Christmas Cards

So Michael's making fun of the way I keep track of all of my Christmas Card addresses. He says I'm archaic. Well I'll show him archaic. I'm going to go ahead and post my newsletter on here for those of you that didn't make the cut and aren't getting a card. Although I can't imagine possibly sending out any more.

Dear Friends and Family,

It's been a busy year for our household. We left our home in Salem earlier this year and moved to the big city (well, Sellwood, which is technically in Portland but feels more like a little town in the middle of the big city). We fell in love with the area and are now in the process of buying a 1922-built house in the neighborhood. We're excited to have a place with 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, an unfinished basement, yard, and detached two-car garage. It's unheard of around here and, at the price we're getting, it falls just shy of a miracle.

Michael is still working in Portland. Being close to the office, he now rides his bike or takes the bus every day. In fact, he even traded his dream car for a brand new commuter bike. He still does photography work on the side, and he has started coaching a co-worker for long distance running.

Meg is loving living in the city and has joined a few city league volleyball teams and plays whenever she can get away. Despite missing her friends in Salem, she's adjusted well. She also loves having a well-rested husband at the end of the day.

Aaron is in 2nd grade now, he loves reading (and he says he has read probably about 10,000 pages so far this year) and is doing very well in school. He enjoys going on walking field trips around the neighborhood because they are fun and it means less time that he has to spend sitting at his desk.

Eddie is in kindergarten and, despite a rocky start, he's making good progress. We've learned that Eddie's full of greatness and is a very spirited (if not spiritual) child. So far this year he's claimed to not believe in God just so he could play on Sunday and yet when asked if he wants to be a missionary he said, “No I want to be a prophet.” He even went so far as to create and sing his own version of “Follow the Prophet” (a popular children's song at church). He is constantly keeping us on our toes with his antics.

Ian is a fun loving toddler with an infectious giggle who likes to fly high while playing airplane with mom. He also enjoys feeding his mother snacks like pretzel sticks while she types on the computer. He loves his big brothers and likes to tackle, chase and wrestle with them.

We hope you are all having a great holiday season and have a great New Year.

Love,

Michael, Meg and the Boys

First Day in the Principals Office

Wow what an emotional roller coaster. Eddie started Kindergarten this morning. He was all excited last night and wanted to ride the bus but this morning wasn't willing to get dressed or eat breakfast in a fast enough manner to catch the bus(which leaves at 7:25am). So he had to resort to walking with Aaron and I. When we got there Eddie seemed to be doing fine, he put his backpack in his locker, and sat down to start coloring. He asked me to help him color an apple. I told him how I needed to go and that he needed to stay in his class and work on his own. At that point he tried hiding behind me. I tried to get him to give Ian and I hugs and kisses and say goodbye. He wasn't having any of that. His teacher tried to get him to wave goodbye but he just kept insisting that I shouldn't go anywhere. I said bye and took Ian and walked out the door. As I'm leaving I hear the screaming start. Not a whimper but a death scream of, "MOM, MOM, MOM, MOM." He kept going and going while I walked out of the building and started crying myself. I went around to the front office to make sure that he would eventually stop crying. I stayed out of Eddie's view and watched as the principal headed down to Eddie classroom, picked him up and then carried him back to the Principal's office where Eddie hung out while he cooled down. I guess he eventually calmed down because the Principal insisted I just head home and come pick him up at the normal time. However in the process Eddie saw me and ran over to give Ian and me one last hug and kiss. He was more than happy to then return to class. When I picked him up after school the Principal said that Eddie seemed to be doing better in class, however the Principal had to talk to Eddie a few times at recess. So all in all Eddie had a great school beginning (said with just a little bit of sarcasm).

Adventure to the Candy Basket

Did you know that Portland is home to the largest continuous chocolate waterfall? After a quick trip to Costco I asked the boys if they wanted to go on an adventure. They said sure and off we went to the Candy Basket in Gresham just 1 block south of 1-84 on 181st.

