Movin Up!

My little gymnast is moving on up! He is now out of co-ed classes (away from the "baby girls") and into a Beginning Boys class. He started last night, and had so much fun in his new class. He will miss his favorite coach Sam, but he really likes Allen his new coach! He is silly just like Sam, and is already determined for Ian to "keep his legs straight!" He says his favorite "is jumping" and he was jumping, and rolling, and doing handstands on the wall last night! He's in a class with ages 6-12, and is holding his own...but has new things to learn as well! Good Luck Ian!!!

And....

We got some...(in response to my blog yesterday!) Not alot, but enough to cover the street and the grass...and I hear rumors of more? Well, I'll take what I can get. The boys have the day off, and slept in until 10am!? Maybe they will have a good week since they got SO much sleep!!

Snow....please?...

I love the snow, it's one of the things Kevin and I have in common. I remember as a little girl sitting with my brother Ben on our front room furniture watching out the BIG picture windows we had looking over the city of Portland. We were waiting, hoping, and wanting those big snowflakes everytime there was any hint. We were afterall ontop of Mt. Scott, 75o ft elevation and we saw snow when most didn't. I loved it...and still love it. I simply can't get enough of it. As a kid the hope of a snowday, or atleast "snow routes" was partially why I loved it then. My Mom would not allow us to go on snow routes because we had to walk all the way to Idelman Road, and the bus hardly ever made it up that high, and then it had to turn around with all of us in it. She didn't think it was safe, and it truly wasn't!:) Now, as an adult I have a job that never celebrates "snow days" we are open EVERY day....but I still want the snow to come!!! I loved living in Maryland...we had snow feet deep on the ground for months!!!! It was awesome, a little scary on my drive to work (I had a 45 min. commute on a good day on I-70, but with all the semi trucks crawling, I often got off work at 7 am, and didn't get home until 10am, and then slept until 2pm, got ready and headed back at 4:30pm for the next night. My car even got trapped when they plowed the snow at work for over a week, and Kevin had to come and rescue me!! He was less than thrilled. But if you don't grow up with the stuff, you just have to learn as you go! Right!? Anyway, Kevin and I do plan to move in a few years further into Hockinson, and now we both decided....higher elevation is a MUST for us!!! Every hint of snow, makes us wish we weren't at the 300ft level, but above the 500ft mark!!! Call me crazy...but I can't get enough of the white stuff! I love the sun, and the snow, anything inbetween....just isn't good enough!!!
Let's hope for some snow tonight!!!!!!!

Ian's Party

Ian's 6th Birthday Party: "I love Glowing Golf!" He also came home with a little girl's phone number from school today, ofcourse Kevin's not here....do I let him call, or not. I asked him what he was going to say, he said: "Hello, ofcourse!" WOW, is he growing up or what?

Lego Store, Here Comes Gavin!!!

Gavin and I had an awesome morning together! It helps that I got off work at 11:30pm last night instead of my usual 2:30am. I feel so energized! After Ian and Kevin headed up to Mt. Hood, Gavin and I watched a bit of Empire Strikes Back, and then headed for Washington Square. He loved the little store! He had his heart set on an AT-AT Walker, but settled for the new Indiana Jones sets. Anyone who has known Kevin for any amount of time, knows a bit of his mania for Indy. He knows all the movies, and even sported the name "Willamette Willy" for part of his life! Gavin knew about his Dad's love for this movie and chose them over his obsession, which is Star Wars. We did find an authentic Star Wars t-shirt at the Gap, and bought it, so he again was thrilled! He had so much fun, and was such a pleasure to enjoy him all by myself. I realized, I don't do this enough, and Ian is so strong, Gavin just saunters through behind him with very little disagreement. He is my easy-going, very energetic, and imaginative child. He is always somebody else. This morning he was R2D2 (his favorite!) and was beeping all through the mall, then he quickly became...Darth Vader, and then a RED R2D2. I'm never sure who I am picking up from preschool each day! He's humming the theme from Indiana Jones right now while he's building....dun-da-dun-da, dun-da-da, dun-da-dun-da, dun-da-da-da-da! I love my little R2!!!!

We Survived!

Today we had Ian's birthday party with 16 of his friends from his class at the Glow Golf at the mall. Basically, the kids ran around with golf clubs and balls hitting it all around. It was pretty funny, and very cute. Ian had such a good time, he won a free game, and begged us to come back tomorrow! He also got inundated with more gifts....I should have known that was coming. It's overwhelming to have a birthday right after Christmas! We all did well with very little stress, and I got to meet Ian's friends, their parents, and even set up a t-ball team! Wow! Off to work for tomorrow, and then Gavin and I are going to the Lego store on Sunday at Washington Square. Ian and Kevin are going skiing....I can't even tell Gavin yet, or he'll drive me and the sitter tomorrow nuts begging us to take him there! I'll get some pictures, it will be his first time there....and hopefully he doesn't send me to the poor house!

Milestones....

