Winter or Spring?

Yes, it's spring. Wait... it's winter. What? We have blooming crocuses and daffodils. The tulips are popping up as well. On top of it all, we got snow... on March 1st! But, it sure was pretty. I looked outside and thought about the clean white snow as I waited through the morning trying to find out if Katiree's school would be starting on time or have a 2 hour delay. The school districts around us all had 2 hour delays, but she goes to school in the Evergreen school district, which had no delay. I was glad, for her sake, that there was not a delay, though she would have enjoyed playing in the snow. It was Dr. Seuss day and Read Across America day at her school, so she was really excited to go that day. Even the snow wasn't as exciting as that! (She got to wear pajamas and take her pillow pet to school.)



The boys, on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out and play. As I bundled them up, I prayed this wouldn't be a quick 10 minute play time ending with "I'm cold. I want to go inside." Thankfully, they played outside for the next hour or more. We had fun making snowballs (I did it one handed since I had Kezia on my hip - oh the talents one acrues when being a mom of multiple children) and making snowmen.

Even Kezia got to enjoy outside a little. She shivered when I let her touch the snow!

Tate made his snowman all on his own! He was so proud of his work!

Zane also made his little snowman on his own, with help just to put on a face. Isn't the little guy cute?

We had a wonderful time playing outside in the snow and it was a good thing we played out in it as soon as we got home from dropping Katiree off at school, too! By the afternoon, all that was left of the snow in our yard were the two snowmen - Tate's looked like it was bowing and Zane's face had all melted off! Thankfully, the boys thought that was pretty funny rather than being disappointed that their snowmen didn't last!

Oh, the life... It's good to be a baby!

Kezia keeps growing. I've forgotten to get pictures of her lately, but here's a bit of her life...

Sleep - love the position?

Stand up in bed (and working on pulling up on other things too). She was SO excited about this!

 Lounging

Working to crawl on all fours rather than army crawling on her belly.

Heading for the boys' toys. If it isn't hers, she wants it (much to the boys' chagrin)!

Crawling under the table. She loves it under there (much to Mama's disgust. This equals vacuuming A LOT!)

The Funny Things They Say and Do

Recently on a phone call to Papa and Nana, Tate announced, "I want to play the drums." (Where did that come from, I don't know!) Katiree adds, "I want to learn how to play the guitar." Finally, Zane pipes in, "I want to play the MICROPHONE!" Ha ha... The funny thing is that each desire fits each of their personalities. I can completely see Tate drumming away while Katiree calmly strums the guitar. Zane would be the guy rocking out on the microphone while trying to break dance or something like that! Oh, Kezia... what will you be doing in all of this? What we have to look forward to!


On Sunday we found sleeping bags for each of the kids on sale. We've wanted sleeping bags so we can take them to the cabin (instead of hauling sheets) and for camping, which is something we really want to start doing as a family. The kids were so excited that they had to nap in their sleeping bags. After nap, Katiree came down the stairs hauling her sleeping bag and proceeded to cuddle up in it in the living room. Later that evening, I went to the grocery store and got a phone call that there had been a mishap. While Travis was not in the living room, Mastermind Katiree convince the boys that it would be fun to ride in their sleeping bags down the stairs. Oh, it was fun alright! They thoroughly enjoyed their trips sliding quickly down the stairs... that is, until Zane got going too fast and tumbled! Thankfully, no one was hurt badly... just a small rugburn on Zane's side. Sigh. Now I know what our parents went through!

Memorable Moments of 2011

Do I dare go back a year and recap the moments that stand out in my head for 2011? A lot has happened in this year and we are to rejoice in each day! So, for the sake of being thankful for each little moment.... here goes...

We went to Eagle Crest with the Randall side of the family. All the Randall cousins were together (prior to 3 new babies joining the family). 










Ridgefield got snow! Katiree and Tate loved it... Zane wasn't so sure, thus he's not in this picture.

 

Tate turned four - with his train Gordon cake. My sister, sister-in-law and I all worked together to figure out this one. I hadn't ever made or worked with fondant before and I enjoyed it... I think I should have started with something a little easier, though. =)

Kezia Janeen joined us two weeks after Tate's birthday. Here's the proud Daddy and the proud siblings that were all smitten from the start! Kezia's big sister was especially thrilled because she had been praying for a baby sister for years. Katiree got tears in her eyes when she met Kezia. Precious... The picture of Kezia gazing at Katiree (and vice versa) is one of my favorite. The love and trust from one set of eyes looking into another set of eyes. What a blessing! Lastly, one picture of me... a  tired, but proud Mama with her precious bundle.

We went to the tulip fields nearby. This picture just captured what I see in these two so often. They are best of friends. Tate's infectious giggle and Katiree's kind heart just go hand-in-hand.

Easter this year was spent at church and at our house! My dear friend, Brooke, visited from Amanda Park, Washington. She was introduced to Kezia, who clearly has a love for her "Auntie".

Dad graduated from Western Seminary and is now Dr. Thomas Randall! We are so proud of this accomplishment! He worked hard researching and writing! We look forward to seeing his work on Caregiving being published sometime soon!