Crazy Last Minute Trip to UTAH

I must be crazy or as Michael likes to say a martyr. I decided on July 10th that I was going to leave the next night and drive to Utah through the night. I left Michael at home to work and left with the boys and their oldest cousin on the Asay's side to go visit Grandma and Grandpa Asay. We got there early afternoon on Monday and I was exhausted. Anyway I had a great time and thought I'd post some pictures. Here's a list of what we did and saw.
Monday afternoon-Splash pad on Soda Row in Daybreak near Grandma and Grandpa's house
Tuesday morning-Drove to Salt Lake and went to Liberty Park
Tuesday afternoon-the boys and I went to visit my friend Cindy then we all went to Carl's Jr for Dinner(it had a playplace) Good fast food with entertainment for the kids, why don't we have this luxury in Portland?
Wednesday-Kennecott Copper Mine (the boys loved the models, the big hole and most of all the souvenir shop.
Thursday-This is the Place Heritage Park, if you have been to Navoo this seems like a miniature version. We met up with Shannon and her four kids. We all had a blast.
Friday-We met up with Shannon and the kids again and went to Cherry Hill where we played most of the day in the water. After heading back to their house we left for home. Stayed the night in Twin Falls and got home late Saturday evening. All in all it was worth the driving but I don't think I'll be doing it again too soon.

Memorial Day/Meat Day Fun in Salem

Aaron, Eddie and Ian all had fun with about 15 of their Salem friends. I had fun with some of my "old" friends as well. Michael even got to hang out with some of his closest Salem friends.

Ian's 1

My baby is 1 Year Old Today. Wow how the year has flown. I'd post a picture but I lost my camera during the move. He's a cutie and although he's not walking yet he is pulling himself along the walls and furniture(aka cruising). Anyway I should probably go get him out of his crib.

Update: Michael e-mailed me a picture that he took of Ian recently.

We're in Portland

What? You might be wondering. I thought you lived in Salem. You might say. It is true we've moved. In January Michael e-mailed me a very long letter that included his desire to move. Basically the commute was draining the life out of him and he felt the distance between us and him everyday. So we put our house on Craigslist as for sale and for lease option. We were actually able to lease option it really quickly and feel that we were meant to be here. Our house in Portland that we are renting is older(it will be 100 next year), smaller and our garage is non-existent but I'm happy to have moved. As I told Michael I love him more than my dream home. So far I like the neighborhood and the school and being so close to the big city but I'm really missing my network of friends in Salem. I don't know who to call to ask for someone to babysit for me so that I can go get my hair done or volunteer in Aaron's classroom. Poor Eddie, his birthday was last week and we had a party at my mom's house just because he doesn't have any friends up here yet. He finally had friends in Salem and we moved and left them all behind. Being a military brat I know that it takes a year or two to feel at home whenever you move. It's this in between stage that I hate. I'm not patient and I don't like feeling like an outsider. I'm the type to insinuate myself into people's lives. I guess that's how I get my reputation of being pushy. Well now I'm just rambling and I'm starting to feel slightly sorry for myself so I should probably just stop now. Anyway just thought I'd let you all know that we've moved and I'm relatively happy with the move.

Please watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPo2E-JaDkk




I really like the idea behind micro finance. This seems like a great way to help people without it being charity. Plus at a 1-3% interest rate it's totally repayable. Plus most banks aren't even paying that much in interest these days for a savings account. I don't think the true intent of micro finance is for banks and entrepreneurs to get rich. I know if I were to invest it wouldn't be with a goal of getting rich. However if I lost everything I were to invest I'd feel better about it then when I lost 5k in WaMu stock.

Investment Property Nightmare's

To the right are a before and after picture of the kitchen.

So some of you know that we bought and rehabbed a property in Springville Utah a few years back. We tried to sell it unsuccessfully so instead rented it out. The renters were in there for over two years before things got hairy. In November their rent was late and then in December they paid just slightly more than half and then in January it was only half and then they decided they just needed to move. I started freaking out. We had already been supplementing the rent to pay the mortgage when they were only paying half now we were looking at two house payments without the capitol to pay for it very long. I immediately put the house on and marketing it as both for sale and for rent. My sister-in-law who lives there and had found the property in the first place just signed papers for a new renter and our prayers have been answered. The property won't even be vacant a day. I'm so thankful for answered prayers and for life's lessons. I don't think I would have bought the place knowing what I know now but I am grateful for the opportunity to mess up and learn from it.

Let's all Keep our New Year's Resolutions

I'll lose those last ten pounds
I'll ride that pretty pink bike
I got for my Birthday/Christmas
I'll read more and watch less TV
(except for Glee, of course, don't want to miss a second)
I'll not yell at my boys for reading over my shoulder
and making fun of my blog-That means you AARON