Most people celebrate many milestones in their lives, their accomplishments with family, friends and loved ones. For me yesterday was a bizarre milestone for me emotionally. Because of the legal system, I can't say much except nearly 1 year ago I lost a young patient that forever changed me as a person, and as a nurse. For those first few days, I could hardly sleep or eat. I'm sure most families never realize what their nurse deals with when she connects with them. And then has to process either the severity of their illness, diagnosis, prognosis or death. Someone once asked me, "why do you want to work somewhere where people are having the worst day of their life?" I just do, was my answer....because we save some! That's what I think I count. But ofcourse, I do remember the families. I do not connect to all families, or them to me, but because of God and the strength he gives me...I can move on. Sometimes easier than other. Many people think that only cold, out of touch people could be nurses, and I don't fit the usual "hardened" ER nurse role. But, I promised nearly 9 years ago, that I would NEVER let a patient die alone. I don't remember ALL their names, but I see their faces in my dreams. Would I trade my job for fame, fortune, or an easy life.?......never. God gave me tender loving hands with which I AM here to help others with, and he gave me wisdom to learn thing about the human body and spirit I never thought possible. Dying scares me, but when I really think about it.....there are so many beautiful angels waiting for me....it's got to be a awesome place.....

Back to School....

With many hours of contemplation, explanation, and research, my husband has decided to go back to school to get his Bachelor's degree in Fire Administration. Six years ago when he became a Professional Firefighter, we thought that's where his dream ended. As long as I have known Kevin, now over 15 years, his love for firefighting was very clear to me. He never wavered taking the easy path (working for the secret service, staying in the Navy, became a police officer), he just kept pushing for what he wanted. Now he's finished his prerequisites, and is applying to Western Oregon to complete his degree. This will give him ALL the advantages in his career-fire investigation, prevention, and education, but most importantly the degree he has longed for, for so long. Please pray for us, this will be difficult, but he feels led here.

Happy Birthday My Son!

Here's my beautiful son this summer at Aunt Shannon and Uncle Kyle's houseboat, just chillin'! I can't believe he's six today. It seems like just yesterday, January 11, 2002 at 4:23pm! WoW! How he's grown. From a cuddly, well sleeping baby, to an active toddler, now to a kindergartener, who's reading, and writing....I am so proud of you Ian. You are so incredibly passionate, compassionate, and loving. When you hold my cheeks to kiss me, or put your hand in mine...I feel your love. You are such an amazing little boy, with so many talents...both discovered and undiscovered. I am so glad that God chose ME to be your Mommy.

Christmas Morning

Our house Christmas morning! This year the "big gifts" were Santa brought a "humungous" fire truck for Ian, and Gavin got a "yellow" camera. Gavin's big gift from us with this AT-AT walker. It was the big hit!

The Others...

These are the other two, more mischievious halves of brothers. Gavin and Kyle. They also sat on the couch waiting to open presents! They are both 4 and 10 weeks apart. Lots of fun...these TWO!

Cousins!

This is such a cute picture of Jared (7) and Ian that I had to post it. I'll put up Kyle and Gavin's later. You always want your children to have what you didn't, and somethings are out of your control. My closest cousin died when I was 15, and she had a rare genetic disorder. She didn't speak or move much by the time she was 6, I was 8. Then Carly came along when I was 7, and we have had alot of fun....but me as the babysitter! Ian and Gavin are blessed with 3 cousins, all boys within 1 1/2 years of their own age! The are growing up really close to one another. We see Jared and Kyle about 3 times a month, at spaghetti nite and watching how close all the boys are is SO cool! What's funny about the picture is they were sitting like this waiting to open presents because Grandma and Grandpa told them they need to sit and wait! What good little boys we have!!!!!

Santa Mugs!

Marilyn and I got Santa mugs this year! This might seem confusing for some of you, but for over 10 years, Marilyn and I have been a part of this family and every year we adoringly look onto the mantel at Christmas time and EVERYONE has a mug except us! This year, Mar spoke up...and I backed her up, and asked "when do we get a mug?" WELL....we got them! They have our names on it like all the boys. It's a big joke...but hey...we've both birthed 2 Wilson boys each, and we earned it!!!!! LOL!!!

Christmas Break!

Yes, it's officically over for our boys...they headed back to school yesterday, but I am going to show in the next few days what we did. We had a great break, and did some really fun family things that I'd like to share...plus-I'm off the next 3 days! So, we went skiing at Timberline 1 day with 2 other attempts, but because of the snow storms-we are waiting to go again this Saturday. Many parents start their children in the sport of THEIR choice as early as possible, but we have gotten many strange looks and replies for ours. Ian started skiing before he was 3. This is his 3rd season. He has all his own gear, and is doing AWESOME. Although I do think I will regret the decision to have him do gymnastics too! Skiing and gymnastics are a dangerous combination. Gavin got his skis this year, and began skiing at 3 as well. They will be blowing past me in about 2 years! I am not a good skiier, I am not risky, I like to go straight down the mountain...no bumps, no turns, and lots of time to stop! You can guess my other half, is very good, does jumps, skis backwards, and likes to go FAST! Enjoy! Ian is in blue, and Gav in yellow!