Okay, so I LOVE the beach. I was raised going to the Oregon Coast and Mt. Hood for vacations. The coast... well, it just has the ability to bring peace to a hectic day or week. We don't go nearly enough. But after Dad's graduation, my brother and his family decided we should all hang out at the coast for a few days. Spending time out on the beach (in lovely weather, I might add) was LOVELY. God's handiwork and power was evident and we enjoyed much family time while there!

We went to Bellingham in May. This was Kezia's first trip up there. Grandma celebrated a birthday for a special (but undisclosed) number of years. We enjoyed celebrating with her and throwing her off for what we really had planned for later that summer.

Katiree turned six this year! Our princess is growing too quickly! We celebrated with family and a few family friends whom Katiree has grown up playing with!

 SURPRISE! We, along with Travis' dad and sister, pulled off a surprise party for Travis' mom! While we wondered if it could be done without her finding out, it was great to see the reaction on her face when she came home from work and saw all the people that love her dearly there to celebrate her. She's always so willing to give to others... it was wonderful to have some time devoted just for her! We celebrated outside so Kezia enjoyed the warmth of Grandpa's shoulder as the evening cooled down (all my babies have loved that shoulder).

I'm an Auntie.... again. Only this time I'm an Auntie of twins! These two precious babies are answers to years of prayers and God's beautiful gifts to my brother, Matt and his wife, Laura Jane. We praise God for these two babies!

Travis and I celebrated 9 years of marriage by hiking to the top of Angel's Rest (the gorge, Oregon). The view was breathtaking!

This year we added to our sanity by working on our backyard. We now have a place for the kids to play and a patio for us to enjoy meals or simply relax.

This picture makes me giggle. My kids are often seen at the window, waving good-bye to someone, watching for someone's arrival, being nosey... or in this case, as this is the typical Friday morning position, watching for the garbage and recycling trucks to come.

Zane - my lover of crashing cars... what will your future hold? I love this picture because he can often be found racing the cars or causing huge car wrecks with all his cars.

My friend, Amber, flew up for a visit! We enjoyed being with her, playing ball, soccer, etc. in the backyard, going to the park... When Amber left, Zane cried. Both boys had been so excited to take her to the train so she could go north to visit her family and compete in a triathlon. Then when the train pulled away, Zane wanted to know when Amber was coming back. When I told him the train was taking her away, he said, "I sad." About broke my heart. He couldn't get over it, either. For the next few hours, he moped and would just say, "I sad."

August brought us up to Bellingham for the Northwest Washington Fair, a visit with my "Auntie" Jeannie, and an introduction for Kezia to her Great Grandpa from Meridian, Idaho. We enjoyed being outdoors at Cedar Springs, canoeing, catching a frog. The kids all had fun on the rides at the fair and hanging out with Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie Chanda, Great Grandpa, Great Aunt Linda and Aunt Julie. I loved the fire pit at Travis' parents' house late at night and watching the stars come out while staying warm around a fire.

We took a trip to Arizona to see my younger brother and his family. Here are the kids (minus Kezia) jumping into the pool. It was fun to have the two older kids not using floaties this year thanks to a year of swim lessons! Their confidence and abilities were amazing!

Zane turned three... and in true Zane style, he didn't want cake. He wanted Rex and ice cream... so this is what came of that (a Rex ice cream cake).

We are blessed to have two sets of parents that love us all, that we enjoy hanging out with, that are so supportive of their children and grandchildren. We have two sets of wonderful role models for our children. More than anything, we love our kids interacting with their grandparents. So this year brought harder news for us. My parents moved to Arizona. Before they left, we enjoyed some wonderful moments. I love this picture of Kezia with her Nana. Tate and Zane spent an evening wrestling with their Papa. We miss them.

Isn't this just a sweet picture of Kezia. She loves her burp rag and treats it just like a blankie.



Thanksgiving was a wonderful time with Travis' family. They joined us this year for Thanksgiving and we created wonderful memories. Katiree stuffed her first turkey with the help of Grandma, all the chlidren made turkeys out of Oreos and candy (yes, the boys wore hats inside a lot. Not sure what was up with that, other than they both just decided they loved their stocking caps), Katiree lost a tooth, Zane threw up at the dinner table (yes, that was MY fault. I guess I shouldn't have made him eat "one bite" of something he really didn't want to try. We always had to have a no-thankyou helping when I was young. Maybe that wasn't a wise choice on my part to force it at a holiday dinner!) Then the next day I had company for Black Friday shopping! It was fun to have Chanda, Janet and my sister, Marjie, to shop with!

Our first ever - chop our own tree down - Christmas.

 And last, but not least, Christmas. We celebrated in Bellingham with Travis' family, had our own Christmas day here at our house with my sister, then went to our cabin on Mt. Hood to see my older brother and his beautiful children. The older three played with LilliAnne while Kezia got aquainted again with her cousins-close-in-age!

Kidisms 2012 #1

Funny Kidisms...

Yesterday Travis was banging the pancake spatula on the counter and Zane said, "You better stop that, Daddy, or you'll go on the naughty list."

Then later that day, Katiree asked if we could play the game, Sorry. Travis, in his usual joking manner, said, "What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything." She asked again and Zane said, "I forgive you."