her for years. More importantly, she seems to bring out my father…as though her presence allows him to be more comfortable in his own skin. I suppose that’s a weird description, but I don’t know how else to put it. After years of watching my father get more and more worn down with life, it’s amazing to see the difference that the right person makes.

The wedding took place on a beach in Yachats, Oregon, a small coastal town that’s practically untouched by time. The ceremony was short, taking place on a small cliff overlooking the ocean while the guests stood nearby, braced against those Pacific winds that I love so much. Oliver sported a tie like my father’s and I held Ella for most of the ceremony, all wrapped up in a jacket since her party dress didn’t offer much warmth. It’s very easy to love my new little brother and sister…they are the happiest, funniest kids.

The happiness of the event was shared by a small group of relatives and friends…most of whom were strangers to me in one sense or another. I had only met a few of Chris’s relatives before last weekend and there were relatives from our side of the family that I hadn’t seen in years and years. All four of my father’s siblings made it out to the event and I realized that I haven’t seen the four of them together in more than fifteen years, so it was wonderful to catch up with everyone.

It was easy to feel at home with Chris’s family and friends. Everyone was nice and fun and simply delightful. As we celebrated, I realized how lucky I am to be a part of so many happy families. I’ve recently joined Kyle’s and now with Chris I’ve found a whole new set of great people (including Chris’s talented, spoon-wearing niece), and with my sister getting married soon my family will be growing even more.

Mostly, though, the event made me reflect on Kyle. I suppose that’s not surprising, since we’re still newlyweds and everything from going to the grocery store to doing my nails makes me reflect on Kyle, but more specifically the weekend made me realize how important a job it is to be the person that makes someone else happy. We all want to find someone who will make us happy, but I don’t think we often think about what it is to be that person for someone else…or for the people around someone else.

What Chris has done for my dad is wonderful not only for him, but also for Randy and me, and I’m really happy we were able to be there to celebrate. Kyle and I will miss their Utah reception tomorrow, since we’re still stuck in Utah waiting to hear about Kyle’s transfer. Frustratingly, I can’t give you much of a moving update. The moving truck is coming on Tuesday and then all of our stuff will go to Utah with or without us. If we still don’t know by then, it will be Kyle, me, and the guinea pigs hanging out in our empty apartment, waiting for news. Le sigh…

Read more here:
My Father is Married