There and Back Again. . .

Another trip to Newberg and back in a two day time period.  I'm getting used to this and it really doesn't bother me.  The trip over is nice because Zach and I have a nice long drive to talk.  Or not talk.  And the trip back is nice because I listen to an audio book and enjoy the scenery and the not talking. 

We did manage to do most of the things we wanted to do, including the Hobbit marathon we had planned.  On Thursday night we watched Hobbit 1 and 2 at home and then saw the third one in the theatre on Friday night after Gloria's play.  It turned out to be an Imax showing, which we hadn't planned on, but it turned out ok anyway.  We were the only ones in the theatre until just before it started and then three more people came in.  I have my opinions about Jackson's interpretation but am too tired to say it now.  In a nutshell, they were worth watching even though there were some eye rolling elements.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't have done it justice if I had been in Jackson's shoes so I think he did the best he could considering everything that he had to work with. 

We played all of the new board games we bought for Christmas and visited both sets of grandparents. He lost his wisdom teeth and about half of his hair. 

The atmosphere in the house is different when Zach is home.  More in balance, I think.  He and I are very similar creatures.  It was so great having him home for a month and so hard to leave him at school.  I miss him already. 

P.S. to the last post. . .

I forgot to include a couple of pictures that were taken on my phone to the last post.  I was going to edit the photo shoot post but then decided these two photos deserve a post all to themselves. . .

Good thing Zach has a hair appointment today. . .

Photo Shoot. . .

Christmas break flew by in what seemed more like minutes than days.  I'm finding myself in a bit of a panic as I grasp the fact that Zach is going back to Newberg on Saturday and I didn't have enough time to do all of the things I wanted to do when he was home.  We had a stack of games to play, a Hobbit Movie Marathon to watch, boxes to go through, people to visit, things to talk about. 

So I've started to cram.  Yesterday we set up a new Catan Expansion- Explorers and Pirates. It took a couple of hours just to set it up and read the play book so we didn't actually have time to play.  But we did go out to Nampa and visit my parents for a costume photo shoot that my mom really wanted to make happen.  And we're all glad we made the time- hilarity ensued for sure! 

And when we returned home, we played the game I've been most looking forward to- The Walking Dead Risk!  It was worth the wait. 

We did make time during break to play many of the Munchkin variations Zach has acquired and we had a couple of good conversations.  And I have the long drive back to Newberg where I'll have Zach as a captive audience to ask all of the questions I've been meaning to ask but haven't made the time.  AND tonight we'll be going to see the final Hobbit movie even if we don't have time to watch the first two at home before we go!

Just trying to hold back time. . .

These Kinds Of Days. . .

We spent the last couple of days up at the cabin just for fun.  It's been so nice having Zach home and I keep thinking these kinds of days will be few and far between in the future. 

Not that we won't have other kinds of days that will be just as great, but these days, the kind of days where Zach and Gloria laugh and enjoy each other's company without the distractions of significant others; the kind of days where both of my kids want to hang out with me and play games; the kind of days where the four of us are together; these kinds of days have an expiration date only because we are all changing and growing and moving into new kinds of days. 

But we had this weekend and the snow and the pups and good company and lots of games!

January 2, 2015

I've been waffling back and forth between making big (huge) resolutions and not making any resolutions at all.  Maybe set some goals. Not good enough!! Big (huge) resolutions!  NO!  That only comes with disappointment.  Write down a few things you can shoot for, you know, maybe go back to school in the fall, maybe turn the backyard into a relaxing haven, stop biting your nails.  Post a picture everyday!!  Make a vision board!! 

All of these things have run through my head plus a zillion other thoughts about how I want things to be different in 2015.  And yesterday, the very first day of 2015, I did none of those things. 

Instead, I woke up in a hotel with Gloria and her two friends feeling thankful that we work with people whose generosity and friendship leads to things like free hotel suites.  And free breakfast buffets.  And then I did absolutely nothing to pack up all of the gear from the New Year's Eve show.  Not one cable coiled, not one case pushed into the truck, not one subwoofer touched any part of my body.  And I felt no guilt.  And then I went home and took a nap.  And played games with my kids.  And then I stopped by and visited Dale and his sweet family at Pizza Hut because they were in town for a couple of hours before flying back to Maryland.  And he hugged me and told me that he's proud of me.  He was our business partner way back in the beginning and he knows where I'm at. 

When we got home I ate two bowls of homemade noodles that my father-in-law made just for me.  I shared with the rest of the family but they were just for me. 

We played Ticket to Ride in the evening, all four of us.  In my new office / game room / exercise room / haven. 

When I finally went to bed, I heard the laughter of my kids coming from the living room where they were fully engaged in a two lap top game of Minecraft.  Until at least 3 a.m.  And I smiled every time the laughter was loud enough to wake me up. 

So, I don't feel guilty for not setting goals or writing things down.  I've been doing the work.  I've been making the changes.  Little by little I've been making good changes.  And what I'm finding is the most important change I'm making is to choose happiness.  People matter.  Time is short.  Life is good and I have good things to be thankful for and to look forward to. 

Dale and Branden

Dale has been in our lives for a long, long time.  He and Rob worked together at an AV company way back in 98-99 ish.  When Rob decided to start building cases, Dale was right there with him.  They quit their day jobs and business took off.  He worked the business with Rob before I did.  He even ran sound for our band, Committed, for the short stint we played together.  The three of us worked together until about 2007 when Dale moved on to bigger and better things like marriage, a move to Germany and then to Maryland and now, a sweet family. 

We have kept in close touch over the years through phone calls and texting and we have the opportunity a couple of times a year to see them when they are in town visiting family.  One of those times was on New Year's Day, 2015 at Pizza Hut!

Gloria's New Year. . .

We've worked with the hotel across the street for many years now and it definitely comes with perks.  When Gloria began to panic about not having plans for New Year's Eve, Rob was able to call in a favor and set us up with a nice hotel suite.  For free!  The owners of the hotel are kind and generous and they went above and beyond for Gloria and her two friends. 

The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom at home!

It was a lovely room. . .

The girls even surprised me by coming downstairs to the ballroom where the Chancellors were playing to ring in the New Year with me!!

It was a pretty nice way to bring in the New Year. . .